Cats Battle Santa Fe in Weekend Series
February 19, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats had a three-game home stretch this past weekend against the second place Roadrunners. Although they were unable to walk away with the victory the first two games, the Cats would not be let down as they came out on Saturday night and defeated the Santa Fe Roadrunners 4-3. The Wildcats picked up two points this weekend, and currently sit in fifth place in the NAHL South Division.
The Wildcats came out strong on Thursday night, getting on the board first, but after sixty minutes of play, fell short to the Santa Fe Roadrunners 5-2. The Cats first goal came at the 5:09 mark of the first period when Michal Hrtus blasted the puck past the Santa Fe goalie to give the Cats an early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, Santa Fe answered back before the frame was over and the game was tied at one going into the first intermission. Within eleven minutes of the second stanza, the Roadrunners capitalized on two opportunities and took the lead. Then, with just under a minute left in the frame, the Cats went on a powerplay and Eddie Effinger, with the help of Skylur Jameson and Kyle Pidde, capitalized on the play and put the Cats back within one goal. The bounces were going the Cats way in the third, and Santa Fe was able to score two more to secure the win.
It was a slow start for the Wildcats on Friday night as they trailed 3-0 after only twenty-seven minutes of play. Brett Morrell got the scoring started for the Cats at the 7:36 mark of the second period. Sean Nealon and Adam Krefski worked the puck to Morrell who took advantage of his position and slid the puck past the Santa Fe goalie. The Cats next goal came within three minutes of their first one, when Eddie Effinger scored a powerplay goal and put them within one of the Roadrunners. The remainder of the period was scoreless, and the Cats trailed 3-2 after forty minutes of play. The Wildcats came out in the third frame and blasted the Roadrunners goal with ten shots, but were only able to capitalize on one. Santa Fe would score first, but the Cats answered back again. At the 19:01 mark, Mike Schumacher scored off an assist from Adam Cardwell and Kyle Pidde, once again putting the Cats within one goal. Unfortunately, Santa Fe would score an empty net goal with nine seconds left, and the Wildcats fell short 5-3.
Saturday night was an exciting one as the Wildcats came back from a 3-0 deficit and ended up defeating the Roadrunners 4-3 in regulation play. Santa Fe would score first and had the Cats down 2-0 going into the first intermission. When the Roadrunners came out in the second period and scored another, it looked like it could be a repeat of the night before. Once Michal Hrtus got the Cats on the board though, they became unstoppable. The Wildcats first goal came at 11:56 into the second frame, when Michal Hrtus scored a powerplay goal and got the ball rolling for the Cats. The second stanza would end with the Cats trailing 3-1, but when the third period started, it was all Wildcats. At the 6:10 mark, Ville Aman got the puck from Kyle Matson and blasted it past the Santa Fe goalie to put the Cats within one. Less than two minutes later, Luke Salazar would get the breakaway and put the puck in the back of the net to tie the game at three. Cal Heeter was on top of his game in the third, turning away all sixteen of the Roadrunners shots. At 12:25, Brian Downing and Kyle Matson set up Ville Aman who netted the puck over the Santa Fe goalies shoulder. It was Aman's second goal of the game, and after the Wildcats defense shut down Santa Fe, it proved to be the game winning goal for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats next home game will be Friday, March 2, 2007 against the Santa Fe Roadrunners. The Cats have only three home games left, so make sure and make it out to the KYC to catch them action. The puck drops at 7:05 pm!
North American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2007
- IceDiggers clinch playoff berth - Alpena IceDiggers
- Jersey Auction Raises $76,200 for CMN - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Cats Battle Santa Fe in Weekend Series - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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