Cats Defeat Jacks in Shootout
November 27, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wichita Falls Wildcats won their first shootout of the season as they held on to defeat the Odessa Jackalopes for the sixth time on the year, 2-1.
The Wildcats have established themselves as one of the highest scoring offenses in the NAHL. They have not often found themselves in battles between the two goaltenders. Friday night was an exception.
Justin Kapelmaster and Dean Shatzer each played phenomenally for their teams. In the first period, Kapelmaster's only hiccup was making an awkward save on a long-range shot. The puck trickled behind him with enough velocity to cross the goal line. Nearly all of the Odessa fans sprung to their feet in anticipation. However, their hopes were dashed by Noah Gilreath, who heroically cleared the puck out of the blue paint before it could enter the net.
The second period would begin with both goaltenders remaining rock-solid in the nets. Finally, about seven minutes into the frame, Austin Albrecht broke the ice. He emerged through neutral ice with incredible speed as if he had been shot out of a cannon after being set up in-stride by Nick Rosa. Upon gaining the Odessa blue line, Albrecht held on and snapped a powerful shot high on the glove side of Shatzer to open the scoring for the Wildcats.
In the third period, the scoring chances intensified both in quantity and quality. Shatzer stopped all ten shots he faced in the period, but one Odessa shot squeaked past Kapelmaster. The Jackalopes' most recently committed player, Daniel Kiraly, took a long point shot which redirected off the Odessa captain Gray Marr and into the net. The Ector County Coliseum was electrified as the Jacks had finally scored.
Their excitement, however, was not to last once overtime began. The Wildcats dominated for virtually the entirety of the five minute span of 3-on-3 play. With loads of momentum heading into the shootout, Kapelmaster stopped all three Jackalope shots, and Adam Goodsir buried his shot high on the blocker side of Shatzer.
Kapelmaster made 34 saves on 35 shots in his 13th win, while Shatzer made 35 saves on 36 shots in his second shootout loss. The Wildcats and Jackalopes meet again on Saturday night at the Ector County Coliseum to play the second game of the series at 7 pm.
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