Cats Split with Bozeman
March 7, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
With the number one team in the league coming to town, the Wildcats stepped up their game and played the Ice Dogs tight to split the two games in Wichita Falls. The team earned two valuable points and secure 4th place in the NAHL South Division. The still trail the 3rd place Springfield Junior Blues by four points.
On Thursday night the Wildcats played strong and pushed Bozeman to the limit, but they fell 2-1. The two teams felt each other out in the first period, and though the Cats put twelve shots on goal, the frame ended in a 1-1 tie. Bozeman struck first in the second period when Chris McKelvie snuck one by Tom Billick on the Bozeman powerplay. The Wildcats showed no signs of being demoralized, and only four minutes later, on a powerplay of their own, Captain Kyle Kraemer, assisted by Dan Medenwaldt, tied the game up at 1-1 with his 20th goal of the season. In the third stanza the Ice Dogs again struck first, when Graham McManamin scored at the 5:32 mark to put his team ahead. The Wildcats kept peppering Bozeman goalie, Matt Dalton, with shots, but on this night his play was too good and the Ice Dogs came away with the 2-1 win.
For the 1950 fans watching Friday nights game at the KYC, it was nothing short of an absolute treat for each and every one of them. The Wildcats, hungry for their playoff aspirations of catching the Springfield Jr. Blues and staving off a late season surge by the Santa Fe Roadrunners, showed grit, skill, and utter determination to play one of the best hockey games ever in Wichita Falls, TX.
The game started out very physical and tight checking as both teams felt each other out and looked to find ways to create advantages for themselves. The crafty veteran Dan Medenwalt opened the scoring with a power play goal at the 8:20 mark of the first period, with assists coming from both Kyle Kraemer and Dan Sexton. It isn't a mistake that Bozeman ranks at the top or nearly at the top of every category this season as they answered back with a power play goal of their own at 14:06 of the first period to even the score at 1.
Chris Nicolaou scored the first periods third power play goal to give the Cats the lead again late in the first to go into the room with a 2-1 lead. The Cats power play was like a bill collector, it made Bozeman pay! The Wildcats notched two powerplay goals on three chances in the first period which was outstanding!
In the second there were some amazing body checks doled out by the Wildcats, Dan Medenwalt really laid into one Ice Dog and sent him air born. The minute and a half that followed was probably one of the best displays of talent, toughness, and determination the team has showed all season. Unfortunately Bozeman was able to tie the score at 2 when a shot from close range somehow trickled between Choo Choo Billick's pads and crossed the goal line by maybe an inch. Had Choo Choo stopped the shot it would have been another spectacular save made by the probable MVP this year.
The score remained tied going into the third, but Captain Kyle Kraemer and Dan Sexton figured big in the outcome of this one. Once again the Cats played their hearts out and it showed up on the scoreboard as Kraemer and Sexton both added a goal a piece. The Wildcats polished off the Ice Dogs with a final score of 4-2.
Head Coach Brian Meisner believed his team played hard both games, "I thought we played 60 minutes each night. We came up a goal short on Thursday. On Friday we needed to play harder in the third period, and we ended up getting the bounces."
North American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2006
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Takes On EJHL All-Stars - U.S. National Team
- Cats Split with Bozeman - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- IceDiggers "Tip-The-Team" Proves Successful for Youth Hockey Program - Alpena IceDiggers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
