Cats take two out of three for the second weekend in a row
Published on November 1, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats took care of business at home with wins over Corpus Christi, but a tough travel schedule took its toll on Sunday, with a 3-2 loss to the New Mexico Mustangs.
On Friday, the Wildcats let a 3-0 lead slip through their grasp, but they managed to claw back for a 5-4 win.
Dakota Klecha got the Wildcats on the board midway through the first period, slipping the puck in on a breakaway off an assist from Tanner Fahlstedt. Off the next faceoff, Klecha dropped the gloves, then dropped Corpus Christi's Tommy Dowell. Then on a power play, Mac Olson played the puck to a wide-open Ryan Frost at the back door for a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Olson extended the Wildcats' lead further off an assist from Frost, putting the Wildcats up 3-0. The IceRays weren't fazed though, and with the help of a couple good bounces and a Ben Hughes rocket of a shot, the score was 3-3 at the end of the second-- the fourth three-goal comeback on the year for the IceRays.
Mikhail Sentyurin would briefly give the lead back to the Wildcats with a snipe off a steal early in the third, but Navarone Copley tied things up again with 9:24 left in the period on his first NAHL goal. But the same line that started the scoring for the Wildcats would win it for them as well-- Drew Allen's point-blank shot off a feed from Fahlstedt gave the Wildcats a 5-4 lead, and they would hold onto it for the final seven minutes for the victory.
Saturday's game was all Wildcats from beginning to end, coming away with a 5-0 shutout. Eric Garavaglia was named first star of the game, stopping all 35 shots he saw.
Following Friday's feat, Dakota Klecha got the Wildcats on the board once again in the opening period off an assist from Daniel Hildebrandt for a 1-0 lead. This time, however, no one challenged him to a fight off the next faceoff. Sean Keane would make it a 2-0 lead in the second period as he put the puck in the back of the net off assists from Ryan Frost and Chris Leone.
The hitting picked up after that, including seeing two hits that resulted in major penalties. The first was a hit by Mikhail Sentyurin that blindsided Corpus Christi's Terry Portra and left him bleeding and short on teeth. Sentyurin was given a major penalty and ejected from the game, and could face further sanctions. With a roughing penalty given to Jason Souva for his response to the hit the teams skated 4-on-4. With the open ice, the Wildcats made it a 3-0 game with Mac Olson extending his hot streak off an assist from Frost. Corpus Christi's Kevin Crowe would retaliate 30 seconds later with a blindside hit of his own to the head of Dakota Klecha. Crowe was given a charging major and sent off early as well.
A Ryan Frost power play goal and an unassisted tally by Jason McAloon would be the final nails in the coffin, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 win. Garavaglia's 35 saves are the second most by a Wildcats' goalie in a shutout (only Cal Heeter is ahead of him, stopping 46 in a 1-0 OT win on December 22, 2006 in St. Louis).
Sunday looked to be a similar game as the Wildcats took an early 2-0 lead, but the Mustangs stampeded past them for a 3-2 victory. Nick Marsh put a shot in the corner of the net off Chris Eckler's assist for a 1-0 lead only 2:45 in. Mac Olson scored again for his team-leading 12th goal of the year for a 2-0 lead. At the time, the Wildcats were outshooting the Mustangs 5-3. But over the next 50 minutes, the scales tipped toward the Mustangs side, outshooting the Wildcats the rest of the way in the period 10-5, including a power play goal from Brad Wilhelm.
An evenly-matched second period resulted in no scoring, while the Mustangs upped the offense in the third, outshooting the Wildcats 14-4. Evan Johnston tied the game midway through the third, while Wilhelm scored his second of the night with 3:03 left. To add insult to injury, the lone assist on the game-winner was from none other than former Wildcat Jake Webber.
The Wildcats remain in second place in the NAHL's South Division, one point behind Texas and one point ahead of Amarillo.
WEEKEND NOTES: For the second time in two weeks, a Wildcat is the NAHL South Division Player of the Week! Ryan Frost's five points on the weekend won him the honor this week after Mac Olson did it last week. Speaking of whom, Olson has had at least one point in each of his last seven games. He was an honorable mention for South Division Player of the Week two weeks ago, won the honor last week, and was an honorable mention once again this week. Eric Garavaglia's shutout was his second of the season, making him only the third Wildcats goalie to have a multiple-shutout season (the previous two were Mike Jarboe with 3 in 2007-08 and current assistant coach Thomas Billick with 4 in 2005-06). He has more shutouts this season than every Wildcats goalie in the previous two seasons combined. Captain Steven Hoshaw is a +8 over his last five games. His +12 on the season ties him for fifth in the league in that category.
Wildcats raise money for Susan G. Komen Foundation
The Wildcats' first Pink in the Rink night was a major success! The Wildcats wore pink jerseys, with many fans getting in the act as well with pink shirts of their own to support breast cancer research. During the game, each jersey was up for bids in a silent auction. In total, the Wildcats will be donating over $3500 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation to aid in their research efforts.
Veteran forwards Ryan Frost and Sean Keane were the big names on the night: each player got on the scoresheet (Frost with a goal and an assist, Keane with an assist) and their jerseys sold for the highest prices at $500 each.
Preview: 11/4-5 at Corpus Christi
The Wildcats will take on the Corpus Christi Ice Rays yet again, this time in Corpus Christi on Thursday and Friday.
The Wildcats are 4-0-1 this season against the IceRays, and 6-0-1 all-time against the IceRays/Alpena IceDiggers organization.
Once again, expect a rough-and-tumble affair: The IceRays lead or are tied for the lead in the NAHL in a number of penalty-related categories: 758 PIM, 32 majors, 13 game misconducts, and 1 gross misconduct. Brandon Marshall leads the NAHL in penalty minutes with 93, and Josh Munford leads the league with 6 majors. The two teams have had seven fights between them in their five previous games.
While the games this weekend were somewhat quiet on the penalty front, the IceRays also average more than two and a half times as many minutes in the box at home as they do on the road: 71.7 to 27.3. Additionally, a series of dirty hits this past weekend will likely add fuel to an already blazing fire. Wichita Falls' Mikhail Sentyurin and Corpus Christi's Kevin Crowe each were given major penalties and ejected following illegal hits in the second period on Saturday.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
The Wildcats' Coaches Radio Show continues this week at El Diablo Burrito on Kell Boulevard! Come down and hear Drew and the coaches talk about this past week's game against Corpus Christi, and see what's in store as the Wildcats play against them once again this weekend. Plus you'll get to hear from one of your favorite players in the "Talk to the Team" segment. It all happens Tuesday at 7:30; if you can't be there tune in on 94.9 KOLI, The Outlaw.
Broomball, adult hockey, and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the schedule under the Games and Ice Events tab! Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Justin Russell in the Wildcats office, 940-716-5587.
Alumni Report
Dan Sexton was placed on injured reserve by the Anaheim Ducks this week after undergoing surgery to repair a broken nose when he took a shot to the face last week. He is expected to miss at least two weeks with the injury.
Andrew Conboy netted his third goal of the year in the third period of a back and forth affair against Syracuse on Wednesday. His was the second of a four-goal barrage that propelled the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 5-4 victory.
Kyle Kraemer is skating for the ECHL's Ontario Reign, out of Ontario, California. Through five games, the former Wildcats' captain has three points including a goal and an assist in their season opening win against Stockton.
NCAA Division III hockey kicks off their season this week! We'll update you on how the former Wildcats at the D-III levels fared on Monday.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 1, 2010
- 2009-10 Game Used Jerseys on Sale Now - Corpus Christi IceRays
- NAHL Announces Players of the Week - NAHL
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- Cats take two out of three for the second weekend in a row - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Corpus Christi to Hold Faith and Family Night Thursday - Corpus Christi IceRays
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