Cats Take Two Out of Three
Published on October 25, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Despite a tough road schedule, the Wildcats came away with four points on the weekend, sweeping New Mexico on Saturday and Sunday, after dropping a game in Amarillo on Friday.
On Friday, the Wildcats started out strong, but couldn't hold on to finish out, losing 5-3 to the Amarillo Bulls. The Wildcats got on the board twice in the second period via the power play, with Chris Leone and Mac Olson putting up a 2-0 lead midway through the contest. 45 seconds after the second goal, Amarillo would strike back, cutting the game to a 2-1 deficit before the second intermission. The Bulls turned momentum over to their side and took a 3-2 lead just four minutes into the third period. The Wildcats would tie the game once more at 3, as Keil Zornow tallied his first career goal on a shot from the point that hit the post, then bounced its way in the net through some confusion in front. The Bulls would regain the lead for good midway through the period and add in a late goal for the 5-3 victory, giving them a temporary spot atop the NAHL South Division.
After a bus ride continuing westward, the Wildcats faced off with the New Mexico Mustangs on Saturday night, and poured on the offense right from the outset. Sean Keane got the 'Cats on the board at the 7:21 mark of the first with a blast in the back of the net off Mac Olson's faceoff win. Then with 2 minutes left in the period, Chris Eckler scored his first NAHL goal, poking a puck in on a goalmouth scramble. The second period saw more of the same, with two more goals up on the board for the Wildcats. Drew Allen scored on an odd-man rush, roofing a feed from Tanner Fahlstedt, then Mikhail Sentyurin kept the Wildcats' power play streak alive, firing one in from Steven Hoshaw.
Meanwhile at the other end of the ice, Eric Garavaglia was near-perfect, stopping the first 22 shots he faced before the Mustangs finally got on the board in the third. The Wildcats would get it back though with Sean Keane putting in his second of the night, capping things at 5-1. The Wildcats' penalty killing units kept their streak of perfection alive, killing off seven penalties (including a total of 2:55 of 5-on-3 time) to extend their streak to 23 penalties in a row killed off.
Sunday saw the Wildcats getting off to a slower start, but it all ended well, with a 5-3 victory. The Mustangs outshot the Wildcats 15-10 in the first period, two of which found their way in the net for a 2-0 New Mexico lead at the end of the first. But the 'Cats came roaring back with 21 shots on goal in the second period and three goals in a ten-minute span. Mikhail Sentyurin scored for the second night in a row on the power play, followed by Mac Olson knotting things at two with a power play goal of his own. Controversy erupted at the 14:10 mark as a puck appeared to hit off the crossbar, but the goal light came on. At the next stoppage, a conference with the goal judge resulted in Ryan Frost getting a goal that gave the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. The Mustangs ended the Wildcats' perfect penalty killing streak at 27, retying the game at 3 at the end of the second.
The game stayed tied for much of the third until Mac Olson carried the puck into the New Mexico end off a long pass from Dallas Tucker and put the puck high, just above goalie Matt Madore's shoulder and under the crossbar for a 4-3 lead. Olson added an empty netter from his own end of the ice, finishing off his hat trick and putting the nail in the coffin at 5-3.
WEEKEND NOTES: The Wildcats went a combined 21/22 on the penalty kill on the weekend, and got the power play rolling as well going 5 for 14 on the weekend... After getting an Honorable Mention in the Player of the Week honors last week, Mac Olson is in the running for the award again this week. Keep your eyes open to NAHL.com to see who gets the award!
Preview: 10/29-31 vs. Corpus Christi and New Mexico
The Wildcats will take on the Corpus Christi Ice Rays for the fifth and sixth times in the month of October with games in Wichita Falls on Friday and Saturday, and will travel out to New Mexico for the fourth game of the month against the Mustangs on Sunday. Friday and Saturday's games start at 7:05 pm CDT, while Sunday's game will be at 6 pm CDT.
The Wildcats are 2-0-1 this season against the IceRays, and 4-0-1 all-time against the IceRays/Alpena IceDiggers organization. The Wildcats lost to them 4-3 in a shootout back on October 1, won 8-4 on October 2, and won in overtime 2-1 on October 15. Sean Keane and Mac Olson have been IceRay killers this season: Olson had a hat trick in the 8-4 win on October 2, while Olson scored both goals in the 2-1 victory on October 15.
Expect a rough-and-tumble affair: The IceRays lead the NAHL in a number of penalty-related categories: 708 PIM (214 more minutes in the box than the next closest team, the Fresno Monsters), 30 majors, 139 minors, 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 major penalties.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats are also a near-perfect 2-0-1 against the New Mexico Mustangs this year following the sweep this past weekend. The only other game was a 3-2 shootout loss back on October 7. The aforementioned Olson has also taken it to the Mustangs this year, with five points in three games, all of which came this weekend. Mikhail Sentyurin has also scored a goal in each game in New Mexico.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
The Wildcats' Coaches Radio Show continues this week at the Oyster Bar and Grill 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 three 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.
Pink In The Rink! The Wildcats will help raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation on October 29 with a jersey silent auction. The players will wear special pink ribbon jerseys for the game, with bids starting at $100. So come down and see the Wildcats face the Corpus Christi IceRays, go home with a jersey, and help a great cause all at the same time!
Halloween at the Kay Yeager Coliseum! Wear your costume to the rink on Saturday night as the Wildcats face off with the Corpus Christi IceRays at 7:05 pm. Not sure what to wear? Dress as a caveman and get a voucher for a free ticket to a future game!
Alumni Report
Dan Sexton has had a rough go of it in the start of the 2010-2011 season. He has been held off the scoreboard through seven games, was victim to a hit to the head that saw Phoenix's Shane Doan get a three game suspension, and took a puck to the face on a shot from Detroit's Ruslan Salei on Saturday.
Andrew Conboy is lighting the lamp early this season. After an 8-goal campaign last year, he has scored twice and added an assist for the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs through six games. He had a goal and an assist on Tuesday in a 5-2 win over Rochester.
Chad Costello scored another two goals for the CHL's Tulsa Oilers in a 6-4 loss to Bossier-Shreveport on Tuesday. He is currently second on the Oilers in scoring.
Ville Aman had a goal and an assist in Huddinge's 4-1 win over Wings HC Arlanda on Wednesday, then added another goal and an assist in their 6-2 victory on Sunday over Nyn=E4shamn.
Kyle Delaurell picked up a goal and four assists over the weekend as Air Force split a two-game set with American International, losing Friday 5-3, and winning Saturday 12-0.
Sean Duddy is wearing the A as Ohio State's alternate captain this season.
Zach Trotman has averaged a point per game on the season for Lake Superior State, scoring three goals and adding three assists through six games.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 25, 2010
- Wild Raises Over $21,000 for Wellness Place - Wenatchee Wild
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- Cats Take Two Out of Three - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Outback Steakhouse, New Home of the IceRays' Coaches Show - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Texas Swirls Past Corpus Christi, 8-3 - Corpus Christi IceRays
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