Fairbanks Edges Wild In Shootout
February 9, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Fairbanks, AK. - The Wenatchee Wild took on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs Saturday night in the third of a three-game set at the Big Dipper Ice Arena and it took extra time and then some to settle things, with Fairbanks winning a 10 round shootout to take the game, 2-1.
The Wild got the game's first goal off an odd man rush, as Brendan Harris (Las Vegas, Nevada) filled the lane, wristing a shot into the net from about 20 feet straight on. Alex Rauter (Morristown, New Jersey) assisted at 12:14, giving Wenatchee a 1-0 lead.
Ethan Somoza tied the game for the Ice Dogs in the second period, assisted by Hans Gorowsky at 14:50, knotting the game at 1-1.
In the third, both teams battled hard but neither could find the back of the net and the game would head to overtime, tied 1-1.
In the shootout, Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California) scored in round one, Jakob Ahlgren (Fergus Falls, Minnesota) scored in round three and Harris scored in round seven for the Wild. However, Fairbanks responded with goals by Gorowsky in round two, Todd Burgess in round five, Lonnie Clary in round seven and then got the winner from Nick Hinz in round ten, taking the shootout 4-3, the game 2-1 and grabbing the extra standings point in the process. "One of our better efforts of the year" said Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler. "One of those nights where you feel you deserve a better fate, but sometimes that's what home ice advantage does. They (Fairbanks) picked up a break when they needed it, got a big save when they needed it. I though Chase Perry was outstanding. Overall, I was pretty pleased with our effort." Littler continued, saying "I'm excited to go home. We've played 12 of our last 14 on the road, we finish the regular season 11 at home, 2 on the road, so our playoff fate will be decided at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. Kenai finishes 2 at home and 11 on the road." Littler concluded by saying "Probably deserved a better fate (tonight) but that's hockey. We won some games when we shouldn't have and maybe tonight we could have had a bounce go our way, but overall the last two games I was real happy with how we played. We competed hard and we stood up to them. They're two good hockey games."
The Ice Dogs outshot Wenatchee 24-23 on the night. Chase Perry (Andover, Minnesota) made 23 saves for the Wild and Kevin Aldridge had 22 saves for the Ice Dogs. The Wild was 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-of-1 on the penalty kill.
Wenatchee is now 22-19-6; Fairbanks is now 35-13-0.
Wenatchee returns home to face the Soo on February 14th and 15th with games starting at 7:05pm PST both nights. That starts a stretch where the Wild plays 11 of its last 13 games at the Town Toyota Center. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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North American Hockey League Stories from February 9, 2014
- Amarillo Bulls Receive Super Team of the Year Award - Amarillo Bulls
- Bednard Commits to Bowling Green - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Fairbanks Edges Wild In Shootout - Wenatchee Wild
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