Fairbanks Tips Wild
February 7, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Fairbanks, AK. - The Wenatchee Wild took on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs Thursday night in the first of a three-game set at the Big Dipper Ice Arena and it was a late second period goal that proved to be the difference, as the Ice Dogs slipped past Wenatchee 3-2.
Chandler Madry opened the scoring for Fairbanks at 13:41 of the opening period, assisted by Willie Brooks, for a 1-0 Ice Dogs lead. The lead grew soon after, on a Taylor Munson goal, assisted by Viktor Liljegren at 15:45, putting Fairbanks up 2-0.
The Wild got on the board early in the second, as James Mathias (Ontario, California) rolled one through the goaltender and in. The goal, at 3:06, was assisted by Gadel Gumerov (Nizhnekamsk, Russia) and Christian Salvato (La Verne, California), bringing Wenatchee to within one, at 2-1. Just over 11 minutes later, Omar Mullan (Dearborn, Michigan) popped home a rebound of an Alex Bontje (Nobleton, Ontario) shot at 14:33, bringing the Wild even, at 2-2. Brett Gervais then scored from Lonnie Clary at 17:35, putting the Ice Dogs back on top, at 3-2.
The game moved through the third period with no scoring and few shots on either goal. Wenatchee would pull their goaltender in the final minute, but weren't able to net the equalizer, as Fairbanks held on for the 3-2 win. "They (Ice Dogs) played harder than we did" said Wenatchee Wild Head Coach Bliss Littler. "They won all the 50/50 battles. Chase Perry kept us in the hockey game tonight. When you play the best team in the league you've got to have a better effort than that. I don't know if it was a bad effort, but against the best team in the league, it wasn't a good enough effort." Littler continued, saying "When you're playing the best team in the league, your power play has to give you something. Right now on this trip, we've definitely struggled on the power play, so we need work, see some video tomorrow and figure out a way get the puck in the net when we have the extra guy on the ice."
Fairbanks outshot the Wild 30-22. Chase Perry (Andover, Minnesota) made 27 saves for Wenatchee; Kevin Aldridge had 20 stops for the Ice Dogs. The Wild was 0-for-2 on the power play and 4-of-4 on the penalty kill.
Wenatchee is now 22-18-5; Fairbanks is now 33-13-0.
Wenatchee remains in Fairbanks for two more games tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday, before returning home to face the Soo on February 14th and 15th. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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