Ground Gained With Sweep
February 25, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats got back on the right track this weekend as they took home two victories to close out their six-game homestand. On Friday, they held off the Odessa Jackalopes for a 4-2 win, then followed it up with a 5-1 final on Saturday.
A fast start propelled the Wildcats to a 4-2 victory on Friday. It all started in the first period as Conor O'Neil picked up his first shorthanded goal, as he came in around the Odessa defense, and slid the puck low and hard past Odessa netminder Nick Deery for a 1-0 lead. Just six minutes into the second, it was the other special teams unit capitalizing, as Tyler Ledford scored a powerplay goal for a 2-0 lead. Only 39 seconds later, O'Neil scored again for a 3-0 lead.
Odessa got on the board midway through the period, ending Evan Cowley 's shutout bid at the nine-minute mark as Corey Hoffman tapped a puck home for a 3-1 game. But the Wildcats got it back late in the second, as George Pagonis scored a goal to go with an earlier assist for a 4-1 game.
The Jackalopes made it interesting late, as Brett Wagner scored a powerplay goal, cutting their deficit back to two goals with 2:16 left, but the "ËCats defense held up late to carry a 4-2 win.
On Saturday, it was a crazy bounce that ended up as the eventual game-winner, as the Wildcats picked up a 5-1 win. Kyle Bauman opened the scoring for the Wildcats, sending Eliot Grauer 's centering feed to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead less then five minutes in. As the opening period came to its final minute, a shot that looked more like something from a billiards trick shot contest gave the Wildcats a 2-0 edge. A Matt Robinson faceoff win went back to Jake Townsend, who then sent a pass across the blue line to Brian Leblanc . Leblanc fired off a shot that went off Odessa goalie Nick Majerle's blocker, bounced off the glass behind him, off his back, and into the net. The goal was Leblanc's first in the NAHL.
The Jackalopes got themselves to within a goal as Matt Volonnino scored early in the second, but the Wildcats picked themselves up and got it back 1:40 later, as Conor O'Neil's hot streak continued, scoring his third of the weekend for a 3-1 game.
The recently-hot powerplay continued its streak in the third as Nick Farmer scored for a 4-1 lead 42 seconds into the third period. Tyler Ledford added a late one for good measure: Will Vosejpka lifted a puck skyward, gloved down by Colin Staub, and then tapped over to Ledford who slid it in for his second goal of the weekend.
The Wildcats get the Jackalopes three more times this season, the next one coming in Odessa on March 13.
WEEKEND NOTES: The Wildcats held the Jacks to single-digits in shots on goal in five of six periods this weekend, while topping fifteen shots in a period three times... The Jackalopes were 0-for-23 on the powerplay against the Wildcats before scoring a pair with the man advantage on Friday... Conor O'Neil's shorthanded goal was the seventh this season for the Wildcats, matching a team record set in 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2010-11. Their ratio of seven scored to two allowed is a franchise-best.
NAHL SOUTH NOTES: Corpus Christi split with Amarillo in a series marred by a near-bench-clearing brawl following the IceRays' 2-1 win... Topeka swept their two-game series with the Texas Tornado.
NAHL NOTES : Only five playoff spots are left up for grabs in the entire league. In the South, it is down to Wichita Falls and Corpus Christi for the final spot, with the IceRays' lead reduced to five points. In the North, a total of six teams will make it in, with the final three spots coming down to a fight between Johnstown (56 points, 8 games remaining), Port Huron (52 and 8), Springfield (48 and 8), Janesville (46 and 11), and Michigan (41 and 10). In the Central, Minot is in position to possibly clinch next week, with Coulee Region 17 points back.
Scouting the Topeka Roadrunners, March 1-2
The Wildcats get the Topeka Roadrunners another four times this season, including two games in Topeka to kick off the month of March. The Wildcats are 2-6 against Topeka this season, but have lost their last four with them.
Topeka 's top scorer this season has been Sean Gaffney. He is currently second among all NAHL players in points. Tyler Andrew is another one to watch out for: he had the game-winning goal in both of the Wildcats' games last weekend at home against the Roadrunners and is being watched closely by NHL Central Scouting.
The Wildcats are led by Eliot Grauer, who has 9 points (7 goals, 2 assists) against Topeka this season. Conor O'Neil and Tyler Ledford each have 4 assists against the Roadrunners this season.
The Wildcats will see the Roadrunners again to finish out the season on March 29 and 30.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
We're on the air! Join us for the Wildcats' Coaches' Radio Show at our new show host, El Mejicano on Wednesdays at 7 pm. The Voice of the Wildcats, Drew Pelto, will interview the Wildcats' coaches and your favorite Wildcats' players. If you can't get to the show, tune in on the radio at 7:30 pm on 94.9, KOLI, The Outlaw. All in attendance wearing a Wildcats' jersey will get 20% off!
Get out on the ice! We have our March open skating schedule on the Games and Ice Events tab at WFWildcatsHockey.com. We also offer birthday party packages at a Wildcats game or an open skating session. Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Sarah Scrivner in the Wildcats office.
Become a fan on Facebook! Get all our updates at http://www.facebook.com/WFWildcats
And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @WFWildcats!
Alumni Report
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Cal Heeter stopped 30 of 31 on Sunday as the Adirondack Phantoms beat the Binghamton Senators 2-1.
Chad Costello had a pair of assists Saturday as his Bridgeport Sound Tigers lost 3-2 to Manchester.
Dan Sexton had his first multi-point game of the year, tallying a goal and an assist for the Norfolk Admirals in their 3-2 shootout win over Providence on Saturday.
ECHL
Kyle Kraemer 's point streak is at five games now, dating back to February 17. In that time he has 4 goals and 2 assists
NCAA DIVISION 1
Kyle Delaurell scored twice and added an assist as Air Force beat RIT 5-3 on Friday.
Brian Sheehan totalled three assists for Sacred Heart in a 7-3 win over Holy Cross and a 6-6 tie with Bentley.
NCAA DIVISION 3
Tournament time is underway in Division 3 hockey!
Castleton beat New England College 6-1 on Saturday, with Ryan Frost tallying two assists and Erick Cinotti stopping 18 of 19 shots.
Brett Kaneshiro picked up two assists as Curry lost to Johnson and Wales 6-4.
Renato Engler scored the first goal in Lawrence's 3-0 win over Northland on Friday.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2013
- Spezia Named North Division Star of the Week - Port Huron Fighting Falcons
- Carkeek Makes Plans for 2013-14 Season - Springfield Jr. Blues
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Attention: Tickets to Wednesday's 10am Game - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Ground Gained With Sweep - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Wild Finish in Aberdeen - Brookings Blizzard
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.
