Kucera's Two Points not Enough against Roadrunners
Published on March 29, 2014 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Ben Kucera had a goal and an assist, and Todd Koritzinsky scored his second goal of the weekend, but the Topeka Roadrunners attack proved too much for the Wichita Falls Wildcats (31-25-4) to handle, as they fell 6-2 at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Saturday night.
For the second night in a row, the Roadrunners opened the scoring within four minutes of the opening faceoff. Yu Hikosaka snuck behind the Wildcats defense, accepted a breakout pass from Ryan Polin, and skated in on David Zevnik. His initial shot was stopped by the Wildcats netminder, but Hikosaka cleaned up the rebound to make it 1-0.
Topeka doubled its advantage at the 11:34 mark, as Jasen Fernsler finished off a textbook transition rush with Willie Brown and Zach Glienke, beating Zevnik with a wrist shot just inside the post to make it 2-0.
The Wildcats pulled one back less than a minute later, thanks in large part to a strong forecheck by Rudy Junda. With the Roadrunners looking to break out, Junda knocked the puck out of midair, allowing Kucera to turn and get a shot on net. His first effort was saved, but he made no mistake on the rebound, wristing it past Drew Vogler for his 12th goal of the season.
The Roadrunners restored their two-goal cushion soon after though, as a shot from an acute angle pinballed off the post and was tapped home by Jerad Tafoya to make it 3-1 at the 14:00 mark of the first period.
Topeka continued to stretch the advantage in the second period, scoring twice within 16 seconds to make it 5-1. First, Glienke found the net, tucking the puck between Zevnik's pad and the post on a two-on-one. Seconds later, Fernsler picked up his second of the night on a three-on-one.
In the third, both teams picked up a goal, with Michal Uhrik scoring on a deflection in front of the net to make it 6-1, before Koritzinsky scored through a screen to register his eighth goal of the year to take the scoreline to 6-2.
The Wildcats are next in action on Friday, April 11, when they take on the Amarillo Bulls in the first round of the 2014 Robertson Cup playoffs. Video coverage will be available on FASTHockey.com, with an audio-only broadcast accessible on UStream.com. Fans can also follow the Wildcats on Twitter (@WFWildcats) for in-game score updates.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2014
- Central Champs Again - Austin Bruins
- 'Rays End 2013-14 Season with 3-0 Shutout over Killer Bees - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Kucera's Two Points not Enough against Roadrunners - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Tomahawks Lose to Jets in Physical Game 4-1 - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Wilderness Score Shootout Win at Coulee Region - Minnesota Wilderness
- Tomahawks Clinch Robertson Cup Playoff Spot for Second Straight Season - Johnstown Tomahawks
- Matt Perry Seventh Bobcat to Commit to Division I Program - Bismarck Bobcats
- Bobcats Topped by Austin 4-1 - Bismarck Bobcats
- Wild Lose In Overtime To Aberdeen But Clinch Playoff Spot - Wenatchee Wild
- Eichstadt Scores Game-Winner, 10 Straight Wins - Aberdeen Wings
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