Piazza Scores as Jackalopes Rout Wildcats
January 31, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Sam Piazza and Will Vosejpka scored for the Wichita Falls Wildcats (22-17-3), but the Jackalopes proved too much for the Wildcats to handle, as Odessa rolled to a 9-2 win at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Friday night.
The Jackalopes got off to a strong start in the contest, scoring on the power play less than two minutes into the game. With Hogan Davidson in the box for tripping, Mathieu Briand took the puck behind the net and fed in front for Chad Guderian to bury to make it 1-0.
Wichita Falls responded well, throwing shot after shot towards the Odessa net, but it was not until the 17:44 mark of the frame that the Wildcats found the back of the net.
Evan Okeley picked up the puck at his own blue line, gained center ice and dumped the puck into the right-wing corner. Davidson raced to the loose disc and centered for Piazza crashing the crease. Piazza's initial effort was stopped by Eric Hancock, but the captain would not be denied, as he tucked the fluttering puck over the goal line to make it 1-1.
The Wildcats took the lead early in the second period, with Vosejpka poking the puck through the legs of Hancock for his 15th goal of the season, but it went downhill from there.
Odessa responded with five unanswered goals to take a 6-2 lead, including goals within 54 seconds and 27 secons of each other. Matt Beranek started the scoring spurt, followed by Guderian picking up his second of the night. Andrew McLean then got involved in the action, followed by Chris Taff and Mathieu Briand.
The Jackalopes picked up three more tallies in the third period. Alex Alger picked up his eighth of the year, followed by Guderian completing his hat trick with rush through the Wildcats defense. Lukas Laub finished off the rout, scoring with 43 seconds remaining to make it 9-2.
The Wildcats and Odessa Jackalopes will meet against on Saturday at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Team Poster Night. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a free 2013-14 team poster courtesy of Cells-U-More and U.S. Cellular. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Fans that cannot make it to the KYC can catch a video stream on FASTHockey.com, with an audio-only broadcast available on UStream.com.
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