Starting with a Split
Published on January 7, 2013 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats started off the 2013 half of the season by splitting on home ice with the Topeka Roadrunners. They came up short on their comeback on Friday, losing 3-2, but struck back for a 5-2 win on Saturday.
Friday's game looked good early on as Conor O'Neil gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead through the first 20 minutes. But mistakes killed the second period for the Wildcats. While they out-chanced the Roadrunners 12-8 and outshot them 11-10, Topeka managed three goals, including two from former Wildcat Ross Luedtke for a 3-1 lead. The Wildcats tried to come back late, but only got to within a goal, as Kyle Bauman slipped a puck in literally moments before the final horn sounded for a 3-2 final score. Evan Cowley stopped 18 of 21, while his counterpart, Spencer Viele, stopped 34 of 36 for the Roadrunners.
On Saturday, the Wildcats once again jumped out to an early lead as O'Neil struck again, this time just two minutes into the contest. The opening frame ended up as a back and forth affair, as Topeka's leading scorer, Sean Gaffney, tied things up midway through on an unassisted goal. The Wildcats' previously cold-running power play came alive late in the first as Sami Salminen atoned nicely for missing a pair of open nets the night before, scoring a power play goal with just under 3 minutes to play in the first to give the Wildcats a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
The 'Cats continued dominating the scoreboard in the second period as Eliot Grauer scored midway through to extend the lead to 3-1. Conor O'Neil added his second of the night, picking up a loose puck and using Matt Robinson as a decoy on a 2-on-1, shooting high on Viele for a 4-1 game.
A goaltending change by the Roadrunners did them some good, waking up the team enough for Michal Pastor to cut the deficit to two goals, but the Wildcats' defense stood up and shut down the barrage from Topeka the rest of the way. O'Neil finished off the hat trick with an empty-net goal with 1:10 to play, sealing the 5-2 victory.
The 'Cats will face the Roadrunners again in Topeka in two weeks.
NOTES: Patrick Yudez, out with a concussion since October 13, made his return to the lineup on Friday... The Wildcats are 8-4-0 in games this season where they have a fighting major, but are only 3-15-2 in games without; this weekend bucked those two trends, winning without a fight Saturday and losing with one on Friday... Conor O'Neil's hat trick is the first for the Wildcats since Tanner Fahlstedt did it almost exactly a year ago-- January 6, 2012 at New Mexico.
AWARD WINNER?: Pay attention to NAHL.com-with his five-point effort and hat trick on Saturday, Conor O'Neil will almost certainly be in the running for the Combat Hockey South Division Star of the Week honors. The official announcement is expected to come later today.
Scouting the Odessa Jackalopes, January 11-12
The Wildcats' homestand continues this weekend with two games against the Odessa Jackalopes. The 'Cats are 1-1 against them this year, splitting a weekend series in Odessa back in November.
The Jackalopes have struggled this season after making the playoffs in 2011-12. They are 5-27-2, and are at the bottom of the NAHL in goals allowed per game, goals scored per game, shots on goal per game, and shots on goal allowed per game. Leading scorer Lawrence Cornellier has averaged a point per game-17 goals and 17 assists in 34 games. The Jacks have also been active on the trading wire lately, sending veterans Tyler Minx and Ryan Doucet in a trade to Jamestown a week ago. They also send former Wildcat Pat Thompson to the Soo Eagles.
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 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.
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Alumni Report
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Cal Heeter stopped 30 of 31 shots for the Adirondack Phantoms in a 3-1 overtime win against the Connecticut Whale on Saturday.
Zach Trotman leads all Providence Bruins defensemen in scoring. He had four assists in the final four games of the 2012 calendar year.
Chad Costello was called up to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the end of December. In four games, he has a goal and three assists.
EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
The aforementioned Chad Costello still leads the ECHL in scoring even after being called up to the AHL.
Andrew Conboy was traded to the Cincinnati Cyclones on December 28. He has two goals and 23 PIM in 5 games with Cincinnati.
NCAA DIVISION 1
Daniel Gentzler had three goals for Colgate as they swept Sacred Heart 6-2 on Friday and 9-0 on Saturday.
Brett Hartung scored two goals in Bentley's 6-3 win over Northeastern on Saturday.
NCAA DIVISION 3
Curtis Heinz assisted on both goals as Wentworth beat Fitchburg State 2-1 on Sunday.
Ryan Frost had two goals over the weekend for Castleton, while Erick Cinotti stopped 25 of 27 shots in their win on Saturday over Plattsburgh.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2013
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Wings Weekly - Aberdeen Wings
- Starting with a Split - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Brandon Hawkins Makes D-I Committment to Bowling Green - Texas Tornado
- Brookings Explodes in 3rd Period - Brookings Blizzard
- IceRays Squeeze Past Jacks, 5-4 - Odessa Jackalopes
- West Division-Leading Wild Fall to Ice Dogs - Wenatchee Wild
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