Streak Extends To Three Games
November 14, 2011 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Two wins over the IceRays on Friday and Saturday brought on two big firsts for the 2011-12 Wildcats-- first back-to-back wins, and the first weekend sweep of a team. With last Saturday's victory, the current winning streak stands at three games.
Friday's game was a close one all throughout, with the Wildcats tenaciously holding on for a 2-1 victory. Matt Leon stopped 37 of 38 shots, including 30 in a row after the IceRays' lone goal. The Wildcats got on the board only 11 seconds into the game, as Tyler Hope deflected a Jake Webber shot past Corpus Christi goalie Anthony Stolarz for a quick 1-0 lead. Tanner Fahlstedt was credited with the secondary assist. The IceRays struck back in the final four minutes of the period though, as they netted a shorthanded goal by Travis Maxwell on a 3-on-2, tying the game at a goal apiece. The evenly played opening period finished with a goal on 12 shots for each team.
Leon shut everything down from that point on, facing down 11 shots in the second period and 15 in the third, stopping all of them. The offense did what they needed to do, and gave him a lead to work with at the 17:24 mark of the second. Zach Pochiro's pass from behind the net went to Nick Szopinski at the left wing boards. His shot from a tough angle was stopped by Stolarz, but Jason Eddy was sitting right at the doorstep and poked in the rebound for a 2-1 lead. The IceRays outshot the Wildcats 15-6 in the third, but Leon stopped everything, even with a minute of 6 on 5 play that was spent mostly in front of him.
Saturday's Military Appreciation Night game was another chance for Leon to shine, as he picked up the 2-0 shutout victory, the first shutout of the year for a Wildcats' goalie, and the first of his NAHL career. The game started out as a goaltending duel, with the netminders Leon and Chris Komma pitching the double shutout until well into the second period. With a penalty coming up on the IceRays, the Wildcats pulled Leon from the net for an extra attacker, and scored as Nathan Chasteen sent the puck toward the net from the left wing boards, and defenseman Brad Shumway, who had joined the rush, tipped it in from the top of the crease for a 1-0 lead. Adam Barlow picked up the secondary assist.
Leon's perfect 29 of 29 night and Shumway's goal would be enough, but the Wildcats added an insurance tally in the third with Chasteen picking up a goal to go with his assist. Tyler Hope added an assist on Chasteen's goal, which came with 3:36 left.
Typical of Military Appreciation Night games, the rough stuff was common throughout, including two fights. Barlow traded knuckles with Seth Blair in the second period, while Zach Pochiro threw down with Phil Pietroniro in the third. Aside from that, the hitting was big all throughout, but penalties were few and far between, with only two power plays coming between the teams.
WEEKEND NOTES: For the first time this season, the Wildcats' did not have a power play at all in Saturday's game. They were 2 for 2 on the penalty kill. The Wildcats went 11 of 12 on the penalty kill over the four games against the IceRays in the past two weeks.
Preview: Wildcats at New Mexico November 18-20
The Wildcats will face the New Mexico Mustangs this weekend for three games out in Rio Rancho, NM. The teams have yet to face each other this season. The Mustangs are behind the Wildcats in the South Division standings at 4-12-0. Their four victories this season have come against Chicago, Amarillo, Topeka (via shootout), and Texas (via shootout).
Last season, the Wildcats were 6-5-1 against the Mustangs. Tanner Fahlstedt had 9 points in those 12 games. The Wildcats also feature a member of last year's Mustangs team playing for them currently in defenseman Jake Webber. Additionally, former Wildcats' defenseman Jake Strzalkowski is playing for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs are led in scoring by Adam Chapie, who has 11 goals and 9 assists for 20 points. Tied with him for the team lead in assists are Evan Johnston and Jayson Angus. Charles Baldwin is another player to watch out for: of his 18 goals last season, 9 came against the Wildcats.
Randy Graham and former Texas Tornado netminder Jake Stafford will be between the pipes for the Mustangs. Graham is 3-8-0, with a 5.01 GAA and .875 save percentage. Stafford is 1-2-0, with a 5.33 GAA and .866 save percentage since joining New Mexico.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
We're on the air! Join us for the Wildcats' Coaches' Radio Show at P2 The Deuce downtown on Tuesdays 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.
Adult hockey and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the schedule under the Games and Ice Events tab! 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.
Alumni Report
NORTH AMERICAN PRO LEAGUES
Dan Sexton is the second-leading scorer on the AHL's Syracuse Crunch (right behind another NAHL product, former Texarkana/St. Louis Bandit Patrick Maroon). Through 13 games, Sexton has 4 goals and 10 assists for 14 points.
Chad Costello had three goals and two assists over the weekend for the ECHL's Colorado Eagles as they split a two-game set with the Utah Grizzlies. Costello was the first star in Saturday's 3-1 win, as he scored the Eagles' final two goals, and assisted on the first.
Anthony Iaquinto tallied two goals, an assist, and a fight for the FHL's Brooklyn Aviators as they went 1-1-1 in three games.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 1
Cal Heeter picked up two victories in net, allowing one goal each night in Ohio State's sweep of Northern Michigan. Sean Duddy also had two assists.
Daniel Gentzler picked up his first collegiate point, tallying an assist in Colgate's 4-0 win over Dartmouth.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 3
Erick Cinotti stopped 29 of 30, and Ryan Frost had the game-winner on Saturday as Castleton beat St. Anselm 2-1.
Brandon Stroud had a goal and an assist in Western New England's 5-2 win over Johnson and Wales on Thursday at the Pepperidge Farm Tournament.
Wentworth's Skylur and Shaun Jameson each had a pair of points in a pair of wins over Franklin Pierce and Fitchburg State. Skylur had a goal against Franklin, and an assist against Fitchburg, while Shaun has an assist in each game. Mike Jarboe got the win in goal over Fitchburg State, 2-0.
Bill Colclough had a goal and an assist as Massachusetts-Dartmouth beat Becker 7-3 and lost to Massachusetts-Boston 5-4 over the weekend.
Jason McAloon made a splash for Lake Forest on Friday, with a third period hat trick in a 6-3 win over Concordia, WI. McAloon's first of the night tied the game at two, his second goal gave them the lead, and his third one gave Lake Forest a 5-2 lead.
Adam Cardwell tallied four assists for Wisconsin-River Falls as they beat and tied St. Norbert 6-3 and 5-5.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 14, 2011
- NAHL Announces Combat Hockey 3 Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Tornado Weekly - Texas Tornado
- Jr. K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
- Streak Extends To Three Games - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- 'Runners Stomp Bulls in 6-2 Win - Topeka Pilots
- Rays Report - IceRays Swept - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Warriors Participate in Eastern Michigan Food Bank Benefit - Michigan Warriors
- St. John's IceCaps and From Pro To Junior on Puska on Pucks - OSC Original by Denis Puska
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