Taylor's Hat Trick Lifts Catters to Eighth Straight

February 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release


Columbia, SC- Max Taylor rung up his second hat trick of the season and six Wildcatters had multiple points as the Wildcatters extended their winning streak to eight games with an 8-4 win at over the Columbia Inferno Friday.

The Wildcatters took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission by virtue of a Moises Gutierrez goal-his seventh of the year and first of two Friday-at 15:04 of the opening frame. Colin Nicholson would assist on the even-strength tally.

Columbia would get the first goal of the second period as Jeremy Hall beat Wildcatters net minder Jeff Pietrasiak 1:42 into the period. Scott Champagne and Kevin Baker would assist on the first goal. Defenseman David Schulz, playing in his first game back from a shoulder injury, would combine with Champagne to assist on the second.

Taylor would score the first two legs of his hat trick with back-to-back tallies at 2:10 and 4:57 to give Texas a 3-1 lead.

Owen Fussey brought the Inferno back within a goal at 13:37 with a power play goal. The score would remain 3-2 into the second intermission.

Baker would begin a five-goal third period for the first-place Wildcatters with his 13th goal of the year 1:06 into the period. Champagne would wrap up his playmaker with his third assist of the night. AJ Thelen, who had a three-assist final frame, would get his first helper of the game on the play.

Champagne would get a goal of his own at 3:32 to give the Catters a 5-2 lead. Taylor and Cleve Kinley would be credited with assists.

Gutierrez rang up his second goal of the game to make the score 6-2, taking a feed from Thelen at 6:28.

Columbia would counter with its first of two third period power play goals when Patrick Wellar found the back of the net for the seventh time this year at 7:06.

Taylor would complete the hat trick with his 18th goal of the season, the lone Texas power play goal, at 13:13. Taylor also registered a hat trick in a three goal performance in a 10-5 win at Mississippi December 29. Kinley and team plus-minus leader John Adams were given assists on the score that made it 7-3.

Jeff Miles would make it 7-4 with a power play goal at 15:10. Columbia would finish the game 3-for-8 on the power play while the Wildcatters went 1-for-4.

Ross Carlson would put the nail in the coffin with under a minute remaining, putting his 15th goal of the year past Inferno goalie Jeff Jakatis at 19:37 to bring the score to 8-4 and complete the highest-scoring third period of the Wildcatters record-breaking season.

The win extends the Wildcatters winning streak to eight games, matching the season high. They have not lost in regulation in 10 games.

The Wildcatters travel to face the second-place South Carolina Stingrays today at 4:00 CT. Join the Wildcatters Booster Club at Wings to Go in Beaumont to watch the game LIVE on B2 Networks.

The Texas Wildcatters are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild and the AHL's Houston Aeros. Join the Catters and the Julie Rogers "Gift of Life" Program for PINK IN THE RINK February 23. Call 409.951.5500 for details, ticketing, and schedule information or log on to www.wildcattershockey.com.



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2008


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