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Texas Wins First Ever Shootout

December 15, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release


BEAUMONT, TX (December 15, 2003) – The Wildcatters played three games in as many nights over the weekend, finishing 1-2-0. On Friday, the Texas Wildcatters traveled to Lafayette for the third week in a row and fell to the Louisiana IceGators 5-2. The IceGators got on the board first with a goal from Ed McGrane, playing his first game with the team. Dennis Shiryeav and Alex Materukhin would also score in the first to increase the lead to three before the Wildcatters could get on the scoreboard. Brian Stacey would cut the lead to two with his second of the season on the power play. Cory Morgan and Lukas Smital assisted on the Wildcatters goal. Louisiana's Bobby Brown scored his 11th of the year and Wildcatters forward Morgan netted his seventh in the second. In the third Rod Sarich of the IceGators netted his first of the season on the power play. Davis Parley suffered the loss with 28 saves and Derek Gustafson got the win with 19 saves.

On Saturday, The Texas Wildcatters dropped a 4-3 decision to the Pensacola Ice Pilots in the first of two consecutive games at Ford Arena. Tyler Kindle opened the scoring for Pensacola 2:01 into the first on assists from Jean-Francois Soucy and Jamie Herrington. Shaun Fisher answered back for the Wildcatters with an unassisted goal at the 13:22 mark of the first period. Bobby Cunningham netted his 14th goal of the year at 8:31 of the second stanza on assists from Lukas Smital and Aaron Smith. Three minutes later, Jim Abbott tied the game 2-2 with a power-play goal on an assist from Tyler Beechey. Greg Chambers netted two 5-on-3 power play goals for the Ice Pilots making the score 4-2. Texas' Aaron Smith tallied his second goal of the year to cut the Ice Pilots lead to one with 2:26 left to play, but the home team could not net the equalizer before the final buzzer. Fisher and Cory Morgan assisted on Smith's goal. Jason Cugnet suffered the loss for the Wildcatters as he finished with 36 saves.

On Sunday, the Texas Wildcatters faced-off against the Pensacola Ice Pilots for the second time in as many nights at Ford Arena, winning 5-4 in a shootout. Pensacola took an early 2-0 lead on goals by Brian Collins and Jim Abbott. The Wildcatters closed out the first period scoring at the 8:52 mark as John Snowden netted his ninth goal of the season. Rob Guinn and Aaron Smith assisted on the play. Shaun Fisher netted his second goal in as many games to tie the game 2-2 early in the second on assists from Guinn and Bobby Cunningham. Later in the second, Cunningham tallied his 15th goal of the season on an assist from Jeremy Chadsey. After Collins tied the game at three in the third, Brian Stacey lit the lamp from Cory Morgan and Cunningham to take the lead. Shortly after taking the lead, Davis Parley faced his second penalty shot of the year and Abbott was able to sneak in the tying goal for Pensacola. The score remained locked at four as the third stanza ended. With no scoring in the overtime session, the teams went to a shootout. Parley held Pensacola scoreless on four chances while Cunningham and Morgan scored for Texas on Brian Eklund. Parley comes away with his fourth victory of the season turning away 35 Pensacola shots.

Player of the Week Nomination: Shaun Fisher had a point in all three games this past week including a goal and an assist Saturday night. The defenseman finished the weekend +2 with two goal and two assists.

Goalie of the Week Nomination: Davis Parley was 1-1-0 on the weekend and he picked up the first shootout victory in Wildcatters history. He turned away 63 shots in two games.

Non-Division Collision: Texas will play outside of their division on Sunday, December 21st for the first time since early November when they take on the Greenville Grrrowl at Ford Arena. The Wildcatters are 1-4-1 outside their division.

Roster Changes: The Wildcatters signed forward Mike McKay to a contract on December 12th. The 27-year-old McKay played alongside Wildcatters forward Bobby Cunningham in the 2002-03 season with the Laval Chiefs of the QSPHL. The 5-foot-10, 195 pound forward is entering his fifth professional season and wears number 21 for the Wildcatters. While playing for the Fort Wayne Komets in the 2000-01 season, he scored a career high 38 goals.

Wildcatters Weekly: Join us tonight at The West Bar & Grill from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for "Wildcatters Weekly" live on News Radio Fox 1380. This is a great opportunity for fans to meet some of the players and Head Coach Robert Dirk. Those in attendance are encouraged to ask questions and participate during the show.

Teddy Bear Toss: The Texas Wildcatters teamed up with Toys for Tots for a Teddy Bear Toss at Ford Arena on Saturday night. When the Wildcatters Shaun Fisher scored Texas' first goal of the game, a grand total of 1,072 stuffed animals were thrown onto the ice and collected. The stuffed toys will be distributed throughout the holiday season to children in Southeast Texas.

Team Leaders:

Goals – Bobby Cunningham (15)

Assists – Cory Morgan (17)

Points – Bobby Cunningham (29)

Penalty Minutes – Ashley Langdone (101)

Power Play Goals – Bobby Cunningham (5)

+/- – John Snowden (+13)

Wins – Davis Parley (4)

Goals Against Average – Davis Parley (3.54)

Save Percentage – Davis Parley (90.9%)

Power Play – 13.9% 16 for 115 (19th ECHL)

Penalty Kill – 77.0% 124 for 161 (31st ECHL)

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