Wenatchee Wild Series Notes V. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Published on October 1, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Fairbanks Ice Dogs at Wenatchee Wild (Town Toyota Center)
- Friday, Oct. 1 - 7:05 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 2 - 7:05 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 3 - 5:05 p.m.
Promotions & Giveaways
- Rising country music star Matt Kennon will perform a live after-game concert on Sunday, Oct. 3. The show is a free perk to those who purchase tickets for the game. Kennon's self-titled debut album was released in May and includes his hit breakthrough single "The Call".
Wild's Last Series
- Wenatchee swept a pair of games from the Kenai River Brown Bears in its first home series of the 2010-11 season last weekend. The Wild won the first game, 4-1, and the second game, 5-4.
- Game 1 - Shawn Pauly (Bellingham, Wash.) scored a pair of goals and Brandon Jaeger (Champlin, Minn.) stopped 17-of-18 shots to increase his record to 3-0 in the Wild's 4-1 victory.
- Game 2 - Michael Di Puma (Chicago, Ill.) scored the game-winning goal for the Wild in its 5-4 win during a third-period 5-minute major penalty. Brennen Parker (Villa Park, Calif.) and Anthony Martinez (Schawmburg, Ill.) each scored a goal and an assist while Tyler Hope (Dallas, Texas) recorded two assists. Marcus Zelzer (Bay, Wis.) made 28 saves on 32 shots and earned his second win in the process.
Ice Dogs' Last Series
- Fairbanks won a pair of games against the Texas Tornado last weekend. The Ice Dogs won the first game, 5-3, and the second game, 6-5, on Sean O'Rourke's game-winning OT goal. Forward JT Osborn scored five goals and an assist during the series, which was more than enough to earn the SBK Hockey West Player of the Week.
Pauly, Di Puma Key / Hot Fairbanks a Good Test
- Pauly and Di Puma, two of the Wild's returning veterans, have developed a knack for scoring important goals at exactly the right times so far this season. Di Puma opened up a 1-0 lead 32 seconds into the Wild's 4-1 win over the Brown Bears last Friday. Pauly followed with two of his own goals to put the Wild up, 3-0, at the end of the first period.
In the second game last weekend it was Pauly who gave the Wild an early 1-0 edge. Di Puma scored what proved to be the eventual game-winner during a 5-minute major penalty in the third period.
"Mike and Shawn are being counted on to show the inexperienced players, by example, what is expected in the Wild culture" said Wild head coach Paul Baxter. "They know that their teammates look to them to be productive."
Di Puma leads his club with four goals and is tied for second with five points. Pauly is tied for third on the team with four points (3G, 1A). Di Puma is plus-4 while Paul is plus-2.
- Fairbanks is the highest scoring team in the league with an average of five goals scored per game. Osborn leads the NAHL with 10 goals, and his 12 points ties him for second best in the league. Zach Vierling has 10 points, and he leads the league with eight assists.
"Fairbanks and the Wild have developed a healthy rivalry over two seasons," Baxter said. "I suspect that will continue to grow. They are off to a very good start and this will be a good early test and measuring stick for us."
Coming up Next
- The Wild's next home series, against the Fresno Monsters, is on Oct. 15-16. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m. The series will serve as the Wild's Pink at the Rink Weekend.
- Fans can purchase tickets at the Town Toyota Center box office, by calling 1-888-7825 or by logging on to www.wenatcheewild.com.
Records
- Fairbanks: 5-0-2 - 12 points, .857 WPCT, 1st place in West
- Wenatchee: 5-1-0 - 10 points, .833 WPCT, 2nd place in West
Frye Still on Top
- Zach Frye (Spokane, Wash.) recorded a pair of assists last series to remain the top points-getter in the NAHL among all defensemen. Frye has eight points on his resume (1G, 7A). His seven assists are the most in the league by a defenseman, as are his six assists that came during power-play time.
Shumway + 7 = T2
- Bradley Shumway (Lafayette, Colo.) is plus-7 on the season, which ties him for the second best plus-minus rating among all NAHL defensemen. Shumway also has a mini 3-game points streak going, in which he has registered one assist in each of the last three games.
Jaeger Climbing List
- The 2009-10 NAHL Sherbrook Goaltender of the Year, Jaeger is making his move up the goaltenders' leaders list. His 2.00 goals-against average is the 10th best in the league, as is his .917 save percentage. Most importantly, however, is his perfect 3-0 record.
Top Scoring Threats
- Ice Dogs: Osborn is the league's top goal-scorer (10), and his points total (12) is tied for the second best in the league. Vierling has the second most points on the team (10), and he leads the NAHL with eight assists.
- Wild: Frye leads the Wild with eight points (1G, 7A). Di Puma (4G, 1A), Eliot Grauer (Mukioteo, Wash.) (3G, 2A) and Hope (2G, 3A) each have five points apiece.
Wild v. Ice Dogs
- This is the first series of the 2010-11 season between the Wild and Ice Dogs.
- The Wild went 8-1 against the Ice Dogs during the 2009-10 regular season. The Wild outscored the Ice Dogs in those games, 38-18.
- Wenatchee and Fairbanks also met during the 2010 NAHL playoffs. Wenatchee won the series in four games.
Goals For/Against
- Fairbanks is the highest scoring team in the league with an average of five goals per game. Wenatchee is tied as the second highest scoring team in the NAHL with an average of four goals per game.
- The Wild is giving up an average of 2.5 goals per game, which ties the team for the fifth best goals-against margin in the NAHL. The Ice Dogs are giving up an average of three goals per contest, which is the 11th best goals-against margin in the league.
Special Teams
- The Wild enters this weekend's series with the second best power play in the league at 26.2 percent. The Ice Dogs own the sixth best power play in the league with a 20 percent success rate.
- Wenatchee is 15th in the league in penalty killing at 82.9 percent. Fairbanks is 21st in the league at 78.6 percent.
All statistics and standings are through Sept. 27, 2010
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