Wenatchee Wild Series Preview Notes Vs. Texas Tornado
Published on October 28, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
SERIES NOTES
Wenatchee Wild at Texas Tornado (Dr Pepper Arena)
Friday, Oct. 29 - 5:30 p.m. (PST)
Saturday, Oct. 30 - 5:30 p.m. (PST)
Wild's Last Series
The Wild put a damper on Fresno's opening weekend at Selland Arena by sweeping a pair of games from the Monsters. The Wild won the first game, 3-2, and the second game in a shootout, 4-3.
Game 1 - Eliot Grauer (Mukioteo, Wash.) and Chris Rumble (Chesapeake, Va.) scored late first-period goals, and the Wild held on for a 3-2 victory during the Monsters' opening game at Selland Arena. Matt Cope (Lakewood, Colo.) notched the game-winning goal in the second period. Brandon Jaeger (Champlin, Minn.) made key saves on two breakaways, one of which was after the midpoint of the third period to assure the win. In all, Jaeger made 18 saves on 20 shots to earn his seventh win of the season.
Game 2 - Zach Frye (Spokane, Wash.) tallied a regulation goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout win. Grauer and Michael Di Puma (Chicago, Ill.) also scored goals for the Wild. Jaeger made five saves in overtime after the Wild took a 2-minute penalty. He also allowed just one shootout goal and improved his record to 8-1. Grauer and Di Puma scored for the Wild during the shootout.
Tornado Last Series
The Tornado swept a pair of the games from the Corpus Christi IceRays last weekend. Texas won the first game, 2-1, and the second game, 8-3.
Game 1 - Former Wild forward Nathan Sliwinski and Marc Biggs each scored a goal in Texas' 2-1 win. Jimmy Kruger made 20 saves on 21 shots.
Game 2 - Jackson Leef recorded a hat trick, Sliwinski notched three assists and the Tornado routed the IceRays, 8-3.
Tornado Provide Another Tough Test
Points-wise, the Texas Tornado is the best of the best in the NAHL with 23 points. The team's impressive 8-game winning streak, which spans the entire month of October, is the longest in the league this season.
"Tony [Curtale] and the Tornado are a very formidable opponent," said Wenatchee Wild third-year head coach Paul Baxter. "We will need to be considerably better than we were last weekend to be successful."
Texas has two of the NAHL's top points leaders in forward Rock Einersen and defenseman Ralf Freibergs, plus a bunch of other key contributors and a goalie, Jimmy Kruger, who has been nearly unbeatable.
"They have a veteran-based team with a lot of returners," Baxter said. "Add to that the addition of some very strong players through trade and you have a very good team."
Kruger is statistically the best in the NAHL. He is 6-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average, the best in the league, and a save percentage of .931, which is the third best in the league.
"Obviously, Kruger is one of those key additions," Baxter said. "If we want to beat him, we will need traffic and second and third opportunities."
Wenatchee has been playing well, too. Winners of four straight games, the second longest current winning streak in the league behind the Tornado, the Wild is coming off a pair of 2-game sweeps over the expansion Fresno Monsters.
Baxter is looking for even more from his club.
"We are happy with the wins but not satisfied with our play," said Baxter. "We need to play with quicker minds, heads and feet. Overall, we need to be a lot more alert quicker to puck races, more tenacious in puck battles and knowing what we are going to do with the puck before we get it."
Coming up Next
The Wild will return home for a 3-game series at the Town Toyota Center against the Dawson Creek Rage next weekend (Nov. 4-6). The first game of the series will begin at 6:35 p.m. while the other two games are slated for 7:05 p.m. starts.
After playing Dawson Creek, Wenatchee will take an extended road trip in Alaska for three 2-game series against Fairbanks (Nov. 12-13), Alaska (Nov. 16-17) and Kenai River (Nov. 19-20).
Wenatchee will close out its November schedule with a 2-game home series against the Chicago Hitmen on Nov. 26-27. Both games will face off at 7:05 p.m.
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
Wild: 10-3-0 - 20 points, .769 WPCT, T-1st place in West
Tornado: 10-2-3 - 23 points, .767 WPCT, 1st place in South
Telling Stats
The Wild has been flawless when taking a lead into the second or third period. To date, the Wild is 9-0 when leading after the first frame and 10-0 when leading after the second period. In addition, the Wild is 7-0 when outshooting its opponents.
Frye Honored Again
Frye, the Wild's 16-year-old defenseman, was honored with his second SBK Hockey West Player of the Week selection of the season on Monday after he scored a goal and two assists in the Wild's 2-game sweep of the Fresno Monsters over the weekend.
"He is gradually learning the ropes," Baxter said of Frye. "There is no replacement for game experience. His skating is stronger and he is learning not to force or overreact to the play when he is in a defensive posture."
Frye is tied for fifth in the NAHL among all defensemen with 12 points (3G, 9A). He is also tied for third in the league among his defensive peers with seven power-play assists.
"Physically, emotionally and skill-set wise, Zach is well beyond his actual age," Baxter said. "He's already received considerable interest and offers from some very high-level Division I schools, and I believe he'll be an exceptional college player and will have an excellent opportunity of playing at the highest level beyond college."
Rumble Makes List
Rumble joined Frye as one of the league's top points-getters this week. Rumble's nine points (3G, 6A) tie him for the eighth best total in the league among all defensemen.
Rumble, who is 6 feet 1 inch tall and 196 pounds, has been on fire recently. He has four points in the last three games (3G, 1A).
Jaeger Mentioned Again
Jaeger was named an honorable mention selection for the SBK Hockey Goaltender of the Week award on Monday. It was the second straight week he was named an honorable mention selection for the award.
Jaeger turned aside 46 of the 51 shots he faced last weekend and, in Saturday's shootout, he stopped four of the Monsters' shooters.
On the season, Jaeger owns a 2.46 goals-against average and a save percentage of .906. His eight wins tie him for the third most in the NAHL.
Top Scoring Threats
Wild: Grauer (7G, 5A) and Frye (3G, 9A) lead the Wild with 12 points apiece. Grauer is also a team-best plus-8 on the season. Di Puma has recorded 10 points (7G, 3A).
Tornado: Einersen leads the Tornado with 20 points (13G, 7A). With 19 points (1G, 18A), Freibergs is the team's second leading points-getter. Einersen's 20 points tie him for fifth best in the NAHL, and his 13 goals are the third most in the league. Freiberg's 19 points tie him for sixth most in the NAHL - and the best among all defensemen - and his 18 assists are the most in the league. Five other Texas players have more than 10 points.
Wild v. Tornado
This weekend's series is the first this season between the Wild and Tornado.
The Wild was 4-1-1 against the Tornado in 2009-10.
Di Puma is Wenatchee's top returning scorer against Texas from last season. In six games, Di Puma recorded four points (3G, 1A). Jaeger went 3-1 against the Tornado in 2009-10 with a save percentage of .909.
Einersen tallied six points (5G, 1A) in six games against the Wild in 2009-10.
Goals For/Against
Wild: For - 4.00 GPG, fifth best in the NAHL. Against - 2.77 GPG, ninth best in the NAHL.
Tornado: For - 4.13 GPG, fourth best in the NAHL. Against - 2.93 GPG, tied for 11th in the NAHL.
Special Teams
Wild: PP - 22/81 (27.2%), No. 1 in the NAHL; PK - 15/83 (81.9%), 18th in the NAHL.
Tornado: PP - 24/104 (23.1%); third best in the NAHL; PK - 14/68 (79.4%), 22nd in the NAHL.
All statistics and standings are through Oct. 26, 2010
North American Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2010
- Wenatchee Wild Series Preview Notes Vs. Texas Tornado - Wenatchee Wild
- Come Down to Vernon's this Weekend - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Halloween Hockey Costume contest set for Friday - Traverse City North Stars
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