Wenatchee Wild V. Kenai River Series Notes

September 23, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release


Kenai River Brown Bears at Wenatchee Wild (Town Toyota Center)

- Friday, Sept. 24 - 7:05 p.m.

- Saturday, Sept. 25 - 7:05 p.m.

Promotions & Giveaways

- Friday, Sept. 24 - The first 4,000 fans attending the team's home opener will receive a free magnet schedule. In addition, everyone will be able to witness the opening ceremonies, which includes: Introduction of this year's team, unveiling of the 2009-10 West Division Championship banner and pyrotechnics.

- Saturday, Sept. 25 - The first 2,000 fans attending will receive a free team hat.

Showcase Tournament Recap

- It was a good start for the Wild, who won three of four games at the eighth annual Showcase Tournament last week in Blaine, Minn. The Wild's lone loss was to the Wichita Falls Wildcats, who were crowned champions of the tournament.

"The four games allowed a lot of the players to get their feet wet at the junior level," said Wenatchee third-year head coach Paul Baxter. "I thought there was some lack of consistency in a number of areas, but they played with assertion and tenacity. It should be a very fun team to watch as they grow."

Baxter was also pleased with his team's cohesiveness.

"I felt we had a concerted team effort in our victories," he said. "I believe that several of our inexperienced players took significant strides in their progression."

- Game 1 - Michael Di Puma struck for a pair of second-period goals as the Wild won its first game of the tournament, 5-3, over the Owatonna Express. Eliot Grauer scored the game-winner in the third period, and defenseman Zach Frye posted three points (1G, 2A) in his debut with the Wild. Brandon Jaeger made 25 saves on 28 shots.

- Game 2 - In a tight defensive game, two late third-period goals were too much for the Wild to overcome as the Wichita Falls Wildcats won, 2-0. Marcus Zelzer, making his first start with the club, was strong in net, making 27 saves on 29 shots.

- Game 3 - Wenatchee took an early 2-0 lead and held on for a 5-2 victory over the Traverse City North Stars. Zachary Wallace scored a pair of goals for the Wild, including the game-winner in the third period. Jaeger stopped 24-of-26 shots.

- Game 4 - Zelzer earned his first win in a Wild sweater after turning aside 18-of-21 shots in the Wild's 5-3 victory over the Port Huron Fighting Falcons. Newcomers Blake Saylor and Kyle Keenan each scored a goal and an assist.

Kennon's Coming/Order Your Tickets Now

- Rising country music star Matt Kennon will perform a live after-game concert at the Town Toyota Center on Sunday, Oct. 3, following the Wild's game against Fairbanks. The concert 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".

- 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

- Kenai River: 3-3-0 - 6 points, .500 WPCT, tied - 2nd place in West

- Wenatchee: 3-1-0 - 6 points, .750 WPCT, tied - 2nd place in West

Frye Named West POW

- Frye was named the SBK Hockey/NAHL West Player of the Week on Monday for his efforts at last week's Showcase Tournament. A native of Spokane, Wash., Frye scored a goal and added two assists in his debut with the Wild on Day 1 of the tournament.

"Although Zach is only 16 years old, he plays with a lot of poise and aggression," said Baxter. "He has tremendous upside."

The 1994-born Frye added a pair of assists on the third day of tournament, including one on Zachary Wallace's game-winning goal. He concluded the tournament with his second goal of the season in the Wild's fourth game.

Frye Leads All Defensemen

- Frye's six points (2G, 4A) is currently the best points total among all NAHL defensemen.

Di Puma Expected to Return

- Di Puma, one of the Wild's returning forwards, is expected to be back in the lineup for this weekend's series after he was forced to miss two games of the Showcase Tournament with an injury.

Top Scoring Threats

- Brown Bears: Forward Brett Lubanski has eight points (3G, 5A) while forwards Doug Beck (3G, 4A) and Brad Duwe (1G, 7A) have seven points apiece.

- Wild: Frye leads the Wild with six points (2G, 4A). Grauer (3G) and Wallace (2G, 1A) each have three points apiece.

Wild vs. Brown Bears

- This weekend's series is the first of the 2010-11 season between the two West Division rivals.

- The Wild were 11-1 against the Brown Bears during the 2009-10 regular season. The Wild outscored the Brown Bears 52-23 in those 12 games.

Every season is different, however, and Baxter was impressed with the Brown Bears' play at the Showcase Tournament. He described this year's Kenai River team as, "bigger, stronger and a more skilled team, for sure."

Special Teams

- The Wild enters this weekend's series tied with the third best power play in the league at 24.1 percent. Kenai River's power play is the eighth best in the NAHL at 19.4 percent.

- Wenatchee is tied for 19th in the league in penalty killing at 77.8 percent. Kenai River is 17th in the league in penalty killing at 82.4 percent.

All statistics and standings are through Sept. 20, 2010



North American Hockey League Stories from September 23, 2010


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