Wichita Falls Wildcats' Insider for January 24
Published on January 24, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats picked up a point in three games this weekend, but went 0-2-1 against Topeka and Amarillo in a three-game weekend.
Thursday night, the Wildcats fought back from a pair of two-goal deficits in the third period but lost 4-3 in a shootout in Topeka. Bad bounces led to nearly half of the goals in the game, starting with Topeka's first-period goal by Davey Middleton. Middleton redirected a shot that goalie Tyler Green was able to get a piece of, but it trickled through his pads and into the net for a 1-0 game. The game remained 1-0 until the Roadrunners scored 12 seconds into the third period, countered by Dakota Klecha getting a pass in his skates, sliding ahead. He beat the Roadrunner defensemen to the puck and scored on a breakaway, getting the Wildcats on the board. Less than 90 seconds later, a bad bounce off the Zamboni doors put the puck on the stick of Dan Dupell of Topeka about 5 feet from the net, and he put the puck in for a 3-1 lead.
The strange bounces continued as Steven Hoshaw dumped the puck on net from center ice, and somehow it snuck through Topeka goalie Eric Rohrkemper for a 3-2 game. Just 20 second later, Alex Betts slid a centering feed to Miha Stebih in the high slot. Stebih unleashed a quick snap shot in the net that tied the game at 3 with just under six minutes remaining.
The game eventually proceeded to overtime and a shootout. Things started strong for the 'Cats, as Dakota Klecha scored and Tyler Green stopped the first Topeka shooter, but the Roadrunners would score on their next four attempts, and the Wildcats would only score twice more (from Ryan Frost and shootout master Mikhail Sentyurin), giving the Roadrunners the second point for the victory.
Friday's game was a defensive battle for much of the game, which was won by Topeka 3-1. The teams finally got on the board in the second period, this time seeing the Wildcats drawing first blood. Dakota Klecha scored his second goal of the weekend off assists from Will Suter and Tanner Fahlstedt, making it a 1-0 game. Ten minutes later, Topeka would tie things off Davey Middleton's second goal of the weekend. The Roadrunners controlled the third as well, taking a 2-1 lead less than two minutes in, then putting the game out of reach with a 5-on-3 power play goal with less than five minutes to go. Tyler Green saw more rubber than I-44, stopping 43 of 46 shots, his highest number of both saves and shots faced in a game all season.
After a nine-hour bus ride from Topeka to Amarillo, the Wildcats faced off against the Bulls to finish out the weekend. The scoring all went Amarillo's way though, as the Wildcats were shut out for the first time this season by a 3-0 final. The 'Cats were outshot in each period, except for a crazy second period that saw a combined 34 shots on goal-17 each for the two teams. Eric Garavaglia stopped 39 of 42 shots in the loss.
WEEKEND NOTES: With 43 penalty minutes on the weekend, Dakota Klecha now has 203 on the season. He's the first Wildcats' player ever to pass the 200-PIM plateau, and the season is only 2/3 of the way complete. Earlier in the week, the Wildcats traded forward Sean Keane to Amarillo for forward Colton Warner. Warner has played parts of two seasons in the NAHL with Amarillo, Albert Lea, and Alaska. In 33 NAHL games coming into the weekend, he had scored 4 goals, tallied 12 assists, and spent 191 minutes in the penalty box. His size and strength will greatly help the Wildcats.
Preview: 1/28-29 vs. New Mexico Mustangs
The Wildcats start off an extended homestand this weekend, taking on the New Mexico Mustangs. The Mustangs are making their first trip to Wichita Falls after facing the Wildcats in six games out in New Mexico. The Wildcats went 2-3-1 in those games. However, the Mustangs have yet to win a game on the road, going 0-13-3 away from the Santa Ana Star Center. The Mustangs' top players are Adam Chapie (16 assists and 24 points, leading the team in each), Patrick Anderson, and Charles Baldwin (12 goals each, tied for the team lead).
Of the Wildcats' next ten games, nine will be played at the Kay Yeager Coliseum, with one just down the road in Frisco, TX. Don't forget Friday is Teacher Appreciation Night, and Saturday is Chili's Kids Night!
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
The Wildcats' Coaches Radio Show continues this week at the Oyster Bar and Grill on Kell Boulevard! Come down and hear Drew and the coaches talk about this past week's games in Topeka and Amarillo, and see what's in store for this coming weekend at home against New Mexico. Plus you'll get to hear from one of your favorite players in the "Talk to the Team" segment. It all happens Tuesday at 7:30; if you can't be there tune in on 94.9 KOLI, The Outlaw.
Broomball, adult hockey, and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the schedule under the Games and Ice Events tab! Any questions about our ice programs Contact Brandon Miller in the Wildcats office, 940-716-5587.
Alumni Report
Dan Sexton picked up his third goal of the season on Thursday in the Anaheim Ducks' 5-2 loss to Toronto. It was his first NHL goal of the 2011 calendar year.
Nick Klaren made his return to the lineup with the Mississippi Surge, scoring a goal in his first game back, a 5-4 loss to Louisiana on Friday. He had been out since December 18 with a concussion after taking an elbow to the head.
Chad Costello is up to second in the CHL in scoring now with two goals and two assists this past weekend in wins over Laredo and Texas. Tulsa has won four straight and is tied for third in the CHL's Berry Conference.
Zach Ledford picked up two assists, including one on a Brett Hartung goal in Bentley's 3-2 win over Mercyhurst on Saturday.
Zach Trotman scored a goal and had an assist in Lake Superior State's 3-2 shootout loss to Western Michigan on Friday.
Kyle Delaurell assisted on both goals in Air Force's 2-1 win over Connecticut on Friday.
Kyle Gallegos scored two goals and had two assists for Tufts over three games last week.
Brett Kaneshiro put up a goal and an assist as Curry beat Salve Regina 5-3 on Saturday.
Kelly Andrew got two wins for Concordia (Minn.) in two games against Augsburg. He stopped 54 of 57 shots on the weekend. Former Wildcat Joel Sauer assisted on two of the three Augsburg goals.
Matt Kenline had a goal and an assist for Salem State in a pair of games over the weekend.
North American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2011
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- Wichita Falls Wildcats' Insider for January 24 - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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