Wichita Falls Wildcats' Insider
Published on October 11, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
A tough travel schedule took its toll on the Wildcats this week, as they picked up only one point in three games. Thursday saw the Wildcats losing a 3-2 shootout decision in New Mexico, followed by a pair of losses at home against Topeka by scores of 6-3 on Friday, and 5-1 on Saturday.
Thursday night was Bryan Jones' opportunity to try to show the Wildcats that trading him was a bad decision. Jones, who began the season with a 54-save effort for the Wildcats in an overtime win against Bismarck, stopped 26 of 38 shots in 65 minutes, plus 4 of 5 in the shootout to lead the New Mexico Mustangs to the victory. Chris Leone scored for the Wildcats in the second period, his fourth goal of the season. He is currently tied for fourth among NAHL blueliners in goal scoring. The Wildcats were down late until Mikhail Sentyurin scored to even the game at 2 with eight seconds left in regulation. Sentyurin was also the lone scorer for the Wildcats in the shootout.
On Friday, the Wildcats scored three times in a four-minute span to put themselves back into the game, but the Topeka Roadrunners would finish with three unanswered for a 6-3 victory. Mikhail Sentyurin led the Wildcats offense with a goal and an assist, his third game in a row with a goal.
The Roadrunners got on the board first on an unlucky bounce for the Wildcats. Andrew O'Leary's shot was deflected into the net off a Wildcats' defenseman for a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, Michael Hill lifted a backhander past a screened Tyler Green to make it 2-0. Then two minutes later on the power play, Hill struck again, blasting a shot off a cross-ice pass for a 3-0 lead.
The Wildcats would strike back in the second as Jason McAloon was credited with a goal that ended up in the Topeka net on a redirection, getting the Wildcats on the board at the 8:18 mark. Mikhail Sentyurin would inch the Wildcats closer at the 12:07 mark, getting the last redirection on a pinballing shot. Finally Dakota Klecha tied things at three off a scramble in front that saw a pile of players end up in the crease as the puck dribbled through. But Topeka would regain the lead before the end of the period, with Hill tapping a puck past Tyler Green on a scramble in front for a 4-3 lead. Through the first 15 minutes of the period, the Wildcats outshot the Roadrunners 15-5, before Topeka outshot them 7-3 in the final five minutes.
The Roadrunners removed the wind from the Wildcats' sails just over a minute into the third with Kevin Novakovich scoring to make it a 5-3 game. Dan Dupell added a late goal to cap things at 6-3.
Two early goals off of unlucky bounces set the Wildcats behind for good Saturday night.
The first one was pounded home by Andrew O'Leary after a pass was broken up by a Wildcats' defenseman, but hit off his skate directly to O'Leary in the slot. The second one was from a shot by Chris Bond which was once again blocked by a defenseman before bouncing in the air, landing behind goaltender Eric Garavaglia, and rolling into the net.
The Wildcats would cut the deficit to one goal as Dakota Klecha was credited with a goal that slid in after a few bounces off bodies in front. That was all the Wildcats would manage to score on Eric Rohrkemper, who stopped 29 of 30 shots he faced.
Ryan White and Justin Hussar each added a power play goal, with White getting an even-strength goal in the third to make it a 5-1 game.
Eric Garavaglia stopped 31 of 36 shots in the loss.
The Wildcats still are in first place despite the losses, but Topeka, Texas, and Amarillo are all close behind. The Wildcats will next take on the Corpus Christi IceRays on Friday, October 15.
WEEKEND NOTES: Mattia Bortolotto picked up an assist Friday in his second game with the team after being acquired from the WHL's Prince George Cougars... Sean Keane was bloodied in a first-period fight Friday with Topeka's Brandon Boyd, returning to the game wearing a #28 jersey... Drew Allen missed both games against Topeka due to a suspension after a fight inside the final five minutes of last Saturday's game in Corpus Christi.
Preview: 10/15 vs. Corpus Christi
Following their three-game weekend, the Wildcats get a lighter load this week, facing the Corpus Christi IceRays for only one game, Friday at 7:05 pm. The Wildcats faced the IceRays in two games so far this season, losing 4-3 in a shootout on Friday, October 1, but winning an 8-4 decision on Saturday, October 2. All-time, the Wildcats are 3-0-1 against the Corpus Christi IceRays (including their days as the Alpena Ice Diggers).
Sean Keane and Jason McAloon both had big weekends the last time the two teams played. Keane had three goals and two assists while McAloon had 3 goals and one assist over the weekend. Tyler Green has a GAA of 2.01 with a .923 save percentage against the IceRays as well.
At the other end of the ice, Mike Benedict and Beau Walker were the players to watch for Corpus Christi. Benedict found the back of the net three times, while Walker had three assists and scored the shootout winner on October 1.
Expect a physical matchup: the teams combined for 178 penalty minutes in their previous two games.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
The Wildcats' Coaches Radio Show starts 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 and preview next week's game against Corpus Christi. Plus you'll get to hear from one of your favorite players in the "Talk to the Team" segment. It all starts 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 Justin Russell in the Wildcats office, 940-716-5587.
Alumni Report
Dan Sexton made the Anaheim Ducks' opening night roster and will start the season with the big club. He appeared in their 4-0 opening night loss to Detroit, registering 2 hits and an even plus-minus.
Good news, bad news: Anthony Iaquinto and Ryan Hitchcock both had tryouts with the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones. Unfortunately, both were cut from camp last week. We'll keep an eye out for them elsewhere at the professional levels this season!
Here's a list of where many of your favorite former Wildcats are playing this year. If you know where any missing players are at in the college or professional hockey levels, e-mail it to Drew, and he'll add them to the list!
PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Dan Sexton, F, Anaheim
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Andrew Conboy, F, Hamilton
CENTRAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Chad Costello, F, Tulsa
SOUTHERN PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Nick Klaren, D, Mississippi
Jack Wolgemuth, D, Mississippi
SWEDEN DIVISION 1
Ville Aman, F, Huddinge
NORWAY DIVISION 2
Paul Velo, D, Bergen
ARMENIAN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
Peter Zamkochyan, D, Yerevan
Greg Kandaharian, F, Yerevan
DIVISION 1 NCAA
ATLANTIC HOCKEY
Kyle Delaurell, F, Air Force
Aaron Quick, F, Air Force
Dan Ramirez, G, American International College
Mike Henderson, F, Army
Brett Hartung, F, Bentley
Zach Ledford, D, Bentley
CCHA
Adam Cardwell, F, Alaska
Zach Trotman, D, Lake Superior State
Nick Shkreli, F, Lake Superior State
Zach Josepher, D, Michigan State
Kyle McMahon, G, Michigan State
Cal Heeter, G, Ohio State
Jeff McNeil, F, Ohio State
Sean Duddy, D, Ohio State
ECAC
Sean Coffey, D, St. Lawrence
WCHA
Shea Walters, F, Bemidji State
Chris Nutini, D, Denver
Luke Salazar, F, Denver
Ricky Doriott, D, Michigan Tech
DIVISION 3 NCAA
ECAC-NE
Brett Kaneshiro, D, Curry
Ryan Mula, G, Suffolk
Shaun Jameson, D, Wentworth
Skylur Jameson, F, Wentworth
Mike Jarboe, G, Wentworth
MASCAC
Bill Colclough, F, Mass-Dartmouth
Alex Molnar, F, Salem State
Matt Kenline, F, Salem State
MIAC
Joel Sauer, F, Augsburg
Kelly Andrew, G, Concordia (MN)
Kyle Mattson, F, Hamline
NCHA
Grant Everett, F, Wisconsin-River Falls
Kent Detlefsen, D, Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Nick Hopper, G, Wisconsin-Stout
Thomas Erlacher, F, Wisconsin-Superior
NESCAC
Eddie Effinger, F, Amherst
Kyle Gallegos, F, Tufts
Brian Phillips, G, Tufts
DIVISION 1 ACHA
Zack Waxenburg, D, Arizona
Adam Kuhn, F, Davenport
Phil Graveline, G, Davenport
David Kurbatsky, F, Iowa State
Adam Krefski, F, Lindenwood
Bret Morrell, D, Lindenwood
Mike Sturdevant, D, Lindenwood
Broderick Browne, F, Oklahoma
Augie Hoffman, D, Oklahoma
Chad Hudson, F, Oklahoma
Chris Nicolaou, F, Oklahoma
Ryan Dyer, D, Youngstown State
DIVISION 2 ACHA
Zach Rourke, F, Michigan State
Mike Schumacher, F, Minnesota
Drew Harcharik, F, Maryland-Baltimore County
Cory Netrefa, G, DePaul
ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (Canada)
Justin Javorek, D, Dalhousie University
North American Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2010
- Monsters Weekly: October 11 - Fresno Monsters
- Amarillo Bulls Weekly - Amarillo Bulls
- Texas Tornado Defenseman Ralfs Freibergs Named Nahl Player of the Week - Texas Tornado
- Wichita Falls Wildcats' Insider - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Roadrunners Report - Topeka Pilots
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