Wichita Falls Wildcats' Insider
February 20, 2012 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Preview: February 24, 25, and 27 vs. New Mexico
The Wildcats return home this weekend for three games against the New Mexico Mustangs. The Wildcats are only 2-5 this season against the Mustangs, but all but one of those games have been on the road. The Wildcats and Mustangs have both struggled away from their home rinks this year-The Wildcats are 6-19-3 away from the KYC, while the Mustangs have gone 6-16-1 on the road. The Mustangs are fourth in the South Division in goal scoring, but have allowed by far the most goals-51 more than the Wildcats have allowed this season.
The Mustangs are led in scoring by Michigan Tech-bound Adam Chapie. He is averaging a point per game (49 in 49) via 27 goals and 22 assists. Evan Johnston leads in assists with 28. The Mustangs also made a couple of trade deadline pickups, acquiring forwards Nolan Culver from Amarillo and Ryan Dau from Alaska. Goalie Nick Heimer was sent out to the Twin City Northern Lights. The Mustangs also lost defenseman Connor Kingsbury in the Dau deal. Kingsbury went to Corpus Christi, while the IceRays sent defenseman Justin Lutsch to Alaska to complete the three-way trade.
Johnston leads the Mustangs in head-to-head play against Wichita Falls this season with a team-high 10 points. Jayson Angus is their top goal scorer vs. Wichita Falls, finding the back of the net five times. Others to watch out for include Bill Kent and Charles Baldwin. Jake Stafford and Randy Graham have been solid in net against the Wildcats as well. Each have a 2-1-0 record with Graham holding a 1.67 GAA and .956 save percentage, while Stafford's numbers in those categories are 2.85 and .933.
For the Wildcats, Renato Engler currently leads the team with 26 points. Zach Pochiro is the top goal scorer with 12, and Tucker Poolman is tops in assists with 16. The Wildcats also made a few deadline deals, with Damien Lona and Connor Doran making their debuts with the Wildcats last weekend in Corpus Christi. Joining the team this week and likely making his debut this coming weekend is defenseman Rodney Lalonde. Lalonde is an NAHL veteran of 128 games with six organizations since 2008. He has a goal and 8 assists in that span, with the goal and four of his assists coming this season. The biggest thing Lalonde adds to the team is skill in his own end as a stay at home defenseman as well as bringing a major physical element, tallying 257 PIM and 30 fights in his NAHL career.
Against the Mustangs, Engler leads the Wildcats in points with 5 points in 4 games played. Chris Pontello and Zach Pochiro each have three goals for the Wildcats against New Mexico.
We also have some great events going on for all three games this weekend! See the "Upcoming Wildcats' Events" section below for details.
SOUTH DIVISION NOTES: The Wildcats currently trail fourth place Corpus Christi by 10 points with 12 games remaining. Odessa is a point ahead of the 'Cats, while New Mexico is a point back. This weekend, Texas faces Amarillo, Topeka plays in Wenatchee, and Corpus Christi plays at Odessa. Last weekend, Fairbanks and Topeka split a two game series in Fairbanks, while New Mexico picked up two points and Corpus Christi three in their series. Texas and Amarillo joined the Wildcats with a weekend off.
Top Prospects Tournament
The Wildcats have three players representing the team at this week's Top Prospects Tournament. Forward Renato Engler is playing for the North Division squad, while forward Tanner Fahlstedt (now with the Alaska Avalanche) and defenseman Tucker Poolman are representing the Wildcats as part of the Midwest Division team. All the games can be seen and heard at FastHockey.com, broadcast by Bismarck's Paul Teeple and Michigan's Joey Battaino.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
Win a Wildcats' blanket! We're giving a few away, so text WFWildcats1 to 72727 for your chance to win!
Friday night is Trading Card Night! We're giving away cards of the Wildcats' players and coaches, so make sure you come early to get yours!
Saturday night is our annual Children's Miracle Network Jersey Off Our Backs Auction! The Wildcats will wear special jerseys on Friday and Saturday, commemorating CMN's ten years of working with Wichita Falls hockey. The jerseys will be auctioned off following Saturday's Game. The Wildcats hope to raise $30,000 for CMN. If this goal is hit, the Wildcats will have donated over $500,000 to CMN via jersey auctions and other events over the years!
Monday night is Wildcats' Tote night! Be one of the first fans in the door at the Kay Yeager Coliseum for your free Wildcats' tote bag.
We're on the air! Join us for the Wildcats' Coaches' Radio Show at P2 The Deuce downtown on Tuesdays at 7 pm. The Voice of the Wildcats, Drew Pelto, will interview the Wildcats' coaches and your favorite Wildcats' players. If you can't get to the show, tune in on the radio at 7:30 pm on 94.9, KOLI, The Outlaw.
Adult hockey and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the schedule under the Games and Ice Events tab! We also offer birthday party packages at a Wildcats game or an open skating session. Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Sarah Scrivner in the Wildcats office.
Alumni Report
NORTH AMERICAN PRO LEAGUES
AHL
Dan Sexton has four assists in February for the Syracuse Crunch. He only needs one more point to match his best total for a single month since November.
ECHL
Chad Costello rejoined the Colorado Eagles after spending the better part of a month with the AHL's Worcester Sharks. Costello picked up right where he left off, tallying three goals and three assists in his first four games back with the Eagles. Costello is second in the ECHL in scoring despite only playing in 38 of the Eagles' 52 games.
Kyle Kraemer reached the 35-point plateau in style with a three-point game Sunday as Ontario came from behind to beat Idaho 7-6. Kraemer tallied two goals and assisted on the game-tying goal, reaching the 35-point milestone in 13 fewer games than it took him last year.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 1
Luke Salazar had a goal and an assist for Denver as they split a two game series over the weekend with Wisconsin.
Kyle Delaurell had three assists as Air Force trounced Mercyhurst 8-0 on Friday.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 3
The names Skylur Jameson and Shaun Jameson might as well just be given a permanent pace in the weekly alumni report: Skylur had a goal and three assists while Shaun had a goal and two assists in a pair of Wentworth victories Thursday and Saturday.
Kyle Gallegos had two goals in a 3-2 Tufts victory over Colby on Saturday.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2012
- Stolarz Stops 18 of 20; NAHL U18 Selects Win 4-3 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Magical run at PHL title ends in finals for 16U - Texas Tornado
- Walker, D'Arrisso Pick up Points in 7-4 South Division Loss - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Wichita Falls Wildcats' Insider - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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