Wild Beats Minot To Sweep Weekend Series
October 5, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
Wenatchee, WA. - The Wenatchee Wild got a goal and assist from Trey Bradley and 30 saves from Mackenzie Sawyer to defeat the Minot Minotauros 3-2 Saturday night in front of 2,699 at the Town Toyota Center.
The Wild got the first goal of the game 10:50 in on the power play, as a bouncing puck was deflected into the goal by Troy Loggins (Huntington Beach, California), assisted by Trey Bradley (Tampa, Florida), giving Wenatchee a 1-0 lead. Minot tied the game on a high wrist shot by Tim Donohue. Kirill Metlyuk drew the lone assist at 12:45, tying the game 1-1.
The Wild regained the lead late in the second period on a shorthanded goal by Chris Koukis (Brentwood, California), on a wrist shot from outside the left circle. Corey Sikich (Valencia, California) and Christian Salvato (LaVerne, California) assisted at 17:10, giving Wenatchee a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes.
Bradley extended the lead with an unassisted breakaway goal 1:54 into the third, giving the Wild a 3-1 advantage. Cameron Rowat scored a power play goal for the Minotauros not quite 10 minutes later, assisted by Scott Smoot and Jack Forbort. The goal, at 12:47, drew Minot within a goal once again, at 3-2. Despite pulling the goaltender in the final minute, the visitors could get no closer, as Wenatchee held on for the one goal win. "I thought we played pretty well" said Head Coach Bliss Littler. "On the weekend, I thought a lot more positive things to build on than things to work on. I was just happy with our effort. We made strides from last weekend." On the team's upcoming road swing through Michigan, Littler said "I know we're going to have a huge test on the road in Port Huron and the Soo. We're playing two very good teams there."
Shots were 32 apiece on the night. Mackenzie Sawyer (Landsdowne, Canada) made 30 saves for the Wild, Merrick Madsen made 29 saves for the Minotauros. Wenatchee was 1-for-2 on the power play and 2-of-3 on the penalty kill.
With the win, the Wild improve to 5-3-0 on the season, while Minot slips to 2-5-1.
Wenatchee now hits the road for four games, with two at Port Huron Friday and Saturday, October 11th and 12th and two at the Soo on Friday and Saturday, October 18th and 19th. The Wild's next home action is against the Kenai River Brown Bears. The games on Friday and Saturday, October 25th and 26th, start at 7:05pm PDT, with the game on Sunday, October 26th, starting at 5:05pm PDT. Individual and group game tickets for all home games are on sale now. Call 509.888.PUCK (7825).
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