Wild Go Undefeated at Showcase Tournament
Published on September 16, 2012 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
BLAINE, Minn. - The Wenatchee Wild showed speed at the 10thAnnual Showcase Tournament in Blaine, Minn. They showcased scoring touch, apotent power play and solid defensive play as well.
On Saturday the Wild showed that they can come from behind,defeating the Brookings Blizzard 5-2 on the final day of competition at theShowcase Tournament after trailing 1-0 at the first intermission.
Wenatchee was one of three teams to finish the tournamentwith a perfect 4-0 record, but lost out on the title to the Texas Tornado on agoal differential tiebreaker.
Nonetheless, it was a tremendous start for the Wild, wholast went 4-0 at the Showcase Tournament in 2009.
"I thought we got better as the games went on," Wild headcoach Bliss Littler said Saturdaynight. "I was really pleased with that."
Wenatchee trailed for the first time in the tournamentSaturday when Thomas Williams scored on a breakaway with 9:08 remaining in thefirst stanza.
The Wild responded with four unanswered goals in the secondperiod. Jono Davis (La Verne, Calif.)started the scoring spree 78 seconds into the period when he used abackhand-to-forehand move during a breakaway that tied up the game, 1-1. Dillon Eichstadt (Bemidji, Minn.) gaveWenatchee its first lead with 5:53 left in the second period when he rifled ashot into the cage from the left circle during a man-advantage.
Max McHugh (Edgewood,Wash.) and Chris Kerr (Penticton,British Columbia) scored the Wild's third and fourth goals, respectively. Kerr'smarker came on a 2-on-1 situation. He looked off a pass, then snapped the puckinto the far side of the cage to give the Wild a 4-1 lead heading into thethird period.
Blake Roubos (NiagaraFalls, Canada) scored Wenatchee's fifth straight goal 7:25 into the thirdperiod on a deflection. Dylan Zink scored Brookings' final goal of the conteston a power play with a little over seven minutes remaining in regulation.
Chris Diver (Wilmington,Del.) and Noah Nelson (Oconomowoc,Wis.) each notched two assists for the Wild.
Jordyn Kaufer (Stillwater,Minn.), who was making his first start with the Wild, made 13 saves on 15 shotsto earn his first win. Nick Deery made 38 saves on 43 shots for Brookings. TheWild went 1-for-8 on the power play while Brookings went 1-for-6.
Wenatchee's JoshHartley (Coquitlam, Canada) recorded six points during the tournament (3G,3A), which tied him for the most among all defensemen.
"He's definitely an offensive defenseman," Littler said ofHartley. "He's getting better defensively, and he made a lot of things happen.He was very aggressive and, overall, I was very happy with his play."
The Wild (4-0) are on the road Friday and Saturday (Sept. 21-22)for a pair of games against the Minot Minotauros.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2012
- 'Banner' week for Tornado organization - Texas Tornado
- Wild Go Undefeated at Showcase Tournament - Wenatchee Wild
- Texas Tornado Crowned Champions of 10th Annual NAHL Showcase - NAHL
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