Wild to Play in Robertson Cup Championship Game
May 12, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wenatchee Wild News Release
FRISCO, Texas - The Wenatchee Wild secured a spot in the Robertson Cup Championship Game Monday by defeating the Amarillo Bulls 7-0 Sunday during the third day of competition at the 2013 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship Tournament at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.
With a ticket to the championship game on the line, the Wild left no doubt that they deserve a shot at the title by defeating the Bulls, 7-0.
Wenatchee led 4-0 after 20 minutes of play on even-strength goals from Trevor Stewart (East Wenatchee, Wash.), Max McHugh (Edgewood, Wash.), Josh Hartley (Coquitlam, British Columbia) and Jono Davis (La Verne, Calif.).
Stewart started the Wild goal barrage just 36 seconds after the opening faceoff when he knocked in a juicy rebound off of Joe Sullivan's (Las Vegas, Nev.) sharp-angle shot from the bottom of the far faceoff circle. Dylan Abood (Centennial, Colo.) also assisted.
Less than two minutes later, the Wild took a 2-0 lead when McHugh scored on a wide open net on a pass from David Mead (Conklin, N.Y.) from behind the end line. Derick Kuchera (Eagan, Minn.) also assisted.
"We worked hard and we had some pucks bounce our way," said Wenatchee Wild head coach Bliss Littler. "We were pretty fortunate early to get a 2-0 lead. I thought that was a very good effort on our part. From our goaltender on out, we made a lot of plays."
Highlight reels were invented for the type of goal that Hartley scored 4:56 into the opening period, which gave the Wild a 3-0 lead. After the Bulls lost control of the puck in the Wild zone, Hartley went coast-to-coast, skating through defenders as if they were cones, and scored on a forehand shot that beat the netminder stick side.
Davis' goal, which gave his team a 4-0 lead with 9:10 remaining before the first intermission, started with an Amarillo turnover at the Wenatchee blue line. Davis collected the puck, turned on his jets and scored on a backhander on a breakaway with a defender in trail.
Wenatchee kept up the offensive pressure in the second period and ended up leading 6-0 heading into the third period on goals from Brian Williams (San Diego, Calif.) and Noah Nelson (Oconomowoc, Wis.).
Williams' goal was scored while the Wild were shorthanded. After Wenatchee dumped the puck into the offensive zone, the Amarillo goalie attempted to make a pass along the near boards, but Nelson picked off the pass, found Williams wide open in the slot, and Williams did the rest when he scored on the open net.
Nelson went on to give the Wild a 6-0 lead with 4:31 left in the second period when he scored on a top shelf wrister from the bottom of the far faceoff circle during a man-advantage.
Sullivan closed out scoring 7:24 into the third period when whistled a wrister from the high slot into the net during a power play. Abood and Davis earned the assists.
Robert Nichols (Dallas, Texas) denied all 18 shots he faced Sunday to earn the shutout.
Nelson, Davis and Sullivan each scored a goal and added an assist in the win for the Wild while Abood recorded two assists.
The Wild will play a rematch game against the Bulls Monday in the Robertson Cup Championship Game. By virtue of their win Sunday, the Wild will be the home team in the contest and will have the last change on the ice.
"I think this is the game that people in the NAHL wanted to see," said Littler. "I think [Monday] night is what people waited all year to see.
"I would expect an extremely physical, intense hockey game Monday, and I know we will be ready for it. I was very proud of the effort [Sunday]."
The Robertson Cup Championship Game will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday. For a small fee, fans can watch the title game live by logging on to www.FASTHockey.com. Fans can also listen to the game live on 560 AM KPQ. Tori Holt will call all the action.
The Wild will be playing in the Robertson Cup Championship Game Monday for the second time in club history and the first time since the inaugural team suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the St. Louis Bandits in 2009.
North American Hockey League Stories from May 12, 2013
- Wild to Play in Robertson Cup Championship Game - Wenatchee Wild
- Bobcats Stunned in Overtime on Day Two - Bismarck Bobcats
- Amarillo Bulls Remain Unbeaten at Robertson Cup - Amarillo Bulls
- Amarillo Bulls Remain Unbeaten at Robertson Cup - Amarillo Bulls
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