Wildcats come home down 0-2
Published on April 6, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Despite splitting their past three regular season series against Topeka, the Wildcats find themselves down two games to none in their best of five series against the Roadrunners. Friday night was a 3-2 loss despite a late comeback attempt, while Sunday's game was not as close, with Topeka winning 6-3.
Two goals from Jordan George and a power play tally from Andy Inderieden were enough to get the Topeka Roadrunners a 3-2 victory over the Wildcats in the first game of their best-of-five series.
George brought the crowd of 1,669 to their feet only 1:09 into the game, slipping the puck past goaltender Phil Graveline off assists from Andrew Blazek and Caleb Wolfgram for a 1-0 Roadrunner lead. Eight minutes later, Andy Inderieden snuck one in on a power play, extending the Roadrunner lead to 2-0. Steve Shafer and Eric Artman got the assists.
George struck again in the second on the power play for a 3-0 lead before the Wildcats started to come back. With 1:39 left in the second, Aaron Quick ripped one past Topeka goalie Bryce Merriam, getting the Wildcats on the board. Assists went to Brett Hartung and Chad Hudson. With the game still 3-1 in the final minutes, Graveline was pulled for an extra attacker, and with the net empty behind them, the Wildcats cut the deficit to one goal, as Ryan Amin knocked in a loose puck, assisted by Ricky Brown. After a timeout and getting Graveline out of the net a second time, the Wildcats had a few chances late, but couldn't finish it off, sending a puck off the post and coming inches short with the puck in the crease.
Optimism reigned at the end of the first period on Sunday afternoon, but the Topeka Roadrunners outscored the Wildcats 4-1 in the final two periods for a 6-3 victory. Andrew Blazek scored the second and last of Topeka's six goals.
Matt Hartmann got the Roadrunners on the board at the 10 minute mark of the first, followed by Blazek redirecting a pass in from Jordan George three and a half minutes later for a quick 2-0 lead. The Wildcats struck back late in the period, as Sean McKenzie's shot was originally stopped by Topeka goaltender Bryce Merriam, then trickled in past him, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Adam Kuhn and Brett Kaneshiro assisted on the goal. Less than two minutes later, Chad Hudson scored shorthanded as a Topeka defenseman fell and lost the puck, leaving everything open for Hudson's breakaway.
Topeka added two more in the second, with Andy Inderieden catching Wildcats netminder Nick Hopper in between deciding to play the puck or stay close to the net, nudging the puck past him for a 3-2 lead. Less than two minutes later, Topeka scored another odd one, with Travis Stevens getting credit for a goal that bounced off a player in front of the net.
The Wildcats kept fighting back in the second and third, cutting the deficit to one goal, with Brett Hartung tapping in a rebound off a Zach Trotman shot, making it a 4-3 game. But two minutes later, with the Wildcats on the power play, Topeka took the puck on a 2-on-1, scoring a shorthanded Steve Shafer goal to regain their two-goal advantage. They added a power play goal late from Andrew Blazek to finish off the scoring, 6-3.
The Wildcats return home Friday April 10 for a do-or-die Game Three. If they win, Game 4 is going to be at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Saturday, April 11. Both games will start at 7:05 pm.
Upcoming Home Games and Events
Game Three of the playoff series against Topeka will be at the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Friday, April 10 at 7:05 pm. If the Wildcats win and a fourth game is necessary, it will by at the KYC on Saturday, April 11 at 7:05 pm. If the Wildcats win twice at home, a deciding fifth game will be played in Topeka on Sunday, April 12 at 6:05 pm.
The Wildcats Golf Tournament will be held at noon on Tuesday, April 7 at River Creek. You can reserve your spot through the Wildcats' office for $40, which includes lunch, greens fees, and cart fees. Every foursome will feature a Wildcats player or coach. Anyone interested in sponsoring a hole can also do so through the Wildcats' office, 940-716-5587.
The Wildcats' Coaches' Radio Show will be at Buffalo Wild Wings tomorrow, Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 pm. Come on down to meet the players and coaches and hear their comments on this past weekend in Topeka, next weekend's home games, and on the season as a whole. If you can't be at Buffalo Wild Wings, tune in on 94.9 KOLI "The Outlaw" or online at 949theoutlaw.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2009
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Defeats Sweden - U.S. National Team
- Thunder Tender Players - Albert Lea Thunder
- Nielsen and Lundholm Commit for 2009-10 - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Wildcats come home down 0-2 - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Auction Items To Help Injured Player - NAHL
- Historic Run Needed to Save Outlaws' Postseason - North Iowa Outlaws
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