Wildcats End Skid With Split
Published on November 7, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats split their first two games of the season against Corpus Christi, losing 4-1 on Friday, but bouncing back for a 5-2 win on Saturday night. Saturday's win ended a five-game losing streak.
Corpus Christi started things off Friday night on a first period goal from Seth Blair that he bounced in off the back of goalie Tyler Green for an early 1-0 lead. But the Wildcats struck back as Nick Szopinski put a puck in off Jason Eddy's assist for a 1-1 game. But the IceRays would finish the period up two. Joe Ginley picked off a pass while shorthanded and came in on a breakaway, beating Green high for a 2-1 lead. Later in the period, Beau Walker's blast from the blue line through traffic made it a 3-1 game.
The IceRays added an empty net goal late after Green had been pulled for an extra attacker, giving them a 4-1 win. Green stopped 19 of 22 shots in the loss.
On Saturday, it took a period and a half for the Wildcats to get on the board, but the scoring came in droves in the final 30 minutes as the Wildcats toppled the Ice Rays 5-2. Dennis Kravchenko, held scoreless in the Wildcats' five-game losing streak, scored twice and added an assist, while new goalie Matt Leon stopped 30 shots in a row.
It was Corpus Christi who actually got off to the hot start on Saturday night. After killing a Wildcats' power play, the Ice Rays scored on a power play of their own for a 1-0 lead, then scored a second goal eight seconds later for an early 2-0 lead on their first two shots of the game. But after that, Leon settled down, stopping the next 30 shots he faced.
It took another 20 minutes before the Wildcats finally broke through, but it was Kravchenko, the team's leading scorer getting the Wildcats on the board at the 13:12 mark. Two and a half minutes later on the penalty kill, the Wildcats tied it up with Renato Engler picking up his first shorthanded goal of the season. Chris Pontello picked up his second of three assists on the night on the goal.
The game remained tied until midway through the third period as Tyler Hope's harmless-looking shot made its way past Corpus Christi goalie Anthony Stolarz to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. Just over a minute later, the offense continued with Jason Eddy scoring his second goal of the season. The Wildcats would finish off the scoring on the power play with Kravchenko's second of the night, coming via a redirection of Pontello's shot with for a 5-2 final.
WEEKEND NOTES: The Wildcats ended a 0-for-46 slide on the power play with Kravchenko's third period power play tally Saturday. New goalie Matt Leon was the NA3HL's Most Valuable Player last season with the Queen City Steam in Cincinnati. The Wildcats outshot the IceRays in both games: 43-23 on Friday, and 40-32 on Saturday.
Preview: Wildcats vs. Corpus Christi Fri. and Sat. Nov. 11 and 12
The Wildcats and IceRays are already getting familiar with each other, as this will be the second weekend in a row in which the teams will face each other at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. They will play 12 times throughout the season. Last year, the Wildcats fared well against the Ice Rays, going 7-3-2 in 12 games.
The Ice Rays are led by Eric Purcell's 11 goals and 16 points on the season; he had one of each against the Wildcats this past weekend. Leading in helpers are Dmitry Ermakov and Matthew Weis, each with 8 assists so far.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
Military Appreciation Night is Saturday at the Kay Yeager Coliseum against the Corpus Christi IceRays! Anyone with a valid military ID can get a free ticket to the game. The Wildcats will wear special military-themed jerseys which will be raffled off following the conclusion of the game. Transportation will also be provided to and from the Sonic restaurant just outside Sheppard Air Force Base.
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
Dan Sexton was named the AHL's Player of the Week for the week ending with November 6, 2011. More on his award can be read at http://theahl.com/sexton-honored-for-9-point-weekend-p173981 and http://blog.syracuse.com/crunch/2011/11/syracuse_crunch_forward_sexton.html
Adam Kuhn picked up his first professional point with an assist in Saturday's 5-1 win for the Pensacola Ice Flyers over the Knoxville Ice Bears. He also is third in the SPHL in PIM with 31 in 6 games.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 1
Brian Sheehan had a goal and an assist in a pair of Sacred Heart losses to Air Force over the weekend.
Air Force's Kyle Delaurell was named the Player of the Month for the Atlantic Hockey Conference for October!
Brett Hartung kept up his excellent play of late, scoring both goals in Bentley's 2-0 win over Canisius on Saturday.
Cal Heeter tossed another shutout for Ohio State, this time a 2-0 win on Saturday over Alabama-Huntsville.
Four former Wildcats faced each other this past weekend with Bemidji State and Lake Superior State splitting a two-game series. Bemidji's Shea Walters had a pair of goals, and Lake's Zach Trotman picked up a goal and an assist.
COLLEGE, DIVISION 3
Erick Cinotti picked up a win in net on Saturday for Castleton College, 5-1 over Southern Maine.
On Friday for Castleton, Ryan Frost picked up his first collegiate points: a pair of assists in a 10-3 win over University of New England.
Brandon Stroud picked up his first goal of his college career in Western New England's 4-2 loss to Westfield State.
Adam Cardwell had three goals and two assists in a pair of victories for Wisconsin-River Falls. They beat Hamline on Friday 8-1 and Bethel on Saturday 7-5.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 7, 2011
- NAHL Announces Combat Hockey 3 Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Military Appreciation Night on November 19 - Texas Tornado
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- 'Runners Wrap up Road Swing with Sweep - Topeka Pilots
- Wildcats End Skid With Split - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Rays Report - IceRays Win Streak Ends at Six Games - Corpus Christi IceRays
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