Wildcats Finish with Three-Point Weekend
October 4, 2010 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Despite suffering the first loss of the season, the Wildcats bounced back on Saturday to take home three points in their first-ever series against Corpus Christi.
Friday's game saw the Wildcats hold a lead twice, but unable to ultimately bring home two points, losing in a shootout. Corpus Christi got on the scoreboard first at 16:28 of the opening period with Mike Benedict scoring off assists from Beau Walker and Kyle Hughes. While being down 1-0 the Wildcats would also lose the services of leading scorer Dakota Klecha, as he and Brandon Marshall ended up in a fight, the secondary altercation after Steven Hoshaw squared off with Jake Diamond. Klecha was hit with a game misconduct, while Marshall received a double game misconduct.
The Wildcats would take the lead in the second, with Chris Leone tying things at the 2:33 mark, aided by Jason McAloon and Bobby Chapman, then taking the lead as Ryan Frost scored on the power play from Leone and Sean Keane. The lead wouldn't last ten minutes though as Benedict tied things up late in the second.
McAloon would score again midway through the third to put the Wildcats ahead one more time, but four minutes later, Corpus Christi's Jonathan Sdao would knot things up one more time with his first career goal.
For the third game in a row, the Wildcats would go to a shootout. The 'Cats got off to a fast start in the shootout, as Mikhail Sentyurin, Tanner Fahlstedt, and Drew Allen scored as the Wildcats' first three shooters. But the IceRays would keep things close: Jake Diamond was stopped on his first shot, but Cody Milligan, Mike Benedict, and Kevin Crowe tied the shootout at 3, before Beau Walker won it in the sixth round. Tyler Green stopped 30 of 33 in 65 minutes in the loss.
It's hard to say an 8-4 game can possibly be a back-and-forth game, but Saturday night was one in every sense of the phrase.
It took fifteen minutes for the scoring to start, but Jason McAloon scored unassisted for a 1-0 lead. A minute into the second, Drew Allen got on the board from Miha Stebih, then McAloon would score his second unassisted goal of the game, this time shorthanded for a 3-0 lead that ended goaltender Pheonix Copley's night.
And then, the roof nearly caved in.
Corpus Christi would get on the board with Sam Cheraso poking a puck past Eric Garavaglia, then cutting the deficit to one goal on the unluckiest bounce possible two minutes later. Ben Hughes was credited as the scorer on the power play goal. With 5:09 remaining, Joey Parizek would tie the game and 27 seconds later, Corpus Christi took their first lead of the game from Mike Benedict. Like Copley, Eric Garavaglia's night would come to an early end, down 4-3.
The Wildcats would bounce back quickly, even before the period ended. Chris Leone scored on a power play off an assist from Ryan Frost to tie the game, then Sean Keane's first goal of the night would come on the man advantage and put the Wildcats back on top by the end of the second period. Miha Stebih and Mac Olson picked up the assists.
The Wildcats would pour it on late, as Mikhail Sentyurin would score from Tanner Fahlstedt, and Sean Keane would add his second of the night on a breakaway from Steven Hoshaw. After a fight involving Sentyurin, Milligan, and Josh Munford, the Wildcats would end up on a two-man power play and Keane would finish the hat trick redirecting a Ryan Frost shot past Marco Wieser to cap the scoring at 8-4 and give him his first career hat trick. Tyler Green stopped all six shots he faced in relief.
The rough stuff that started moments before between the trio of players would continue with under 20 seconds to go as Drew Allen got fed up with a few slashes and cross-checks to the back from Corpus Christi's Shane Gleason and the gloves came off. The teams combined for two fights, four ejections, and 72 PIM in the final 2:35. The IceRays took six minors in that span, resulting in the Wildcats having a 5-on-3 power play for the entire timespan to close out the game.
The Wildcats will take on the New Mexico Mustangs in Rio Rancho, NM on Thursday, followed by two games at home against Topeka on Friday and Saturday.
Keane named Player of the Week!
The NAHL today named Sean Keane as its SBK Hockey South Division Player of the Week! From NAHL.com.
Wichita Falls forward Sean Keane struck for three goals and two assists as the Wildcats picked up three of four points in two games against Corpus Christi. On Friday, the Rockford, Mich., native picked up a pair of assists in a 4-3 shootout loss. The next night, the 19-year-old recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning marker, as the Wildcats doubled up the IceRays, 8-4. He was also a plus-1 on the weekend.
"Veteran leadership has been the key to Sean's success this season, and he should draw the attention of college coaches because of his strength, size and quick shot release," said Wildcats head coach Mark LeRose. "He's our leading scorer for a reason."
Jason McAloon was also awarded an Honorable Mention.
Miss the game? Troubles with your FastHockey feed? Fear not, as we will have highlights online!
Check out WFWildcatsHockey.com on the right side of the page for a link to our YouTube channel! We'll post video highlights of this past weekend's games this week!
Preview: 10/7 vs. New Mexico, 10/8 and 10/9 vs. Topeka
The Wildcats get a tough travel schedule this week, playing Thursday in Rio Rancho, NM, then at home Friday and Saturday. Thursday will be the Wildcats' first ever matchup against the expansion New Mexico Mustangs. This game was rescheduled from Friday, September 10.
The Mustangs are sixth in the South Division with a 3-5-1 record. Their top scorer is Jimmy Peplinski, who leads the team with 8 points and 5 assists. Team goal leaders are Eli Riddle and Joe Smereck, who scored five each thus far. The Mustangs will likely be without the services of defenseman Kalin Paul. The former QMJHL'er was assessed 33 PIM, including a game misconduct and gross misconduct following a third period fight Saturday against Amarillo.
The Wildcats will face the Topeka Roadrunners for the first time this season Friday and Saturday. The Wildcats are 20-37-7 all-time against the Roadrunners. Their last win over Topeka came on November 13, 2009 in a 7-6 OT thriller.
Topeka is third in the South Division at a 5-2-1 record. Former Wildcat Michael Hill leads the team in all offensive categories-5 goals, 7 assists for 12 points.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
Broomball, adult hockey, and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the Ice Events Schedule! Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Justin Russell in the Wildcats office, 940-716-5587.
Alumni Report
Stay tuned, we'll have updates coming soon on where your favorite former Wildcats are playing in 2010-2011, whether it is in college or the pro levels!
Dan Sexton finished the NHL preseason with 2 goals and an assist, appearing in 5 of the Anaheim Ducks' 7 preseason games. The Ducks' roster currently sits at 28 players, with the regular season starting this weekend. The Ducks have a tough decision on Sexton and another potential third line right wing, Troy Bodie. According to Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register, either Bodie or Sexton could make the final roster, with the other being sent to Syracuse in the AHL.
Stephens profiled Sexton on September 13 in the OC Register's Ducks Blog: http://ducks.ocregister.com/2010/09/13/ducks-a-z-dan-sexton/43495/#more-4349 5
The Montreal Canadiens sent Andrew Conboy to the minors on Monday. He will start the season with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs. Last year, Conboy scored 8-5-13 with 73 PIM in 68 games for Hamilton. He also added 3 points in 19 playoff games.
Chad Costello has signed with Tulsa of the CHL after spending last season with Corpus Christi's now-defunct CHL squad.
North American Hockey League Stories from October 4, 2010
- Monsters Weekly - Fresno Monsters
- NAHL Announces Players of the Week - NAHL
- Bulls Goaltender Chosen SBK Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Amarillo Bulls
- Wildcats Finish with Three-Point Weekend - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Skate with the Jets Event Saturday - Janesville Jets
- Bulls in First Place - Amarillo Bulls
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