Wildcats go 4-1 in preseason
September 14, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
A longer preseason schedule than previous years gives the Wildcats a bit of a jump start on the season, and they took advantage, winning four of five games, including two wins each over the Tulsa Rampage and Texas Tornado.
The Wildcats started off their preseason exhibition schedule up in Tulsa, OK, taking on the WSHL's Tulsa Rampage. In the two games, the Wildcats managed to put up a combined twenty goals, winning on Saturday night 11-1, and Sunday afternoon 9-1. Adam Kuhn had a hat trick on Saturday night, while Brian Sheehan tallied two goals in each game.
A tenacious forecheck and hard work in the corners propelled the Wildcats to a 5-1 victory over the Texas Tornado in Friday night's preseason exhibition game.
"We came out with fire, and caught them off guard," said Wildcats' head coach John Bowkus. "They're a hard-working team, and they matched us in the second and third. We scored on our opportunities."
The Wildcats got on the board just over four minutes into the game with Tyler Lundey scoring an unassisted goal for an early 1-0 score. Ten minutes later, skating four-on-four, it was Aaron Quick on an end-to-end rush putting the Wildcats up 2-0. Assisting on Quick's goal were Mat Duris and Ian Young.
The Tornado would get one back in the second, but the Wildcats would return the favor at the 7:38 mark, as Daniel Gentzler scored on the power play from Lundey and Quick for a 3-1 lead. Brian Sheehan made it a 4-1 game, roofing one off an assist from Ian Young.
The Wildcats would add an extra goal via the power play in the third, as J.T. Osborn sniped one off Gentzler's pass, finishing off the scoring at 5-1.
Goaltender Brian Phillips had an excellent game in net, stopping 25 of the 26 shots he faced. Additionally, the Wildcats' special teams were nearly perfect, scoring three times on the power play, and going five of six on the penalty kill. "We're trying different people at different positions," Bowkus said of his team's power play unit. "It's good to see them moving the puck and capitalizing on their chances... This should be the way we'll play them all year."
On Saturday night, goals from J.T. Osborn and Tyler Lundey, as well as a five shot, four save effort from Zac Enstrom in a shootout led the Wildcats to a 4-3 victory over the Texas Tornado in Frisco.
Special teams led the way again for the Wildcats, as they scored a goal shorthanded and via the power play in the second period. Brandon Stroud started things off going in with Brian Sheehan on a two-on-none shorthanded breakaway for the Cats first goal. Ten minutes later, Lundey poked a puck past Tornado goalie Anthony Sweet for a 2-0 lead. Lundey's power play goal came off assists from Anthony Iaquinto and Daniel Gentzler.
The Tornado finally broke through in the third period with Ian Braun tapping a puck past Wildcats' netminder Zac Enstrom. Assists went to Jared Williams and Tyler Rostenkowski, cutting the Wildcats' lead to 2-1. The Cats would get it back though, with Brian Sheehan getting an unassisted goal that just trickled past Sweet, putting the Cats back up by two with just over six minutes to go.
The Tornado were not done yet though, scoring off an extremely unlucky bounce for the Cats, as an outlet pass by a Wildcat careened off the leg of Jack Prince and into the net. With a minute to go, the Tornado pulled Sweet for an extra attacker, and tied it with 16.5 seconds left, as James Poston roofed the puck off a scramble in front of the net.
Both teams came out firing again in the overtime, with the Tornado hitting a couple posts at the Wildcats end, while Anthony Sweet made some tough saves against Wildcats shooters, but no pucks found the back of the net, sending the game to a shootout.
Jack Prince scored on the first shot of the final frame, but the Tornado could manage no more, hitting a post and then having three shooters halted by Enstrom. At the other end, the Wildcats were shut down on shots by Sheehan and Aaron Quick, but Lundey and Osborn came through with the winning tallies.
On Sunday, two early goals had fans thinking of an undefeated preseason, but instead the Oklahoma Sooners put the long blemish on the Wildcats' preseason with a 7-5 victory at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.
"Our intensity was good," said Bowkus. "We haven't been down much this preseason, so it was good to see our guys fight back and even get some good scoring chances late."
The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the first via goals by Ian Young and J.T. Osborn, but the Sooners would strike back for three goals in the final ten minutes of the period, heading into the locker room with a 3-2 lead. The Sooners found the back of the net twice in the second, with Brandon Stroud's power play goal sandwiched in the middle.
The Wildcats put up a great effort late: down 6-3 with 13 minutes to go, they cut the deficit to 6-5, as Stroud scored his second of the game and Tyler Lundey scored a goal in his third straight game. The Sooner defense would hold up though, even with the Wildcats net empty, as they put in an empty-net goal with 16 seconds remaining for the 7-5 win.
"Nine goals between the two teams were with special teams units on the ice," Bowkus pointed out (8 power play goals, 1 shorthanded). "OU capitalized on their powerplay opportunities...a good lesson for our young team not to take as many penalties during the regular season"
Zac Enstrom had a spectacular game in goal for the Wildcats, stopping 16 of 17 shots he faced in a period and a half of play. "He played really well," Bowkus said. "We'll be sending him back to Tulsa, depending on [Phil] Graveline's status tomorrow. But we were impressed by what we saw from him."
The Wildcats finish the preseason with a 4-1 record, beating Tulsa and Texas each twice. "We have some good speed and skill out there," Bowkus noted. "We just have to tighten up a couple other areas and we'll be set."
The Wildcats will go on the road to Blaine, MN for the annual NAHL Minnesota Showcase. Their first game is Wednesday, September 16 at 7:15 pm against the North Iowa Outlaws. The team makes its home debut on Friday, September 25 against the Springfield Jr. Blues at 7:05 pm.
Season Tickets still available!
It's not too late to get tickets for every game in the upcoming 2009-2010 Wildcats season! You can save as much as $54 by buying season tickets over individual game tickets. Plus, season ticket holders are entitled to many perks, including discounts of at least 10% on Wildcats' merchandise, giveaways, use of the "Never Waste a Ticket" and "Fan-To-Fan" programs, and invitations to special events that are only open to season ticket holders.
Lower level season ticket holders are a part of the all-new Wildcats Nation! Wildcats Nation members get a free t-shirt, 15% off Wildcats merchandise, free tickets to one of the previously mentioned exhibition games, and the opportunity to purchase advance seating on selected events at the Kay Yeager Coliseum and Memorial Auditorium.
The first 100 season ticket holders to pay in full will be able to purchase a new Wildcats' jersey for only $45! For more information on season tickets, call the Wildcats' office at 940-716-5587.
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North American Hockey League Stories from September 14, 2009
- Rangers Ready to Start Season Wednesday - Marquette Rangers
- Wildcats go 4-1 in preseason - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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