Wildcats' miracle comeback falls short
April 13, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
Facing a two games to none deficit, the Wildcats' returned home with their work cut out for them: win and see another day.
Friday night, it took 58 minutes for the Wildcats to score, but it happened twice in five minutes for a 2-1 victory in the first overtime playoff game in team history.
"Great effort from our guys," said Wildcats head coach John Bowkus. "They know what it takes to win playoff games in this league."
The first period was a back and forth affair early on, but neither team managed to score. Phil Graveline stopped all 16 shots he faced, while Topeka netminder Bryce Merriam stopped 6. The first shot of the second period would end up as the lone goal for the Roadrunners, as Andy Inderieden poked a misplayed puck past Graveline for a 1-0 lead.
It looked like that goal would be enough for the next 38 minutes. With what appeared to be two minutes left in the Wildcats' season, as Graveline looked to the bench to bring on a sixth attacker. Brett Kaneshiro put a pass out to Brett Hartung on the right wing. Hartung brought it in on Merriam, who stopped his shot, but Chad Hudson was there to pick up the rebound and stuff it in the back of the net to tie things up with 1:48 to go.
The game moved into overtime, and just three minutes in, Brett Kaneshiro got a pass from Hudson at the left point, and fired a slapshot that beat Merriam for the game winner. Brett Hartung had the secondary assist. Kaneshiro was named first star of the game, Graveline second, and Merriam third.
After a 31-save performance Friday in what some are calling "The Miracle at the MPEC," Phil Graveline followed it up with another 30-save gem as the Wildcats beat Topeka 4-1 on Saturday. Topeka's lone goal came in the first period to give them a 1-0 lead, with Travis Stevens slipping the puck in, but after that, Graveline stopped the next 22 Roadrunner shots over 52 minutes.
At the other end of the ice, the Wildcats scored four different ways in the victory: even strength, shorthanded, power play, and empty net. Sean McKenzie's power play goal knotted things up at one late in the second, assisted by Adam Kuhn and Anthony Iaquinto. In the first minute of the third, with Zach Trotman in the box for tripping, Brett Hartung took advantage of a fallen defenseman, snatching the puck away and faking Topeka goaltender Bryce Merriam halfway to Clay County as he slid the puck past for a 2-1 lead. It was the Wildcats' second shorthanded goal of the postseason after scoring three in the entire 58-game regular season.
McKenzie would extend the Wildcats lead in the third, putting another puck past Merriam off a two-on-one with Adam Kuhn. Brett Kaneshiro got the secondary assist.
The Wildcats were forced to kill off some penalties late in the game, with Graveline making two incredible saves on loose pucks in front of the net, before Chad Hudson got a puck at his own blue line and sent a high arcing shot down the ice and into the back of an empty Topeka net, putting the final nail in the coffin, 4-1. Graveline's heroics got him named the game's first star. McKenzie was second with two goals, and Adam Kuhn third with two assists.
Phil Graveline's hot streak continued and the Wildcats got two first period goals, but Topeka came back in the final 13 minutes to take the opening round playoff series three games to two with a 4-2 victory.
"It's a tough pill to swallow," Bowkus said after the game. "Phil played another great game, we just ran out of luck."
Sean McKenzie opened the scoring in the first period off a perfect feed from Anthony Iaquinto for a 1-0 lead six minutes in. Then just as a Wildcats penalty expired, Adam Kuhn pushed the puck ahead to himself off a faceoff and put a shot on Topeka's Bryce Merriam that went straight up in the air and came down and bounced into the net for a 2-0 lead.
Graveline stopped the first 40 Topeka shots through nearly 50 minutes of play before Bob Marx's shot got deflected in past him, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Just minutes later, Topeka tied it up as Jacob Poe's shot from the blue line was blocked and the rebound was fired in from the high slot by Andy Inderieden.
With momentum shifting their way, Topeka took the lead on another deflection, this time Matt Hartmann getting credit for the goal with 3:38 left in the game. The Wildcats pulled Graveline from the net, but a late penalty put Topeka on the power play, and Jordan George sealed the deal with an empty net goal, capping the scoring at 4-2.
"The guys are taking it pretty hard, especially the '88's," said Bowkus. "It's their last game together and last game in juniors... It's not just a path to a scholarship, the guys have fun playing at this level, there's the camaraderie that's there and this is the last time they'll play at this level, so it's tough on them.
"Give [the Roadrunners] credit, they have a heck of a team and they battled hard... We're not going to hang our heads."
Upcoming Events
As the regular season comes to an end, the Wildcats will set their sites on preparations for the 2009-10 season. First is the process of gathering new players via tenders, drafts, and tryouts. The NAHL Draft will be held in May, while tryouts are scheduled for May 16 and 17 in El Segundo, CA; June 12-14 in East Lansing, MI; and June 26-28 in Bloomington, MN. The Wildcats' final camp will be in August in Wichita Falls.
Season ticket prices will be announced soon as well. Keep checking www.wfwildcatshockey.com for all the information as the 2009-10 season approaches!
Thank you to our '88's!
Every year, a few players will age out of junior hockey, and this year is no different. We send our best wishes to all of the 88's who will be moving onward in their hockey careers: Brett Hartung, Jeff McNeil, Matt Kenline, Kyle Delaurell, Sean Coffey, and Nick Hopper. Best of luck to each of you in all of your future endeavors in hockey and elsewhere, and thank you for your service to the Wildcats hockey program!
North American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2009
- Central Division Finals Preview - Bismarck Bobcats
- Phantoms' Second Round Schedule Set - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Wildcats' miracle comeback falls short - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Outlaws' Season Ends...Sort of - North Iowa Outlaws
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