Sports stats



NAHL Odessa Jackalopes

Wildcats Overwhelm Jacks In 9-3 Loss

January 14, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Odessa Jackalopes News Release


WICHITA FALLS, TX - In the finale of a two-game weekend series, the Odessa Jackalopes were defeated by the Wichita Falls Wildcats 9-3 on Saturday at Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas. With the loss, Odessa's eighth straight defeat, the Jacks fell to 5-29-2 overall this season and with 12 points, remain alone in sixth place in the NAHL's South Division standings.

Odessa opened the scoring at 4:15 of the first period, when Jacks leading point-getter Lawrence Cornellier tapped home his team-leading 19th goal of the season off a peculiar Anthony Olguin dump-in. Wichita Falls responded rapidly and in force, however, as back-to-back-to-back Wildcat goals from Will Vosejpka and a pair of Sami Salminen markers lifted Wichita Falls to a 3-1 lead after one.

In the second period, Olguin drew the Jacks within a goal at 4:46, when the Pueblo, Colorado native extended his season-long personal-best goal-scoring streak to four games with his ninth tally of the season, assisted by Taylor Portner and Cornellier. Two more Wildcat goals, from Patrick Yudez at 5:48 and Tyler Ledford at 7:35, pushed the Wichita Falls lead to 5-2 before Cornellier's second goal of the game, an in-close wrister at 11:52, followed by a George Pagonis score at 14:13, completed the second period scoring with the 'Cats on top 6-3.

In the third period, the Wildcats rattled off three more goals, two from Kyle Bauman and a Salminen hat-trick goal, to form the final score at 9-3 Wichita Falls. The Jacks had a tough night on specialty teams, as Odessa went 0/2 on the power-play and surrendered five man-up goals to the Wildcats on eight power-play chances.

All four netminders that dressed for Saturday's game played, as Odessa starter Phil Heinle was pulled after giving up five goals on 25 shots. His replacement Nick Deery didn't fare much better, as the Lacrosse, Wisconsin native surrendered four goals the rest of the way, making 23 saves in the process. Evan Cowley, the Wichita Falls starter, was yanked in the middle period after giving up three goals on just 11 Odessa shots in favor of Wildcat backup Cooper Cook, who finished with five saves.

Next up for the Jacks, it's the final weekend of the annual "Rodeo road trip," as the Jacks head to Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco for a pair of weekend games vs. the defending Robertson Cup champion Texas Tornado on Friday and Saturday.

In 2012-13, the Odessa Jackalopes drop the puck on their second season as a member of the North American Hockey League. Season ticket packages for the Jacks' sophomore campaign are available now starting at just $179. To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes' ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.

Check out the Odessa Jackalopes Statistics

• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...

North American Hockey League Stories from January 14, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central