Wildcats Split Weekend Series with Bandits
December 11, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats took the ice this weekend against the St. Louis Bandits and went 1-1 in the weekend series, picking up one point. The Wildcats currently sit in second place in the NAHL South Division with thirty-five points. St. Louis leads the NAHL and proved why they have the best record defeating the Cats 6-1 on Friday night. The Cats bounced back on Saturday night though and handed the Bandits their first overtime loss of the season defeating them 4-3 in overtime. The Wildcats record is currently 17-8-1.
Friday night was a heated battle between the Wildcats and Bandits. After forty minutes of play, the Cats were trailing 3-0. Skylur Jameson came out strong for the Wildcats in the third period and put one between the pipes getting the Cats on the board. The unassisted goal came at the 1:34 mark of the final frame. Unfortunately, the Bandits netted three more before the final buzzer and the Cats fell short 6-1. The game was still exciting with the final ten minutes being intense and penalty filled. Both goalies were ejected at the 7:55 mark after a fight at center ice between goalies, Mike Jarboe and Cal Heeter. Another brawl broke out with just less than five minutes left and Wichita Falls' Sean McKenzie and Justin Javorek were both sent to the dressing room as well as Warda and Ramage for the Bandits. Although the Cats fell short, there was definitely a lot of action.
Saturday night the Wildcats lit up the ice as they came back from a two goal deficit to defeat the number one Bandits 4-3 in overtime. The Cats handed St. Louis their first overtime loss of the season. Brett Morrell got the Cats on the board at the 11:38 mark of the second period off the assist from Grant Everett. Wichita Falls was trailing 3-1 after forty minutes of play, but they hit the ice in the final stanza ready to play and dominated the last twenty minutes of the game. Grant Everett scored less than three minutes into the final period off the assist from Shaun Jameson and Luke Salazar, putting the Cats within one of the Bandits. With momentum going their way, Shaun Jameson netted the tying goal of the game at the 5:33 mark. The assists came from Brett Hartung and Skylur Jameson. The Wildcats defense stepped up, as well as net-minder Mike Jarboe in the final twenty minutes and turned away all twelve of the Bandits shots, forcing the game into overtime. With only five minutes to play in overtime before the game would be decided by shootout, Wildcats' captain Adam Cardwell took a feed from Grant Everett and beat Bandits goalie Mike Johnson with a wrist shot from just inside the blue line, giving the Cats the 4-3 victory.
Wichita Falls forward, Grant Everett, also picked up Honorable Mention in the NAHL Weekly Release for his performance this weekend. Everett powered the Wildcats in their 4-3 victory over St. Louis with one goal and two assists. "Grant is showing why he's one of the better cornermen in the league," said Wildcats coach-GM John Bowkus. "He consistently wins battles and, with his hard work, he's being rewarded by scoring some big goals for us."
The Wildcats next home games are Friday, December 21 and Saturday, December 22 against the Texas Tornado. Friday is Santa Hat Night and you will receive a free post game skate if you wear a Santa Hat to the game. Saturday night is our annual Teddy Bear Toss and all toys collected this year will be donated to the Rainbow House.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2007
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- U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly - U.S. National Team
- Santa Claus At Northern Lights Arena - Alpena IceDiggers
- The Best of the Central/North Battle This Weekend - North Iowa Outlaws
- Wildcats Split Weekend Series with Bandits - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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