Wildcats Split with Tornado
Published on December 5, 2005 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats endured the full range of emotions this past weekend, as they beat the Texas Tornado in a shootout at home on Friday night, and then lost in Frisco Saturday night. The team earned two points this weekend, and still secure second place in the NAHL South division. They trail the first place Tornado by five points.
On Friday night the fans in attendance were treated to one of the most exciting games ever played at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. Both the Wildcats and Tornado played with a high level of intensity, and the Cats came away with 2-1 shootout victory. The first period saw the teams feeling one another out, as they had only played twice this season. The action was fast and physical, but the period ended with the score tied at 0-0. Both teams stepped it up in the second period trying to out hustle and out work one another. The Tornado scored early in the period, but the Cats finally struck back with less than two minutes to go in the second, when Dan Sexton, taking a pass from Kyle Kraemer, banked a shot off of Tornado goalie, Troy Redmann, into the net. The third period and overtime frame were played relatively even. Both teams had opportunities to score, but the goalies for each squad were steadfast in keeping the puck out of the net, and the score was knotted at one apiece at the end of overtime. The shootout, simply put, was amazing. Chris Nicolaou and Chris Ochoa scored for the Wildcats, while Karl Sellan and Ryan Fuller scored for the Tornado, as the game headed into the sudden death portion of the shootout. The Wildcats had their backs against the wall twice, as they were down a goal, but their will would not bend. Adam Cardwell and Dan Medenwaldt scored when it mattered most for the team to keep the game chugging forward. Finally, on their 13th shooter, the Wildcats won the game when unlikely hero Cash Cochran snuck one by Redmann's glove, and set off a raucous celebration in the coliseum. The Wildcats got another marvelous game out of goaltender Thomas Billick, who stopped 32 shots and picked up his 13th win of the season.
When asked about the game, Head Coach Brian Meisner said, "This was a playoff type game. Both teams battled from start to finish. We were down to our last shot twice tonight in the shootout, but we never quit. Goaltending was definitely the name of the game."
Saturday night the Wildcats seemed drained emotionally and physically from their win the night before. The team came out sluggish, only putting three shots on goal, yet remarkably was only down 1-0 after the first period. The second and third period was more of the same for the Wildcats. The team couldn't get anything going offensively and the Tornado were beating them to the puck the entire game. The Tornado scored twice in the second and twice in the third to win this one going away 5-0.
When asked about his teams lack luster performance, Head Coach Brian Meisner said, "We just ran out of steam. We got to give them credit. They were very determined in their own building tonight, and we couldn't match their intensity for 60 minutes."
The Wildcats and Tornado will go at it again this weekend for another home and home series. Friday night the teams will be in Frisco, and Saturday night they will be back in action at the Kay Yeager Coliseum battling for first place. The puck drops at 7:30 Friday night.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 5, 2005
- Blizzard Splits Weekend Series - Alexandria Blizzard
- Wildcats Split with Tornado - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Jets Player Signs with College - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Fox Guides FM Jets to Three-Point Weekend - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Cleveland knocks off Stars twice - Traverse City North Stars
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