Wildcats Sweep Springfield
November 24, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
After a string of six straight losses at the hands of Fairbanks, Wenatchee, and Topeka, the Wildcats got things turned around, picking up four points in Springfield, IL against the Junior Blues. Both games were come-from-behind victories for the Wildcats, with Friday's game a 4-3 shootout victory, and Saturday's game a 7-5 victory led by four unanswered goals in the third period.
The Wildcats got on the board inside the first three minutes of both games, with Chad Hudson scoring on the power play Friday night to put the Cats up 1-0. Springfield came back to tie it up at a goal apiece two minutes later, then took the lead at the end of the second on a shorthanded penalty shot goal by Derek Kimbro. However, the Wildcats struck back with another power play tally less than a minute into the third period, with captain Brett Hartung tickling the twine, tying things 2-2.
Late in the third, with Springfield on the power play, Austin Coldwell netted the would-be game-winner, but the Wildcats had other plans. Pulling goaltender Philip Graveline from the net for an extra attacker, Chad Hudson scored his second goal of the game, tying things at three with 40 seconds to go.
The game moved into overtime, with both teams having excellent chances in the first minute, but Brett Hartung hit a post thirteen seconds in, followed by the Junior Blues hitting a post. The Blues' shot was originally called a goal, but the referee was overruled by a linesman and the goal judge. With no scoring, the game went to a shootout, with Graveline stopping three of four Springfield shooters. Scoring for the Wildcats were Hudson, Aaron Quick, and Hartung with the game-winning shot for the 4-3 victory.
Saturday night's game was a high-scoring affair with the Wildcats falling behind by two goals on three separate occasions. Zach Rourke got the Cats on the board at the 1:45 mark for his first career NAHL goal, assisted by Victor Karlsson and Matt Kenline. Springfield scored on in the first and added two midway through the second to take a 3-1 lead, but the Wildcats didn't give up. Less than a minute later, Curtis Heinz scored on a shot that took an odd bounce in front of Springfield goaltender Matt Wichorek, cutting the deficit to 3-2. On a power play, Springfield's Nick Curry added the first of his two goals, giving the Blues another two-goal lead. But with a minute and a half remaining in the second period, the Wildcats got that goal back, with Brett Harting scoring on the power play from Kyle Delaurell and the newest Wildcat, Sean Coffey, cutting the Blues' lead to 4-3 at the end of 40 minutes of play.
The offense kept on coming in the third period, with Springfield's Curry scoring his second goal four minutes into the final frame. But after that, it was all Wildcats. At the 8:54 mark, Hudson tallied his third goal as a Wildcat via a huge slapshot on the power play, and then Zach Rourke added both the game-tying and game-winning markers six minutes apart for the hat trick. With Springfield's net empty, Augie Hoffman knocked the puck from his own blue line, sending it bouncing and rolling into the empty net to cement the 7-5 victory.
The Wildcats now sit only two points behind Springfield in the NAHL South Division. After this weekend's games in Topeka, the Wildcats will go back to Springfield for two games the following weekend, December 5th and 6th.
The Wildcats' next home games will be December 12 and 13 versus the St. Louis Bandits. For tickets and other information, contact the Wildcats' office at 940-716-5587.
Hudson Player of the Week, Rourke Honorable Mention
From NAHL.com...
Wichita Falls forward Chad Hudson rang up three goals and two assists in a pair of wins over Springfield. On Friday, the Coppell, Texas, native netted two goals in regulation and one in the shootout in a 4-3 triumph. The next night, the 18-year-old collected another goal and an assist as the Wildcats bested the Jr. Blues, 7-5.
"Chad is making the most of his chances," said Wildcats head coach John Bowkus. "He has a knack for scoring which we've been badly missing this season."
HONORABLE MENTION: Topeka forward Bryon Paulazzo and defenseman Eric Artman; Wichita Falls forward Zach Rourke
Wildcats In the Community
This week, the Wildcats will help celebrate Thanksgiving with an appearance at the Southwest Boys and Girls Club on Hughes Drive this Wednesday. This will be the Wildcats' fourth appearance at a Boys and Girls Club in the month of November.
If you are interested in having Wildcats players appear at your school, church, or other function, please contact us, at 940-716-5587.
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North American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2008
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- Wildcats Sweep Springfield - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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