Wildcats Sweep Tornado
Published on December 22, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats took on the Texas Tornado this weekend in a two game series and swept them in front of their home crowd. The Wildcats picked up four points in the weekend series improving their record to 21-8-1 and moving them into first place in the NAHL South Division. They now have forty-three points and hold a three point lead over the second place Fairbanks. The Cats are currently led in scoring by Adam Cardwell who has forty-eight points and Luke Salazar has forty-two.
Friday night it was a slow start for both the Wildcats and the Tornado as the first period saw only fourteen shots and no goals by either team. Things finally started to heat up in the second frame when the Cats finally got on the board at the 8:21 mark. Cardwell and Everett found Salazar who took advantage of his position and blasted the puck between the pipes. Less than three minutes later the Cats would do it again, taking a 2-0 lead and never looking back. Their second goal would come when Skylur Jameson and Justin Javorek assisted Adam Sponseller who put the puck into the back of the net with no hesitation. Texas did score before the stanza ended but the Cats still held a 2-1 led after forty minutes of play. The Wildcats came out in the final twenty minutes and blasted the Tornado goal with thirty-one shots. They were finally able to capitalize at the 17:21 mark when Shaun Jameson scored a powerplay goal to give the Cats a 3-1 lead. The assists on the powerplay goal came from Morrell and Sponseller. Then, with less than a minute left to play in regulation Cardwell scored an empty-net goal of the assist from Jeff McNeil to seal the victory for the Wildcats and they would win it 4-1.
Saturday night was a crazy game with forty-one shots on goal taken by both teams and a final score of 7-6. There were a lot of goals scored and a lot of penalty minutes but the Wildcats never lost their lead or their momentum. The scoring got started 1:34 into the game when veteran Wildcats, Brett Hartung put one into the back of the net for the Wildcats. Immediately after his goal the ice was showered with stuffed animals thanks to the Wildcats annual Teddy Bear Toss; all stuffed animals this year were donated to the Rainbow House. That didn't seem to slow the game down any though as the Cats put another one in the net at the 4:27 mark thanks to Skylur Jameson. The assists on his goal came from Sponseller and Shkreli. At 9:10 Sean McKenzie netted another one for the Cats off the assists from Ondrejac and Nowick. Texas did score a powerplay goal before the buzzer but the Cats led 3-1 going into the first intermission. Texas got the scoring started in the second period when they scored another powerplay goal at the 9:15 mark. The Cats answered back less than two minutes later when they scored a powerplay goal of their own. Cardwell and Kaneshiro assisted Salazar who scored the powerplay goal at the 10:51 mark. Sponseller blasted another into the back of the net at 14:57 to give the Wildcats 5-2 lead. Then with less than a minute to play in the second frame, the Tornado netted two goals and Wildcats forward, Mike Sturdevant, scored another powerplay goal off the assist from Cardwell and Salazar. The Cats led 6-4 after forty minutes of play. Things continued to go back and forth in the final stanza with Texas scoring eight minutes in and putting themselves within one of the Cats. At the 13:33 mark Everett and Salazar assisted Cardwell who put the puck into the back of the net and gave the Cats a two goal lead. It wouldn't last long though because the Tornado would put another past Jarboe at the fourteen minute mark. That would be the last goal of the game and the Wildcats would skate away with the 7-6 victory.
The Wildcats next home games are Friday, January 11 and Saturday, January 12 against the Alaska Avalanche. Puck drops at 7:05pm!
North American Hockey League Stories from December 22, 2007
- Wildcats Sweep Tornado - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- U.S. Nat'l Under-17 Team Falls to Mahoning Valley in Series Finale - U.S. National Team
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.
