Wildcats sweep Wenatchee; Four players in Showcase

Published on January 19, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release


After starting off the January homestand by dropping two against Springfield, the Wildcats rebounded nicely, sweeping the Wenatchee Wild this past weekend.

A Brett Hartung hat trick plus a goal and three assists each for his linemates Chad Hudson and Adam Kuhn powered the Wildcats to a 6-1 victory on Friday night.  Goalie Mike Jarboe stopped 26 of 27 Wenatchee Wild shots to seal the victory at the other end of the ice.

 

Anthony Iaquinto put the Wildcats on the board first, beating Wenatchee goaltender Mathieu Dugas on the first shot of the game, 1:40 into the first, assisted by Curtis Heinz and Matt Shost.  Iaquinto wouldn't stick around for long though, as he was ejected after a fight at the 10:50 mark of the period.  Wenatchee tied the game up on a scramble in front, with Michael DiPuma roofing a rebound.  However, the Wildcats put themselves permanently in the driver's seat with Hartung's first of the night, coming on a breakaway off Braden Kinnebrew's pass at the 15:56 mark.  Broderick Browne got credited with the secondary assist.

 

The Wildcats kept the offense rolling in the second period, with Chad Hudson perfectly redirecting an Adam Kuhn pass past Dugas for a 3-1 lead.  Wenatchee replaced Dugas with Mac Carruth after Dugas allowed 3 goals on the Wildcats' first 8 shots on goal.  Ten minutes later, the Wildcats started getting to Carruth too, as Kuhn was given room to walk right into the slot and fire one in off assists from Hartung and Hudson for a 4-1 lead.  With a goal and an assist already, Kuhn finished off the Gordie Howe hat trick only 17 seconds later, getting into a dust-up with Wenatchee's Nick Nagel.

 

The third period was no different, with Brett Hartung scoring his second of the night, aided by linemates Kuhn and Hudson, 25 seconds into the final frame.  He capped off the 19th hat trick in team history with the same assists at the 8:45 mark.

 

For the hat trick and the ninth five-point game in team history, Hartung was named first star of the game, with the second star going to Kuhn with a goal, a fight, and 3 assists, while the third star went to Mike Jarboe for stopping 26 shots.

On Saturday night, it took an overtime period, plus a seven-round shootout, but the Wildcats beat the Wild 4-3 in front of 4,501 fans on Military Appreciation Night.

 

Newcomer Ryan Amin led the way for the Wildcats with two goals and an assist, with Chad Hudson finding the back of the net as well.  Sean McKenzie and Anthony Iaquinto each had two assists.

 

The Wildcats jumped out to a 3-1 lead at the end of the second, but Wenatchee came back to tie the game up in the third period, courtesy of a Junior Cadiz shorthanded goal, followed less than a minute later by Michael DiPuma scoring his fifth in as many games with the Wild.

 

In the shootout, neither team scored through six rounds.  After Mike Jarboe stopped Wenatchee's Cam Severson, it was Brett Kaneshiro roofing it for the 4-3 victory.  Kaneshiro's efforts got him the first star of the game, with Amin second and McKenzie third.  Jarboe stopped 28 of 31 shots in regulation and was a perfect 7 of 7 in the shootout.  He now leads the NAHL in shootout wins with four and became the Wildcats' all-time winningest goaltender with his 37th career victory in a Wichita Falls uniform.

This week, four Wildcats players are in Michigan for the Top Prospects Tournament. Representing the Wildcats on the South Division's team are forwards Jeff McNeil, Brett Hartung, and Sean McKenzie, as well as defenseman Brett Kaneshiro. Last night, the South Division beat the West Division by a 3-2 score. The South faces the US National Team Development Program's Under-18 team today at 4 pm CST. Tomorrow they will play the North Division at 1:15 pm.

Upcoming Home Games

There will be four games this week for the Wildcats at home. Tuesday and Wednesday night, the Wildcats will play against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at 7:05 pm. Tuesday night is 2 for 1 night, where all tickets are buy one, get one of equal or lesser value free, While Wednesday night is Wacky Wednesday: all tickets, anywhere in the arena are only $2.50. These games are perfect for business outings, church groups, or a family night out!

Friday and Saturday, the Wenatchee Wild look to avenge last weekend's sweep as they face off with the Wildcats once again at 7:05 pm. Friday night is Kiowa Casino Night, and Saturday is Craze E. Cat Mouse Pad Night, so make sure you get to the game early to get your Kiowa Casino free play voucher and your mouse pad!

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North American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2009


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