Wildcatters 4-2 among most significant in history
January 5, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release
Beaumont, TX-- Brandon Benedict scored the game winning goal and added two assists as the Texas Wildcatters won a club-record ninth consecutive game and extended their unbeaten-in-regulation streak to an astonishing 20 games with a 4-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers Friday night at Ford Arena.
After a scoreless first period the teams would combine for five tallies in the second. Scott Champagne began the scoring for the Catters at 4:43, slamming a cross-ice feed from Benedict past Checkers goalie Chris Holt to make the score 1-0. Defenseman David Schulz, who left the game in the third period with an undisclosed shoulder injury, was also credited with an assist on the play.
Former Wildcatter Mike Bayrack took advantage of a deflection off of a Wildcatters defenseman to tie the game with a power play goal at 5:41 of the frame. He then gave Charlotte the lead with a shorthanded tally after Texas goalie Peter Aubry made a rare misplay on a puck behind the net and left the cage open for the hard-forechecking Bayrack to put the puck in at 7:58.
The Catters would trail for two and a half minutes before Kevin Baker extended his points streak to eight games with his seventh goal since returning to the Wildcatters three weeks ago. Coming on the power play at 10:39, Baker's goal was assisted by Benedict and Cleve Kinley and gives him at least one point in each game since his return.
Benedict would garner his third point of the night and 35th of the season (9g-26a) with a goal of his own at 16:35 of the frame, sliding a puck low through traffice in front of the net in what would prove the game winner.
The Catters took a 3-2 lead into the third period, and though outshot 16-8 in the final frame they would seal the victory with a John McNabb empty-net goal at 19:34, his team-leading 17th of the season.
Aubry would finish the game with 35 saves on 37 shots while Holt would stop 34 of 37 for Charlotte.
The Catters finished 1-for-3 on the power play and the Checkers 1-for-4.
The victory comes as the club-record ninth in a row. The previous record of eight straight was set in January and February of 1997 when the team skated as the Huntington Blizzard and was tied earlier this season in a streak that stretched from October 28-November 16.
The landmark victory also breaks the 400-point threshold of Malcolm Cameron's 4+ seasons in the ECHL. It also ties the club record for wins by a coach held by Ray Edwards (66), coach of the Blizzard from 1998-2000. Cameron's career ECHL record is 182-100-37 = 401 pts in 320 games, In just his second season with the Catters Cameron has accumulated a record of 66-24-14 and a winning percentage of .702.
The Wildcatters continue the two-game set with the Checkers tomorrow night at 7:05 in Golden Triangle Telephone Directory Night. The first 1000 fans will receive rally towels courtesy of Golden Triangle Telephone Directory, official directory of the Texas Wildcatters. Fans will also receive a complimentary telephone directory following the game.
The Texas Wildcatters are the proud ECHL affiliate of the AHL's Houston Aeros and the Minnesota Wild of the NHL. Call to book your next group outing with the Catters, (409) 951-5500!
The ECHL, "The Premier 'AA' Hockey League" celebrates it's 20th Anniversary in 2007-08.
ECHL Stories from January 5, 2008
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- Wildcatters 4-2 among most significant in history - Texas Wildcatters
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