Wildcatters Crush Checkers 6-2
March 28, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release
Beaumont, TX-Kevin Baker's natural hat trick ignited a four-goal first period as the Texas Wildcatters asserted their dominance over the Charlotte Checkers with a 6-1 drubbing in front of 3,128 at Ford Arena Friday.
Baker kicked off the scoring for Texas after taking a feed from newcomer Jordan Morrison and making a move to the backhand to beat Charlotte starter Mike Ayers five minutes into the game. Colin Nicholson, who finished the night with a playmaker, accumulating three assists, would also be credited with an assist. Morrison's assist comes in his first game as a pro, having just signed out of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.
Dan Welch would set the Catters up 2-0 after Brandon Benedict dished to him from behind the net and Welch's low wrister beat Ayers through the five hole.
Baker's second goal would come on the power play, faking a pass across the goal mouth and instead snapping a shot off the inside of the near post with just under six minutes remaining.
Another Baker power play goal would seal the natural hat trick-awarded for three goals in the same period-and send Ayers to the bench in favor of Chris Holt at 16:51.
Trailing 4-0, Charlotte would get their first goal as Chris Caparo crashed the net hard from the right side and beat Kris Tebbs two and a half minutes into the second frame.
David Schulz would answer with his first multi-goal game as a pro, netting two in the middle frame to blow the game open for the Wildcatters, who led 6-1 at the second intermission. Recent acquisition Jim Jensen, signed out of U. Wisconsin-River Falls would get his first professional point with an assist on one of the Schulz tallies.
Charlotte would score with 1.8 seconds remaining to bring the score to 6-2.
Tebbs would finish with 32 saves on 34 shots while the Wildcatters offense went 2-for-5 on the power play. Charlotte would be held scoreless on four power play chances.
With the win, the Catters guarantee there will be a new record holder for fewest regulation losses in a season, a record previously held by 1995-96 Richmond (11). Texas creeps closer to setting a new ECHL record for points in a season (116), held by 2001-02 Louisiana.
Texas will need Cincinnati (52-10-1-4), winners tonight over Elmira, to lose or tie if they will have a shot at securing the Brabham Cup as the Cyclones hold the tie breaker by virtue of having more victories than the Catters.
The Wildcatters conclude their ECHL regular season home schedule tomorrow for Neches Federal Credit Union Fan Appreciation Night at 7:05. Tickets for the game are just $5 and include admission to the Second Annual Chili for Charity Chili Cook-off taking place from 3-6 p.m on the Ford Park Midway. Proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network.
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