Wildcatters Set Dates, Await Opponent for Division Semifinals
April 16, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release
Beaumont, TX-The Texas Wildcatters will host Games 1 and 2 of the South Division Semifinals at Ford Arena Friday, April 18 at 7:30 and Sunday, April 20 at 6:05 against either the Augusta Lynx or the Columbia Inferno.
The Wildcatters, who have advanced to the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs by virtue of a 3-1 series victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves, are the top seed in the American Conference's South Division. As such, they await the lowest advancing seed and will have home-ice advantage in the best-of-five Division Semifinals.
Currently that position is held by No. 5 Columbia, who advanced in 3 games past No. 4 Florida last week. However, No. 7 Augusta and No. 2 South Carolina are tied 2-2 in their series after the Stingrays fought off elimination in overtime Monday and again Tuesday in double overtime. South Carolina hosts the decisive Game 5 tonight at the North Charleston Coliseum.
Should Augusta win tonight, they will be the next opponent for the Wildcatters and Columbia will face No. 3 Gwinnett. Should South Carolina complete the comeback from a 2-0 series deficit to win the series they will face the third-seeded Gladiators and the Wildcatters will draw the fifth-seeded Inferno.
Texas has posted nearly identical records versus their potential second-round opponents.
The Wildcatters went 3-1-1-1 against the Inferno in the regular season, most recently falling 3-2 in a shootout at Ford Arena February 24, a 42-save performance by Columbia goalkeeper Chris Ford. Kris Tebbs took the loss for the Wildcatters despite making 32 saves. The Wildcatters went 1-1-0-1 across that three-game weekend series, winning the initial game 7-0 before dropping the second 3-2 in regulation. Kevin Baker (4g-5a) and Max Taylor (6g-3a) have led the Wildcatters against the Inferno, each posting 9 points in 6 games.
This season the Catters went 3-1-0-2 versus Augusta, whose one regulation victory came in a 6-3 decision in the 2007-08 opener on October 19. The two teams most recently faced off in a three-game series at Ford Arena March 14-16 in which the Wildcatters dropped the opening game in a shootout before rattling off back-to-back victories 5-2 and 3-2, respectively. Jeff Pietrasiak took the shootout loss for Texas while Tebbs notched 55 saves across the 2 victories. Leading the Wildcatters offense against the Lynx are forward Dan Welch (2g-4a) and offensive-minded defenseman Cleve Kinley (2g-4a).
Kinley currently leads all ECHL scorers with 4 goals and 6 assists (10 points) in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Individual playoff tickets are on sale and may be purchased through the Ford Park Box Office, which is open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday with extended hours on game days. Prices start at $7 for kids and $14 for adults. Tickets may also be purchased through Ticketmaster by phone at (409) 833-7747, online at www.wildcattershockey.com, or at any Ticketmaster location.
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