Wildcatters Weekly

Published on January 14, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release


Duluth, GA (January 14, 2007) The Texas Wildcatters are off to their best start in team history. The 'Catters are 20-10-2-3 and are currently in third place in the South Division, sitting just three points behind first place Florida. Forward Mike Bayrack leads the Wildcatters with 15 goals and 36 points while goaltender Matt Yeats is first among 'Catters goalies with 14 wins. Head Coach Malcolm Cameron, forward Kevin Baker and rookie defensemen Paul Albers and Mike Madill are heading to the All-Star Game this week which takes place on Wednesday, January 17 at 8pm in Boise, Idaho.

This Week's Games

Monday, January 15 at 11:30 a.m. CT at Gwinnett

The 'Catters continue their road trip as they take on the Gwinnett Gladiators in Duluth, GA. The two teams have split the first four meetings of the season with the home team winning all four times. Texas swept Gwinnett in a two game series on November 10 and 11 at Ford Arena. The last meeting saw the Gladiators win 3-2 on Saturday night. The Gladiators are the highest scoring team in the league with 159 goals scored. They are led by the ECHL's leading scorer Brad Schell who has 17 goals and 54 assists for 71 points.

Friday, January 19 at 7:05 p.m. CT and Saturday, January 20 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Pensacola

Texas will finish their six game road trip with a pair of games against the Pensacola Ice Pilots. This season, the Wildcatters have defeated the Ice Pilots three out of four times. The 'Catters are 2-1 on the road at the Pensacola Civic Center. The last meeting saw the 'Catters win 7-3 on the night before Christmas Eve as Mike Bayrack had a natural hat trick with three goals in the second period.

Sunday, January 21 at 2:05 p.m. CT vs. Pensacola

The Wildcatters return home to take on the Ice Pilots. This is the second of five visits for the Ice Pilots to Southeast Texas. Texas won the first which was on the home opener, October 28, beating Pensacola 6-4.

Last week - 'Catters have Georgia on their mind with stops in Augusta and Duluth

Tuesday, January 9 at Augusta 7-4 Loss

The Augusta Lynx scored five unanswered goals en route to their sixth straight home win, defeating the Wildcatters 7-4 in front of 1,746 at James Brown Arena. Texas struck early and took a 2-0 lead as rookie All-Star Defenseman Paul Albers scored his ninth goal of the season just 16 seconds into the game. Big six foot eight Riley Emmerson would follow with his first professional goal shooting from the high slot to make it 2-0. Midway through the period, Augusta would take over. The Lynx scored four unanswered goals and added one early in the third. The 'Catters rallied though cutting the lead to 5-4 with goals from Emmerson again and Brandin Cote. However, Augusta would answer with two to win the game 7-4.

Friday, January 12 at Augusta 4-3 Shootout Loss

The Wildcatters scored three unanswered goals in the second period but fell in a shootout 4-3 in front of 2,762 at James Brown Arena. Texas had a 3-2 lead in the third period before Augusta's Louis Goulet tied the game up on the power play. The two teams would play a scoreless overtime and Augusta's Ryan Lang would score the lone goal in the shootout sending the Lynx to their seventh straight home win. Defenseman Steve Mullin continued the 'Catters rookie trend of scoring as he netted his first professional goal. Alex Leavitt would tie the hockey game in the second for Texas getting his third goal of the season at 9:59 from Daniel Sparre. Then the Wildcatters would get their first lead of the night as Mark Rooneem netted his sixth goal of the season, but the Lynx rallied and won in the shootout.

Saturday, January 13 at Gwinnett 3-2 Loss

Chad Painchaud scored the game winning goal with 12 minutes left in the third period to help Gwinnett defeat the Wildcatters in front of 7,503 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. Texas trailed early on two Gladiators goals but, the 'Catters clawed their way back as Daniel Sparre scored a power play goal with five minutes left in the second to cut the lead to 2-1. Texas would tie the game up when Mike Madill fired a shot from the top of the right circle just 3:35 into the third period. The two teams battled hard and Painchaud would get the game winner to give Gwinnett its 13th home victory this season.

Wildcatters Itinerary (All Times are Central)

Monday, Jan. 15 GAME at Gwinnett, 11:30a.m. @ The Arena at Gwinnett Center

Tuesday, Jan. 16 Day Off - All-Star Break

Wednesday, Jan. 17 Day Off - All-Star Break

Thursday, Jan. 18 Travel Day to Pensacola

Friday, Jan. 19 Pre-Game Skate, 10:15 a.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center

GAME at Pensacola, 7:05 p.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center

Saturday, Jan. 20 Pre-Game Skate, 10:15 a.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center

GAME at Pensacola, 7:05 p.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center

Sunday, Jan. 21 GAME vs. Pensacola, 2:05 p.m. @ Ford Arena

Upcoming Promotions

Sunday, Jan. 21 - Burger King Kids and Family Day - Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $5. Also, there will be X-Box game giveaways.

Friday, Jan. 26 - Chili for Charity - The 'Catters are spicing things up and want your group or company to come out to compete and see who has the best chili in Southeast Texas. The event begins at noon and judging and tasting is at 5 p.m. Entry fee is $100 and includes a donation to charity as well as 15 tickets to the game that night against South Carolina.

Student Friday - High School and college students can purchase $10 tickets (excluding glass seats) with presentation of their school I.D.

Saturday Jan. 27 - Entergy Night - Come out and get energized to see the Wildcatters.

Future Home Games at Ford Arena

Sunday, Jan. 21 vs. Pensacola, 2:05 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 25 vs. South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 26 vs. South Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 27 vs. South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

2007 Rbk Hockey ECHL All-Star Game

Watch Wildcatters Kevin Baker, Paul Albers, Mike Madill and Head Coach Malcolm Cameron in the 2007 Rbk Hockey ECHL All-Star Game on Wednesday night at 8p.m. CT from Boise, Idaho. The game can be seen on the NHL Center Ice Package which is available on Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and Dish Network. The game can also be viewed on B2 Networks, the official broadband broadcast provider of the ECHL. Listeners can tune into the game on XM radio.

Wildcatters on the Air

ESPN Radio 1450 am The Ticket is the exclusive home for Texas Wildcatters Hockey all season long. Join the "Voice of the Wildcatters" Anthony Langella, Jr. for all the play-by-play action. The Wildcatters Warm-up show will begin 20 minutes prior to opening face-off. You can also catch the action at www.wildcattershockey.com by clicking on the listen to the ticket link on the left side of the home page. Games are also available to view for a fee on the B2 Networks by clicking on the link at the left of the Wildcatters homepage. For those who are out of the area, B2 Networks is now working at Ford Arena and games can be viewed by clicking on the B2 icon on the left side of the Wildcatters homepage.

Ticket Information

The Texas Wildcatters are the ECHL affiliate for the AHL's Houston Aeros. The next Wildcatters home game is on Sunday, January 21 vs. the Pensacola Ice Pilots. Don't miss any hard-hitting Wildcatters hockey action. 2006-07 Season Tickets are still available. Wildcatters' season tickets start at just $9 per game and feature numerous benefits including free parking and discounted merchandise. Group discount plans are also available by calling (409) 951-5500. For single game tickets stop by the Ford Park Box Office, call (409) 833-7747 or log on to ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit the Wildcatters online at www.wildcattershockey.com.

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