Wichita Falls Wildcats Showcase Review

Here's a look at how the Wichita Falls Wildcats did during the Blane Showcase in Minnesota last week. Just like the Texas Tornado went 2-1-1 and had some moments excitement on why this club believes that they can win the Robertson Cup Championship this season.

Record: 2-1-1 5 PTS
Top Score: Brian Sheehan 4 PTS (4 G, 0A)
Results:
9/16: VS. North Iowa Outlaws 2-3 (OTL)
9/17: VS. Alpena Ice Diggers 6-5 (W)
9/18: VS. Marquette Rangers 2-4 (L)
9/19: VS. Janesville Jets 3-1 (W)

9/16 VS. North Iowa Outlaws

Just like the Tornado on the Showcase's opening day, the Wildcats lost in a close game against the North Iowa Outlaws. Despite an impressive 64 shots in the game and 12 Power Plays in the game.

The Wildcats fell just a bit short against the Outlaws where the most of the 1st period turned out to be a Special Teams contest, however neither side was able to capitalize until Outlaw new comer Ryan Bohrer scored in the final 30 seconds of the 1st period with assists coming from Danford and Weston to score on the 2 man advantage to make it 1-0.

For the 2nd period, another big SOG outburst had a combined 37 shots on goal, but it wasn't until Wichita Falls Wildcats F Anthony Iaquinto scored on the PP after just a couple of seconds after Scott Bell committed a hooking call that almost resulted in a penalty shot.

The Special Teams contest continued when the Outlaws took the lead 5 minutes later when Mickey Knox scored on the SH with 3 minutes left in the 2nd period, then not even a minute later, Wildcats 3rd year forward Sean Mckenzie scored his first of the year with assists Gentzler and Iaquinto to tie it at 2-2.

The 3rd and OT Periods just turned into frustration where the Wildcats out shot the Outlaws 30-11 in the periods, but a strong performance from North Iowa goalie Paul Moberg kept the Wildcats in the game and despite Graveline's strong performance, the game was destined for a shootout.

In the shootout, Wichita Falls F Adam Khun scored first, but couldn't get anything else past Moberg as Ryan Boher and Markus Gander scored for the Outlaws to steal the opening game to win 3-2.

Here's the boxscore: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1068069

9/17 VS. Alpena Ice Diggers

This was Alpena's best game during the Showcase, for the Wildcats a fast start where a 2-0 lead pretty early on would almost doom the Ice Diggers from the beginning. Despite being out shot 17-9 in the first period. Goals from Aaron Quick and Tyler Lundey put the Wildcats up 2-0 by the end of the 1st period. Alpena was looking to keep up it's momentum after a 4-2 win over the Kenai River Brown Bears the previous day.

The Ice Diggers were looking to prove the critics wrong by they saying were going to be among the bottom in the North Division, but with veterans returning like Ryan Tilmar, Jimmy Mccusker and Brandon Marshall are hoping to bring the team back to glory after finishing 4th in the North Division last year and just holding off the Marquette Rangers for the final playoff spot in a tiebreaker last season.

After Ryan Tilmar made it 2-1 early in the 2nd, it became the Brian Sheehan show with 3 goals in the 2nd period to take the Wildcats lead to what looked like an easy win with the Wildcats leading 5-1. However, the resilient Ice Diggers scored 3 unanswered goals with Adam Bristol, John Fritsche and Nick Tarunce in the 2nd and 3rd periods.

Brandon Stroud with just 39 seconds left in the game put the Wildcats up for good with a 6-4 lead late in the game. As for Nick Taurence, he scored his 2nd of the period in what turned out to be a one goal lead at 6-5, but at this point, their wasn't not enough time for a potential comeback to end the game.

Here's the Boxscore: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1068075

9/18 VS. Marquette Rangers

After the wild game the previous day against the Alpena Ice Diggers, the Wildcats were looking to beat a Marquette Rangers team which had a win over the Tornado and a loss to the very tough Wenatchee Wild. A battle of teams that have been up and down and were looking to confirm what their hoping to raise the standing within the division.

Another great game for Kevin Kissaw where he stopped 48 of 50 shots against the Wildcats where after a Brain Sheehan scored his 4th goal of the Showcase, he was rock solid by stopping everything in sight which allowed the Rangers Brent Bain to score on a great one timer by Collin Saint-Onge which was won by a face off from Center Garrett Ladd to tie the game 5 minutes into the 2nd period.

Graveline had the day off after two very busy games, so Brian Phillips got the start against the Rangers and did well for the most part of the game, until where 3 Ranger goals late in the game by Brent Bain, Garrett Ladd, Collin Saint-Onge to put the game away in the final 4 minutes to get Marquette their 2nd win of the Showcase.

Game Boxscore: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1068085

9/19 VS. Janesville Jets

So far for the expansion Janesville Jets, they have been proving to be strong opponent so far in their first few games in the North American Hockey League. Their defiantly better then the Albert Lea Thunder where the team won only won 4 games and the Kenai River Brown Bears which are entering their 3rd season.

For the Jets, they took a surprise lead in the 1st period with an unassisted goal Ross Mauerman about 9 minutes into the game. Despite being out shoot 37-22 for the game, the Jets were proving to be a tough game for the Wildcats and they proving to the league that they will not be pushed around like recent expansion teams like the Albert Lea Thunder and Kenai River Brown Bears in the last couple of years.

22 power Plays in the game didn't produce much offense on either side. The game stayed 1-0 until Adam Kuhn scored to make it 1-1 on the PP with the assists from Brooks and Mckenzie late in the 2nd period.

Finally, midway through the 3rd period, the Wildcats finally put the Jets away with goals from JT Osborn and Sean Mckenzie just 1:40 apart to make the game 3-1 and that's how the game would end.

Game Boxscore: www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1068098

Wichita Falls Next 5 Games

9/25: VS. Springfield Jr. Blues 7:05 PM
9/26: VS. Springfield Jr. Blues 7:05 PM
10/2: VS. St. Louis Bandits 7:05 PM
10/3: VS. St. Louis Bandits 7:05 PM
10/9: VS. Topeka Roadrunners 7:05 PM