Wildcats open home schedule with a split
The Wildcats returned to the Kay Yeager Coliseum with a loss and a win to start off the 2011-12 campaign, losing 4-2 on Friday night, but coming up with a 4-3 shootout win on Saturday in their series against Fairbanks.
Friday started out with an excellent first period effort that saw the Wildcats outshooting the IceDogs 11-9 and getting a Tanner Fahlstedt power play goal in the board for an early 1-0 lead. The Wildcats put seven shots on Fairbanks' goalie Nick Heimer before the Ice Dogs registered their first on Tyler Green.
Things would turn the other way in the second period though, with Fairbanks lapidating Green with 19 shots on net and three goals. J.T. Osborn and Alec Hajdukovich tallied before Chris Pontello tied things up at two once again. Four minutes later, Alec Brandrup's shot from the point found a hole and snuck past Green for a 3-2 lead. The Ice Dogs added an insurance marker in the third to cap off a 4-2 victory.
Tyler Green stopped 34 of 38 shots in the loss. The Wildcats' previously perfect penalty killing unit was hit for two goals in three times shorthanded.
On Saturday night, the Wildcats picked up two points over the defending champs, coming away with a 4-3 win in a shootout. Three different players were successful in the shootout, while Tyler Green shut down 3 of 4 Ice Dogs.
Austin Adduono was the offensive hero early on, scoring the Wildcats first two goals. First up came an unassisted power play tally five minutes in, then the lone second period goal, aided by Renato Engler and Brennan Parker. Fairbanks had a power play goal of their own sandwiched in between.
Cody Williams started off a shooting gallery of a third period with his first NAHL goal, assisted by Brian White and Dennis Kravchenko, but the Ice Dogs cut the lead to one with 7:34 to go, then tied the game with an extra attacker on the ice with a minute to play.
With no scoring in the overtime frame, the game went to a shootout. Adduono was stopped on his attempt, but Kravchenko, Williams, and Tanner Fahlstedt all scored in the win. Tyler Green stopped 3 of 4 shooters, plus 35 of 38 shots in the game.
WEEKEND NOTES: The Wildcats were 6 of 9 on the penalty kill on the weekend, putting them sixth in the league at killing penalties with a 90% success rate through the season's first six games... Keeping on the theme of special teams, the power play is 10th in the league at a 17.9% clip, including going 2 for 10 on the weekend... Williams, Patrick Yudez, and Jake Strzalkowski made their 2011-12 season debuts after missing the Minnesota Showcase due to injuries... The Wildcats defense kept league leading scorer and former Wildcat J.T. Osborn from picking up any points on Saturday, only the second time this season he's been held off the scoresheet.
Preview: Wildcats vs. Topeka, Saturday and Sunday Oct. 1 and 2
The Wildcats get their first South Division matchup of the regular season this weekend as they take on the Topeka Roadrunners. The games will be the first two games of eight between the two squads in the 2011-12 season.
The Roadrunners are returning 11 players from last year's team and a total of 12 players with NAHL experience, including current leading scorer Ryan White and goaltender Eric Rohrkemper. Last weekend the Roadrunners lost two games to St. Louis by scores of 5-3 and 1-0. Topeka is 2-3-1 on the season.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
The Wildcats' Golf Tournament will be held on Tuesday, October 25 at River Creek Golf Course. Players will be put in teams of four, with each foursome containing a Wildcats' player or coach. The cost is $40 per player if registered in advance, or $50 at the door. To register yourself please call the Wildcats' office at 940-716-5587.
Sponsorships for the Golf tournament are available as well- $50 for a hole sponsorship, with other opportunities available as corporate sponsors or sponsors of various prize holes, such as longest drive or closest to the pin. Contact the Wildcats' office for details.
Hockey In Heels returns to the Kay Yeager Coliseum on Thursday, November 3 at 7 pm. It's a Hockey 101 course for women, taught by the Wildcats' coaches. The cost is $25, or $18 for those under 18 and is sponsored by Kathy's Bakery in Iowa Park. To register, call Katherine Isenhour in the Wildcats' office.
Adult hockey, and open skating: Check WFWildcatsHockey.com for the schedule under the Games and Ice Events tab! We also offer birthday party packages at a Wildcats game or an open skating session. Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Sarah Scrivner in the Wildcats office.
Alumni Report
Dan Sexton has played in two of the Anaheim Ducks' five preseason games, registering an assist and a -1 in 24:05 of ice time.
Andrew Conboy is in camp with the Montreal Canadiens. Last year, he spent the 2010-11 season with their AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Chris Nutini has signed not only a contract with the Reading Royals of the ECHL, but also a tryout deal (PTO) with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch.
Chad Costello will move onto the ECHL this season, having signed to play with the Colorado Eagles. Last season he split time between the CHL's Tulsa Oilers and the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters.
Also moving to the ECHL is Anthony Iaquinto with the Toledo Walleye. Last season, Iaquinto played briefly in the SPHL and also one game with Toledo, where he scored his first professional goal.
Kyle Kraemer re-signed with the ECHL's Ontario Reign for the 2011-12 season.
Jack Wolgemuth and Nick Klaren are currently on the Protected List for the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL. Last year, the pair helped lead the Surge to the SPHL championship.
We'll have more info on former Wildcats' players at the collegiate ranks as the NCAA and ACHA seasons get closer!
| 
