NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Shut Out by Rebels to Close Showcase
Date:09/24/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Shut Out by Rebels to Close Showcase Saturday, 09.24.2016 / 11:42 pm CT In their first matchup against the Aston Rebels in franchise history, the Wildcats could not get their offense going and fell 3-0 to close out the 2016 Showcase. The Cats could not repeat the first period scoring they had from Friday night’s game against Bismarck. Though they had two and a half power ...
Wildcats Defeat Bobcats in Semi-Final Rematch
Date:09/23/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Defeat Bobcats in Semi-Final Rematch Friday, 09.23.2016 / 6:40 pm CT In a rematch of the Robertson Cup Semi-Finals against the Bismarck Bobcats, the Wildcats rolled to their first victory of the 2016 Showcase, ousting Bismarck by a final of 4-2. For the first time in four games, the Cats scored a first period goal. Ryan Burnett collected a crisp breakout pass by Aleksi Poikola ...
Wildcats Fall to Jr. Blues on Day 2 of the Showcase
Date:09/22/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Fall to Jr. Blues on Day 2 of the Showcase Thursday, 09.22.2016 / 6:40 pm CT The Wildcats’ offense continued its struggles on Day 2 of the 2016 Showcase, falling 3-1 to the Springfield Jr. Blues. A scoreless first period further tested Evan Moyse’s ability to keep his team in games. He made things difficult for Springfield’s attack to get going, but the Jr. Bl...
Wildcats Fall to Fairbanks to Start Showcase
Date:09/21/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Fall to Fairbanks to Start Showcase Wednesday, 09.21.2016 / 12:40 pm CT In a tight-checking matchup to kick off the 2016 showcase, the Wildcats fell 1-0 to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The reigning Robertson Cup Champions have picked up right where they left off last season. They swept the Topeka RoadRunners in a three-game series at the Kansas ExpoCentre to start their campaign and...
Ryan Burnett Named Star of the Week
Date:09/19/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Monday, 09.19.2016 / 5:05 pm CT Wildcats right-winger Ryan Burnett has been named the South Division Star of the Week, the NAHL announced Monday. The veteran forward was a secondary scorer last season who seldom saw any time on either the power play or the penalty kill. This season, Burnett is scoring at a goal-per-game pace and has already passed half of last year’s goal totals. ...
Wildcats Sink Rays for Series Victory
Date:09/17/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Saturday, 9.17.2016 / 9:53 pm CT By Alex von Keudell On an emotional night in which the Wildcats honored Lauren Landavazo and MaKayla Smith with purple stick tape and a ceremonial puck drop, they took down the Rays by a final of 5-2 to win their first series of the campaign. Saturday night’s game had a much different look in the first period as both teams played responsibly and ke...
Wildcats Explode for 6-1 Victory on Friday Night
Date:09/16/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Friday, 9.16.2016 / 9:48 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The Wildcats put on an offensive clinic on Friday night, blowing out the IceRays 6-1 and earning their first win of the season in convincing fashion. The first period of Friday night’s game was, without question, the best period the Wildcats have played this season. After two consecutive games of falling behind early, the coaching...
Wildcats’ Drop Second Straight Overtime Decision
Date:09/15/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Thursday, 9.15.2016 / 9:48 pm CT By Alex von Keudell For the second consecutive night, the Wildcats fell behind, rallied to force overtime, but lost the game heartbreakingly in extra time. The Corpus Christi IceRays defeated the Cats by a final of 4-3 on Thursday night. Three unorthodox goals took place in the first 20 minutes. For the second consecutive game, the Cats fell behind in th...
Wildcats’ Home Winning Streak Ends in Season Opene
Date:09/09/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Friday, 9.9.2016 / 9:43 pm CT By Alex von Keudell A 20-game home winning streak came to an end on Friday night, as the Wildcats dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the Amarillo Bulls in overtime. A team which showed so much dominance at the start of games in the preseason struggled to get the ball rolling early on. The Cats allowed five shots before tallying one of their own, and allo...
Home Opener Kicks Off on Friday
Date:09/07/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
The Wildcats will commence the 2016-2017 season with their home opener on Friday, September 9th against the Amarillo Bulls. Two pre-season exhibitions have yielded fairly concerning results, with the Cats having allowed two come-from-behind victories against the Lone Star Brahmas. In an interview with Assistant Coach Josh Nelson after the second exhibition defeat, he simply said "we're t...
Orgel Scores Twice, but Cats Fall in Exhibition
Date:09/07/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Orgel Scores Twice, but Cats Fall in Exhibition Tuesday, 9.6.2016 / 9:24 pm CT By Alex von Keudell Another pre-season defeat was in order for the Wildcats on Tuesday night, as the Cats conceded a two-goal lead to drop their final exhibition game, 4-2 at NYTEX Sports Centre. Jumping out to a quick start and then falling behind has haunted the Wildcats twice in this pre-season. Wichita F...
Wildcats Drop Close Battle to Brahmas in Home Exhibition
Date:09/03/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Drop Close Battle to Brahmas in Home Exhibition Saturday, 9.3.2016 / 9:24 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The long-awaited pre-season began at Kay Yeager Coliseum on Saturday night, as the Wildcats dropped the exhibition contest to the Lone Star Brahmas by a final score of 2-1. A slow start to the game did not last long after the teams had felt each other out. The Wildcats out-skated the Bra...
Austin Albrecht Commits to UMass-Amherst
Date:08/22/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Monday, 08.22.2016 / 1:18 pm CT By Alex von Keudell Wildcats left-winger Austin Albrecht has committed to play Division I NCAA hockey at the University of Massachusetts Amherst of the Hockey East Conference. He will begin his college hockey career at the start of the 2017-2018 season. “UMass offered me a deal I couldn’t pass up on,” Albrecht said. &l...
Wildcats Alter Schedule to Accommodate Fans
Date:08/17/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Alter Schedule to Accommodate Fans Wednesday, 8.17.2016 / 10:22 am CT By Alex von Keudell The Wildcats have made several changes to their home schedule in order to give fans their best chance to see as much hockey as possible. A home-and-home is now officially confirmed with the Lone Star Brahmas for a pre-season similarly structured to that of last season’s. The Cats wi...
André Pison Signs Contract with Gentofte Stars
Date:08/01/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Monday, 8.1.2016 / 11:07 am CT By Alex von Keudell Wildcats winger André Pison has signed a professional contract with the Gentofte Stars of the Danish Metal Ligaen, Denmark’s premier hockey league. He will begin his professional hockey career at the start of the 2016-2017 season. “André improved his game as much as or more than anyone this season,” forme...
Wildcats' Main Camp to Kick Off Thursday
Date:07/27/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
WICHITA FALLS WILDCATS “INVITE ONLY” MAIN CAMP KAY YEAGER COLISEUM WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS THURSDAY 7/28/16 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ...
Tony Curtale Signs as Wildcats Head Coach
Date:07/20/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wednesday, 7.20.2016 / 10:35 am CT By Alex von Keudell Ownership and management have come to terms with Tony Curtale of HC Dallas as the new head coach of the Wichita Falls Wildcats. He becomes the sixth head coach in franchise history. “I’m very excited to be back in the NAHL. Wichita Falls has always been one of my favorite places in the league,” Curtale said. &ldquo...
2016-2017 Schedule Breakdown
Date:07/18/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
For the second consecutive year, the Wildcats kick off the season on the first day of NAHL hockey. Instead of being in Topeka this time , the Wildcats will open the season on their home turf on Friday, September 9th. They will host the Amarillo Bulls--a team which they have defeated 11 consecutive times--in a one-game series. Due to the expansion of the South Division with the addition of the Shr...
John LaFontaine Joins Muskegon Lumberjacks
Date:07/13/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wednesday, 7.13.2016 / 9:54 am CT By Alex von Keudell Wildcats Head Coach and 2016 NAHL Coach of the Year John LaFontaine has been hired as Head Coach of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League. He will replace Todd Krygier after three years in Muskegon. “It’s sincerely tough to leave Wichita Falls,” LaFontaine said. “I’ve never met more...
Noah Gilreath Commits to Amherst College
Date:06/21/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Tuesday, 6.21.2016 / 2:24 pm CT By Alex von Keudell Wildcats defenseman Noah Gilreath has committed to play Division III NCAA Hockey at Amherst College of the New England Small College Athletic Conference. He will begin his college hockey career at the start of the 2016-2017 season. “It was a blessing to have played my least year of juniors in such a great place in Wichita F...
Trent Dillinger Commits to Norwich University
Date:06/09/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Thursday, 6.9.2016 / 1:12 pm CT By Alex von Keudell Wildcats winger Trent Dillinger has committed to play Division III NCAA hockey at Norwich University of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference East. He will begin his college hockey career at the start of the 2016-2017 season. “In addition to Coaches LaFontaine and Nelson, all of the players in the Wildcats locker room were a...
Jonathan Lazarus Commits to UMass-Amherst
Date:05/26/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Thursday, 5.26.2016 / 12:31 pm CT By Alex von Keudell Wildcats right-winger Jonny Lazarus has committed to play Division I NCAA hockey at the University of Massachusetts Amherst of the Hockey East Conference. He will begin his college hockey career at the start of the 2016-2017 season. “I’ve been talking to (Assistant Coach) Ben Barr since December. Really liked the guy, had...
Wildcats Drop Championship Game 2-0 to Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Date:05/15/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Sunday, 05.15.2016 / 3:30 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The best season in the history of the Wichita Falls Wildcats came to an end heartbreakingly on Sunday afternoon, as they were defeated in the Robertson Cup Championship game by the Fairbanks Ice Dogs by a final of 2-0. Both teams began the tilt feeling each other out more than anything else. They had not played each other all season, and they b...
Wildcats Eliminate Bobcats, Advance to Robertson Cup Finals
Date:05/13/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Friday, 05.13.2016 / 10:21 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The Wichita Falls Wildcats proved their superiority over the Bismarck Bobcats Friday night, rolling to a 5-2 victory to advance to the Robertson Cup Finals. It’s been the story of the playoffs for the Wildcats: fall behind early, then come from behind and win. In the eight games the Cats have played in the postseason, they conceded the f...
Wildcats Rally against Bobcats, Win Game 1 of Semi-Finals
Date:05/12/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Thursday, 05.12.2016 / 10:01 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The Wildcats roared back twice after falling behind and scored a pivotal goal in the waning minutes to oust the Bismarck Bobcats by a score of 3-2 in Game 1 of the Robertson Cup Semi-Finals Thursday night. With two teams who had not played each other in nearly nine years, fluky plays were expected to occur. Just 1:18 into the game, Jared Pik...
Wildcats Sweep RoadRunners in 2-1 Double Overtime Victory
Date:05/02/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Monday, 05.02.2016 / 11:14 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The Wildcats played in their longest game in team history on Monday night against the Topeka RoadRunners, sweeping them in double overtime for a 2-1 final score. The first period of Game 3 was as evenly matched as Games 1 & 2. Both teams expressed a heated interest in getting the win, and dug into the play in all three zones. For the third...
Wildcats Win Game 2 against Topeka, Push Runners to Brink of Elimination
Date:04/30/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Saturday, 04.30.2016 / 9:54 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The Wildcats hosted what could be their final home game until next season on Saturday night, and defeated the Topeka RoadRunners to earn their 20th consecutive home victory, breaking the league record. Justin Kapelmaster entered Saturday night’s game with a .950 save percentage in the playoffs, the best among all NAHL goaltenders. He st...
Pre-Game Report: Wildcats vs. Topeka RoadRunners (04-30-16)
Date:04/30/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Take Game 1 against RoadRunners In three meetings prior, the Wildcats had never taken Game 1 against the Topeka RoadRunners in the playoffs. However, it’s been a year of firsts for Wichita Falls, and a third period rally last night paved the way for another trend to be broken. The game was played about as evenly as possible, which many people expected before the series started. So e...
Wildcats Win First-Ever Game 1 against Topeka RoadRunners
Date:04/29/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Friday, 04.29.2016 / 9:41 pm CT By Alex von Keudell The Wildcats played an up-and-down evenly matched game against the Topeka RoadRunners at the KYC on Friday night, and eked out a 3-1 victory to go up 1-0 in the Division Finals. Two teams which boast such a high level of speed and skill were kept relatively in check to start the game. High quality scoring chances were few and far between for th...
Pre-Game Report: Wildcats vs. Topeka RoadRunners (04-29-16)
Date:04/29/2016 Source:NAHL Wichita Falls Wildcats
Wildcats Sweep Jackalopes, Advance to Division Finals The Odessa Jackalopes were not expected to give the Wildcats much of a problem in the first round of the playoffs. Most believed they would just be a speed bump on the Wildcats’ road through the postseason. In the first period of Game 1, Odessa defied all expectations and put the Wichita Falls team and fanbase in shock, jumping out to a 3...
