 |
| POWER
PLAY |
22ND
- 13.9 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
2ND
- 86.5 |
| FORWARDS |
| JEFF
MILES |
29-47-76
(-7) |
| DANIEL
SPARRE |
28-26-54
(-7) |
| BRAD
RALPH |
18-31-49
(+1) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| ERIC
LUNDBERG |
3-27-30
(-9) |
| TODD
PERRY |
6-22-28
(-1) |
| REID
CASHMAN |
5-22-27
(0) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| TODD
FORD |
21-14-4
(2 SO)
3.01 GA
.906 PCT |
|
| JEFF
JAKAITIS |
12-14-1
(2 SO)
2.92 GA
.909 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Columbia
vs Texas |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
18 |
COLUMBIA
4 - TEXAS 2 |
SEED
5 |
2 |
APR.
20 |
COLUMBIA
2 - TEXAS 6 |
SEED
1 |
33-28-5
(77) |
3 |
APR.
22 |
TEXAS
1 - COLUMBIA 0
(OT) |
52-9-4
(115) |
| |
4 |
APR.
23 |
TEXAS
1 - COLUMBIA 2 (OT) |
|
| |
5 |
APR.
25 |
COLUMBIA
4 - TEXAS 1 |
|
| Columbia
Wins Series 3-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
Columbia,SC
- Round two gets underway Friday April 18 with South Division
semi-final matchup between the Texas Wildcatters and the
Columbus Inferno. The rested Inferno travel to the Ford
Arena following a three-game sweep of the Florida Everblades.
The Wildcatters come in to the series very strong and
will be looking to continue the success of the 2007-08
season. The Texas side breezed past the Mississippi SeaWolves
3-1 with just a loss in overtime. The Wildcatters have
had no problems finding the net in round one scoring 17
goals and will look to take the first two games at home
before travelling to Columbia for game three.
Series overview:
Texas Wildcatters:
The Wildcatters go into this match-up with the upperhand
over the Inferno after dominating the Inferno much of
the season. The Wildcatters went 3-1-1-1 against the Inferno
this season with left winger Kevin Baker leading the scoring
against the them, racking up four goals and five assists.
The Ontario-born forward has already racked up five goals
and two assists to lead the ECHL post season in goals
scored. Another threat to the Inferno is defenseman Cleve
Kinley, the young blueliner has chipped in with four goals
and assisted on four more mostly on the powerplay and
will look to use his speed and point shot to effect.
Columbia Inferno:
The Inferno will their work cut out to progress to the
division final in this series. But the Carolina side will
thrive from thier sweep of the Everblades. If the Inferno
can keep out of the penalty box and limit the Wildcatters
shots then maybe they will be in with a chance. Todd Ford
has been outstanding in net and will look to continue
that against a team that thrives on goals. The journey
to the final wont be easy, if the Inferno can steal a
win on the road and then take the home games then all
will be their`s for the taking. If they fail to close
out the attacking style of the Wildcatters this series
could be over very quickly.
Intangibles:
For the Wildcatters not much will stop them progressing,
even small attendances at home won't be an issue as the
Inferno are in a similar position. The Wildcatters faults
lay in defense, despite lighting the lamp many times they
do concede easily. For the Inferno sensible play and netminding
will be key. An in-form Ford can steal a few games but
a continued barrage will see him tire quickly. If the
Inferno can keep even strengthed and limit the Wildcatters
shots they could make this a long series but this will
be an uphill task.
Prediction:
3 -1 series victory for Texas Wildcatters
Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
1 |
Columbia
4 - Texas 2 |
| by
Kevin O'Connor- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Columbia
Leads Series 1-0 |
Beaumont,
TX - It took just 19 seconds for the Columbia
Inferno to light the lamp in the South Division semi-final
match-up against the Texas Wildcatters. Coming into the
game as under dogs the Inferno caught the number one seed
Wildcatters sleeping as Daniel Sparre fired home with
just the second shot of the game.
A few choice words from Wildcatters coach Malcolm Cameron
soon got his players focused but sustained pressure from
the Inferno soon drew a penalty for holding the stick
by Troy Riddle. The Inferno struggled on the ensuing power
play and were caught out as they tried in vain to get
shots on goal. A cross-ice pass was intercepted by John
McNabb who skated in on Todd Ford in net to score a shorthanded
marker with less than three minutes on the clock. The
tying goal was short-lived for the Wildcatters as just
a minute later Inferno captain Brad Ralph set up Liam
Huculak giving the Inferno the 2-1 lead going into the
break.
Halfway through the penalty filled second period the visiting
Inferno added a third goal. A power play marker from defenseman
Eric Lindberg gave the Inferno a 3-1 lead.
Columbia closed down the Wildcatters early as the visiting
Inferno limited the home side to just nine shots in the
second. But the Wildcatters were not throwing in the towel
just yet and rallied to pull within one goal when Cleve
Kinley slotted home on the power play. The game-winning
goal came with just three minutes left in the second period
Tyler Doig, who recently returned to Columbia from the
Toronto Marlies (AHL) lit the lamp on the power play as
Riddle sat out for interference.
No further scoring in the third despite the Wildcatters
outshooting the Inferno 12-6. Despite the pressure Ford
in net for the Inferno held out for the 4-2 victory. In
a penalty filled game tempers reached boiling point in
the third as Inferno goal scorer Daniel Sparre and Moises
Gutierrez dropped the gloves following a slashing incident
which saw both ejected from the game.
Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
2 |
Columbia
2 - Texas 6 |
| by
Kevin O'Connor- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 1-1 |
Beaumont,
TX - Game two saw the Texas Wildcatters bounce
back to winning ways with a 6-2 victory against the Columbia
Inferno. In Game One the Wildcatters failed to take advantage
of the one sided shot tally but had no such problems in
Game Two.
Boosted by the returning David Schulz and Scott Champagne
from injury the Wildcatters made short work of the Inferno
despite being tied in the first period 1-1 with goals
from Toby Lafrance followed by an Inferno strike from
Tyler Doig.
The Inferno struggled in the second and failed to absorb
the pressure the way they did in Game One. Wildcatters
Max Taylor scored just three minutes in to the period
on a two-on-one break away. Taylor added a second just
two minutes later with Jordan Morrison collecting the
assist. Recently activated Schulz added a fourth as Inferno
Eric Lundberg sat out for tripping. A perfect point shot
beat a screened Todd Ford in net with John Adams, recently
returned from the Houston Aeros (AHL), picking up the
assist.
A totally out played Inferno failed to keep the Wildcatters
at bay resulting in a number of frustration penalty calls
in the third period including a major for fighting to
Patrick Weller and the Wildcatters Moises Gutierrez.
The Inferno raised their shot total in the third period
out shooting the Wildcatters 19-5 but it was Wildcatters
who continued to score.Dan Welch added the fifth on the
powerplay and Taylor capped off his first star performance
with a hat-trick goal. A late consolation goal from Inferno
Peter Tsimikalis ended the game 6-2.
Game Three will see the Inferno return to home ice for
a much needed win and could see the first action for netminder
Jeff Jakaitis. Wildcatters could be without four-point
hero Max Taylor following an injury recieved late in the
third as a result of a two handed slash to the face.
Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
3 |
Texas
1 - Columbia 0 (OT) |
| by
Kevin O'Connor- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Texas
Leads Series 2-1 |
Columbia,
SC - Game three between the Inferno and the Wildcatters was a tale of two netminders. In the home net an underfire
Todd Ford got the nod from head coach Troy Mann despite the 6-2 hammering in Game 2. At the other end stood Wildcatters shot
stopper Anton Khudobin.
A fired up Inferno set upon Khudobin in net early with a barrage of shots with the closest ringing off the post early in the
first. The Wildcatters Kazakhstan netminder stood tall turning away fourteen shots. At the other end Ford had an easier time
facing just eight shots as the Inferno looked to bounce back from the previous game.
Period two was a total role reversal as Inferno netminder Ford had to turn hero facing 13 shots. As pressure from the
Wildcatters continued, only Ford in net prevented the Wildcatters scoring as the Inferno defense broke down. Kevin Baker
finally beat Ford only to be denied by the post. A late two-on-one rush from the Wildcatters was also denied by a sprawling
Ford. The Inferno's best chance came on the powerplay as Peter Tsimikalis sat for slashing late in the second. A cross-ice
pass from Danny Glover met by a Tyler Doig one-timer from the point was denied by Khudobin`s pad at full stretch.
A goal-less third period set up a cracking overtime period as both teams looked for the win. Ford in net for the Inferno
continued to stand on his head equally matched at the other end by Khudobin. The right result of the night should have been a
share of the spoils but someone had to lose, unfortunately for Ford it was the Inferno.
Just over ten minutes in to overtime, both teams lined up for the face off in the Inferno end. As the puck dropped a quick
shot from the face off circle forced the blocker save from Ford which proved costly as the puck fell to a waiting Jordan
Morrison who shot back hand into the net. The 580 fans in attendance at the Carolina Coliseum fell silent as the Wildcatters
celebrated the win and a 2-1 series lead.
The three stars for the night were goal scorer Morrison and to no surprise the two netminders. Ford faced 36 shots while
Khudobin faced 35.
Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
4 |
Texas
1 - Columbia 2 (OT) |
| by
Kevin O'Connor- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 2-2 |
Columbia,
SC - A very even series has seen very little to seperate the two teams and Game 4 was no different. Sometimes a series can be decided by special teams or a controversial call but it appears this series could be decided by two men who continue to dominate the headlines in this South Division semi-final.
This series would of been over early if not for the outstanding netminding of Inferno shot stopper Todd Ford and the Wildcatters Anton Khudobin. As the Inferno looked to bounce back from the overtime loss in Game 3 they came out of the blocks hard looking for the first goal but despite out-shooting the Wildcatters 16-4 they could not find the back of the net with the first period finishing blank.
A second period goal from Colin Nicholson opened the scoring for the Wildcatters. Applying pressure to the Inferno defense forced a retreat from Patrick Wellar behind his own net. Lifting the stick of Wellar, Nicholson gained possession of the puck then caught Ford in net off guard with a wrap-around goal. A must-win game for the Inferno saw many shots on Khudobin but once again the Kazakhstan netminder stood tall stopping all 16 shots. At the other end Ford despite being scored on faced just seven shots.
Struggling to find the net the Inferno finally got the break they were looking for when in similar fashion to Nicholson`s goal, Mac Faulkner held the puck up behind the net before sending out a pass which deflected off the back of Khudobin to level the game sending it to overtime for the second game in a row.
Killing off a hooking call in overtime the Inferno rallied to a hard fought victory with just eight minutes left of the first overtime period. A tired Khudobin in net, who faced 49 shots compared to 29 for Ford, finally gave off a rebound which Daniel Sparre latched onto to fire home to tie the series 2-2.
Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
|
|
Game
5 |
Texas
1 - Columbia 4 |
| by
Kevin O'Connor- PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Columbia
Wins Series 3-2 |
Beaumont,
TX - Against the odds Columbia Inferno have progressed
to the next round of the Kelly Cup playoffs beating Texas
Wildcatters to take the series 3-2. Out shooting the Inferno
12 to 10 in the first period the Wildcatters failed to
beat an in form Todd Ford. In a physical Game 5 a power
play goal from Inferno center Peter Tsimikalis separated
the two teams going into the break.
From the opening face off in period two the Inferno were
on their back foot as Wildcatters head coach Malcolm Cameron
looked for his side to tie the game. The fast paced game
continued end to end with Ford the busier of the netminders.
Against the run of play Mac Faulkner gave the Inferno
a two-goal lead late in the second period. Latching onto
a cross ice pass from Daniel Sparre, Faulkner took a well-timed
backhand shot to lift the puck over a sprawling Khudobin.
Wildcatters continued to press and finally beat Ford in
net with less than a minute to go in the period to set
up a thrilling third.
Throughout the series the Wildcatters have dominated the
Inferno with more puck possession and chances on net but
it was the Inferno who found another gear in the final
game as frustration began to show for the Wildcatters.
Soaking up the pressure the Inferno held off until Cameron
called a timeout with less than a minute to go in regulation.
With Khudobin on the bench the Wildcatters desperately
tried to beat Ford with the extra man. As the Wildcatters
looked for the tying goal, an interception from Owen Fussey
to break up the play saw the Winnipeg native score on
the empty net. With all to lose and everything to gain
the Wildcatters had no choice but to go with the extra
man again despite being down 3-1 but just ten seconds
later the game and series was over as Jeff Miles picked
up his second point of the game with another empty net
marker.
Outstanding play from Todd Ford in the Inferno net saving
46 of 47 shots earned the netminder a first star, his
third star of the series. The Inferno now need to re-group
for the South Division final against number two seed South
Carolina Stingrays.
The future of professional hockey in Beaumont is in jeopardy.
The club has already announced their plans to move to
Ontario, California next year. There has been some talk
a new set of owners would like to place a team in the
Central Hockey League next season, but no official announcement
has been made.
Contact the author at Kevin.oconnor@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| POWER
PLAY |
9TH
- 18.4 |
| PENALTY
KILL |
11TH
- 83.3 |
| FORWARDS |
| JOHN
McNABB |
32-50-82
(+20) |
| BRANDON
BENEDICT |
20-49-69
(+25) |
| DAN
WELCH |
21-41-62
(+18) |
| DEFENSEMEN |
| AJ
THELEN |
7-28-35
(+30) |
| CLEVE
KINLEY |
6-28-34
(+22) |
| DAVID
SCHULTZ |
8-12-20
(+26) |
| GOALTENDERS |
| ANTON
KHUDOBIN |
20-1-1
(3 SO)
1.98 GA
.934 PCT |
|
| JEFF
PIETRASIAK |
10-7-1
(1 SO)
3.16 GA
.844 PCT |
|
|
|
