FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Saturday, September 13, 2014
JACKALOPES TAKE SEASON OPENER AGAINST WICHITA FALLS
Kenny Hausinger scores twice; Robin Johansson makes 40 saves in 4-3 win.
WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS – The Odessa Jackalopes began the 2014-15 journey tonight in Wichita Falls in front of 4,343 Wildcats faithful at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. The Jackalopes were looking to make a statement after dropping last season’s opener in Wichita Falls, 4-0. Robin Johansson got the call in goal, as the Jacks were looking to provide some offense for the first year netminder from Sweden.
After a physical start to the game, the Jacks got the scoring starting courtesy of Sacred Heat commit Kenny Hausinger. Derek Brown dumped the puck into the ‘Cats and the defenseman misplayed it. This allowed Jesse Junttila to slide the puck to Brown for a shot a goal. When Wildcats goalie David Zevnik gave up a rebound, Kenny Hausinger was there to bury his first of two goals on the night. The Jacks took a 1-0 lead to the 1st period break.
The Jacks built on their lead early in the second period. Derek Brown scores his first goal of the season at 2:39 finishing off a beautiful three-way passing play from Kenny Hausinger and Andreas Soje. Soje lead a 3-on-2 rush and dumped the puck off to Hausinger, who found Brown alone in slot. The Jacks went up 3-0 at 4:05 after Razmuz Waix-Engback missed the net on a breakaway, Raz passed the puck behind the net to Hampus Sjodahl (SHOW-doll) who found Miami of Ohio commit Alex Alger in front. Alger’s first of the year quieted the Wildcat fans and forced head coach John LaFontaine to use his timeout. The ‘Cats came back rejuvenated and finally beat Johansson at 12:37 when Alex Falconer finished a cross-crease pass from Jake Townsend. The Jacks lead 3-1 after two.
The Jacks began to sit back in the third and Wichita Falls took full advantage. After Nikita Litvyak made it 3-2. Max Reisinger tied the game on a shot from the left wing that seemed to fool Johansson. It was 3-3 at 15:16 of the third. Late in the contest, Kenny Hausinger forced a turnover at the Wildcats blueline and beat David Zevnik for his second goal of the contest. The goal at 17:38 put the Jacks up for good as they knocked off the Wildcats, 4-3.
“It was a great chacter builder for us,” said Jacks head coach Greg Gatto. “We got great goaltending and penalty kill tonight. We found out tonight that we still have a lot of work to do but we are happy to start the year off with a win.”
The Jacks head to Minnesota for the NAHL Showcase starting on Wednesday, September 17. The Jacks will battle the Coulee Region Chill at 1:15 CT. You can listen to the broadcast with the voice of the Jacks, Joey Battaino on Classic Rock 102.1 FM KFZX on watch on PPV FASTHockey.
In 2014-15, the Odessa Jackalopes will embark upon their fourth season in the North American Hockey League and 18th in the Permian Basin. Season tickets are on sale now! To reserve your seats, contact the Jackalopes’ ticket office today at 432-552-7825 or log on to www.jackalopes.org for more information.
Be sure to follow the Jackalopes on Twitter @LetsGoJacks all year long and don’t forget to ‘Like’ the official “Odessa Jackalopes” fan page on Facebook.
— ODESSA JACKALOPES —
