AHA Wildcat Hockey Club

Annual Wildcats scrimmage at the X; another great time!

Wildcat Game Photos
Saturday, October 28th, 2017
Wildcats 2 Troopers 3

Photo credits to DeAnn Hill, thank you!

Wildcats Explore this photo album by DeAnn Hill on Flickr!

Wildcats fall just short in 3 - 2 season opening loss to the Troopers

The Wildcat 2017-18 season began this past Saturday night with a meet up versus the Troopers, a team that had moved up from D1.

The first period saw the Cats working on establishing good positioning on the ice. While there were good moments and they outshot the Troopers 10 - 6, the end of the first saw them down 2 - 0 due to 2 Trooper PP goals.

After the halfway point in the second period, Shawn Koehnen netted the Cats' first goal of the season on a juicy rebound. The Troopers got another to end the period up 3 - 1.

The final period was tense as both teams had opportunities as the Cats buzzed the Trooper zone. The team was rewarded for their hard work with a tip in goal at the far post by Eric Christenson to narrow the Trooper lead to 3 - 2. Despite some close chances with the goalie pulled, the Troopers hung on with a 3 - 2 win.

The shots were 27 - 27 with Dave Zytkoskee keeping the game close while the Cats tried to claw back into the lead. The first "Wildcats Player of the Game" game puck of the season went to Drew Barrette, who played great two-way hockey despite playing the game under the weather.

The Wildcats will be looking for their first win of the season this Saturday night, Nov 4th at 7:45PM at VMCC vs the Stars. The Cats will wear their white jerseys and the game will be played on the WEST rink.

Wildcat winter players: please check your e-mail this weekend and respond to a survey regarding the upcoming season. Thanks! 👍

Wildcats win Game 1 over Arctic Wolves 6 - 3!

The Wildcats began the 2017 AHA Playoffs on a good note with a win tonight. The first 10 mins of the game had a few hiccups on the Cats end that resulted in a Wolves 2 - 0 lead.

Tommy Wall got the Cats on the board shortly after, and then rifled home a second goal with 1 second left in the 1st to send the game into the intermission tied at 2.

The Wolves would take a 3 - 2 lead in the 2nd period, but Geoff Kozen fired in a short-handed goal in the final minute of the period to tie the game. The 2nd period would not end until there was one more goal, this time Zach Hahn found the net.

The Cats played a strong 3rd period, holding the Wolves back and adding two more goals from Wall and Tom Perszyk respectively.

David Zyt Zytkoskee stopped 35 of the 38 shots he faced, while the Cats put 37 shots on the Wolves goalie. Solid play by the entire team... the Cats earned a good night of sleep after putting in a great team effort in the win!

Game 2 is Thursday night at 6:15PM on Rink 3 (Olympic sized rink) vs the Minnesota Mild (yes, the Mild is their real team name).

Yes, Jim Mora, AHA Playoffs are here!

Game 1 for the Wildcats starts tonight at Bloomington Ice Gardens at 9:45 vs the Arctic Wolves on Rink 1. The Cats will be in the away black jerseys.

Come on out, watch some free playoff hockey, and support the Wildcats. Summit Brewing is a sponsor of AHA hockey and will be serving beer on-site this Saturday and Sunday.

The other 2 pool play games will be held at the following times:

Thursday 4/6 at 6:15PM vs Minnesota Mild on Rink 3

Saturday 4/8 at 1:30PM vs Wolf-Rayeys on Rink 1

Top 4 teams after the 3-game pool play qualify for the semi-finals on Sunday morning. The C3 Championship game will be held Sunday evening.

LET'S GO CATS!

Our bags are packed and we're going to the Playoffs!

Wildcats end the regular season with a must-have 2 - 0 win over the Stars!

In a game the Cats had to win in regulation, everyone brought an A effort. The game was tight with both teams wanting to earn the 4th and final C3 North spot in the AHA winter league playoffs.

After 1 period, there was no score. Zach H got the first goal of the game, scoring a beauty top shelf on a breakaway. The 2nd period ended with the Cats up 1 - 0. The 3rd period remained competitive and tight when Eric C gave the Cats some breathing room with a rebound goal off a Tom W shot with less than half the period remaining. Despite playing short handed several times, the Cats penalty kill was organized and efficient and helped keep the Stars scoreless. The defense played great, clearing the puck out and poking pucks away from the Stars all night.

Saving the best performance for last, goalie David Zyt Zytkoskee played his best game of the season and made all the key saves, and more, to shutout his former team the Stars and stamp the Cats ticket into the playoffs! In particular, Dave's glove hand got a work out, but nothing was going to make it past. 36 saves... awesome job, Dave!

Playoffs begin early April and watch this page for the exact playoff game dates and times! Come out and support the Wildcats!

Pictures courtesy of Geoff Kozen #56

Wildcats fall in the season opener 7 - 3 to the Wolf-Rayets

The Wildcat 2016-17 season kicked off Saturday night with a meet up versus an old familiar foe. The Wolf-Rayets, moved up to C3 this year, had many familiar faces and proved to play the same calculating style of hockey that the Cats have seen previously.

The first period saw a quick, back and forth, fairly even game.

In the second period, after some unfortunate penalties and a goal disallowed on a called kicking motion, the Cats saw themselves down by several goals.

Although the third period the Cats played their best hockey of the game, the home team was unable to overcome the key second period and the game ended 7 - 3. Shots were 31 Wolf-Rayets to 30 Wildcats. Wildcat goals were from Tom Wall, Kyle Anderson and Chad Olson.

Three players made their Wildcat debut. Ken Peterson centered his line while showing good communication and strategy with his linemates. Ryan Sandell played on Ken's right wing and showed skill with the puck, creating scoring chances. Shawn Koehnen, playing defense, displayed an array of skills and experience on the ice that will help the team this year.

The Wildcats will be looking for the first win of the season next on Monday night, Nov 7th at 9:10PM at Braemar at the Stars. The Cats will wear their black jerseys and the game will be played on the EAST rink.

Game 2 saw a competitive, tight first 2 periods before things got away from the Cats. Cats fall to the Anchors, will look to bounce back versus Les Etoiles du Nord this evening at 5:15PM in rink 1. Good seats still available, come out and catch some hockey!