KFDM COOP Posted March 17, 2007 Report Posted March 17, 2007 Wilcatters return home with win Or maybe the Texas Wildcatters newcomer just likes scoring goals.Whatever it was, Thomson's hat trick in his first game with the Wildcatters sparked his new team to a 6-4 victory over the Augusta Lynx."He was great for us tonight," Wildcatters coach Malcolm Cameron said of Thomson, sent to the Wildcatters by the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League on Thursday."He's exactly the kind of player I thought he was. He's fast, he's strong with the puck, and he makes good decisions."Thomson's uniform No. 79 is a familiar one to many of the 1,491 fans in attendance Friday night. That was the number worn by Marco Rosa, who has 51 points with the Wildcatters but is now with Providence of the AHL.Eleven hats were thrown on the ice when Thomson's third goal gave Texas a 4-2 lead with 19.4 seconds left in the second period. He knocked in the puck when it rolled across the front of the net after Olivier Proulx pulled back his stick for a shot but was unable to pull the trigger.The Wildcatters led by two goals a fourth time when Brandin Cote's 25th goal midway through the third gave Texas a 5-3 lead, but Augusta cut the margin to one with 5:51 left.The Wildcatters fought off a power play in the final minutes and Kevin Baker's empty net, power play goal with 49.9 seconds left secured the victory."We didn't play our A-game, but we pulled it out in the end," Cameron said. "Sometimes you need to do that."By winning, Texas remained tied with Florida atop the South Division points race. Florida also won Friday, and both teams have 81 points as the regular season nears its April 7 conclusion. Texas has eight games left; Florida has 10.Gwinnett, which also won Friday, trails both teams by two points.The Wildcatters conclude this two-game series with Augusta at 7 p.m. today at Ford Arena. Augusta has 69 points and is among the teams fighting for the last of five South Division playoff spots.Thomson's arrival coincided with the return of goalie Miroslav Kopriva from the Aeros. Kopriva last played for Texas Jan. 21. He won Friday for the ninth time in 12 decisions with the Wildcatters and had 30 saves.The team announced Friday that individual playoff tickets will go on sale Wednesday. Season ticket holders are currently able to purchase playoff tickets. Contact the Wildcatters at (409) 951-5500 for information.
hockeyfan Posted March 17, 2007 Report Posted March 17, 2007 Awesome game!A guy that used to play for the 'Catters actually went to the same college in Canada that newcomer Ben Thomson went to, and he said that Ben is a very fast and good player, though he is small.A hat trick on his first night?Sweet! ;D
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