Lumberjacks Axe 'Cats

The 'Cats dropped both home games this past weekend to Northern Arizona. Fridays absence of Roberts led to a 9-3 loss. "It's hard watching from the stands, I'm going to see how I feel in warm ups tomorrow," said Roberts after Fridays game. The following night Roberts dressed and proceeded to play the duration of the contest.The 'Cats took a 12-1 beating with the only goal for the 'Cats coming from the point off the power-play by Roberts. Next Weekend will be a big test as the 'Cats host Arizona (D1). The last time they met Arizona took both wins with a decisive 7-3 victory being the closest game.
Score sheet

Game Night Pre-view: WSU vs.NAU

This weekend the Wildcats host the NAU Lumberjacks for a two game series. The 'Cats are overall 5-21 with a 3-9 record on home ice. NAU has a record of 14-12 with a road record of 10-9. The 'Cats are also 2-4 since the break while NAU is 3-5.
Wildcats: 5-21 Overall. 3-9 Home record. 2-4 Since Winter Break.
Top Scorers: Chris Roberts (34) Braxton Green (28).
Injuries: Chris Roberts (out indefinitely, left wrist sprain level 3)
NAU: 14-12 Overall. 10-9 Road Record. 3-5 Since Winter Break.
Top Scorers: Nicholas Short (27), Brett Buckowich (24), plus four more with over 20 points.
Injuries: None

Keys to the Game: With Roberts out, Green will have to keep his scoring streak going after missing the second game of last weekend's series against Utah with a shoulder injury.
NAU has 6 players exceeding 20 point seasons, so Wildcats' blue liners need to stay on their toes and contain every single line they face.

Utes Down 'Cats

After what was a tight back and forth barn burner on Friday night, the 'Cat's took to the road to play against the Utes for the second game of the weekend series. The 'Cats went down 10-3 at the final buzzer. Absent of Captain Braxton Green (shoulder), the 'Cats first line was missing its hottest scorer. Soto put Mayer up on the top line with Roberts and Snowball. Just as on Friday night, The Utes once again opened up scoring in the first notching a 2-0 lead after the first with goals by Reed and Huras(power play). The second period was no better for the Cats as the Utes scored one more before Senior Reid Mayer tallied a goal. The Utes fired back with three consecutive goals. Meyer put up his second goal of the game with 6:08 in the second to give the Cats a glimpse of hope, but that would be the last goal they put in for the period while the Utes took a late momentum boosting goal by Huras(his 2nd) with only 0:57 on the clock. The steamroll continued into the third where the Utes laid on 3 more goals while the Cats only third period goal came unassisted by Roberts. The Utes not only hurt the already falling record of the 'Cats, but also managed to injure two top forces on the team. Tim Brownell, who was already icing his shoulder before the game, took a hit into the boards at center ice early in the third that left him on the bench for the remainder of the contest. Roberts suffered a level 3 sprain of his right wrist in an open ice hit by #10 German Charles with under 1 minute to play. Roberts is expected not to play until the Cats' last game series in Vegas as they take on UNLV the weekend of Feb. 18. Green will return this weekend as the Cats host Northern Arizona for a 2 game home stand.

Score sheet