When the bears rained down to the ice at the end of the second period Saturday night at Germain Arena, it was not in response to an Everblades' goal.

Indeed, the Blades did not score at all Saturday night, suffering a 3-0 blanking by the Texas Wildcatters.

"You want to get that goal early," Blades forward Ernie Hartlieb was quoted as saying in the Naples Daily News. "You want to let the fans throw the bears."

Instead it was Texas' Mike Bayrack who started the scoring off at 14:33 of the first period, and who ended it, at 15:48 of the third. ECHL player of the week, Olivier Proulx, also tallied for the Wildcatters.

"Our intention was certainly to score," Everblades assistant coach Jason Nobili said.

The game was a complete turn around of Friday night's contest, in which Bill Kinkle opened the proceedings by taking on 6'8", 248 pound Riley Emmerson. While Emmerson may have gotten a few more punches in, the fight off the opening face off fired up the Blades.

Veteran forward Brent McDonald recorded two goals and two assists to lead the Blades to a 5-2 victory over the division leading Wildcatters.

“Tuesday, we came out flat and we knew we had to respond," McDonald was quoted as saying in the Fort Myers News Press. "Playing shorthanded tonight, a lot of guys stepped up to the plate and really came out with a strong start. Kinks led the charge and the boys followed up.”


Veteran Reggie Berg also scored for the Blades as did Florida Panthers prospect Dustin Johner. Defenseman Chris Lee, who is on a two way contract with the AHL Albany River Rats, opened up Saturday's scoring.

Carolina Hurricane's prospect Craig Kowalski took the start in net for both games for Florida but without the offensive help from his teammates, he could not take a win on Saturday.
Both teams had 35 shots on goal. Both teams had 8 power play opportunities. But it was the Wildcatters who made the most of those opportunities.

Czech goalie Miroslav Kopriva was solid in net for the Texas team Saturday. He replaced Matt Yeats at 37:09 of Friday's contest, and allowed only 1 goal. A sixth round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2003 draft, Kopriva split time last year between the AHL Houston Aeros and the CHL Austin Ice Bats.

The Blades now head out on a six game road trip, while the Wildcatters will play their next six at home.

Friday's game:

Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore
Blades ratchet up the heat, win 5-2
Wildcatters rookie is coming of age
Blades pull no punches, win 5-2

Saturday's Game:

Photo Gallery
Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore
On-the-ice training
Around the ECHL
Catching up with Old Friends

In AHL action, the Rochester Americans dropped both games to the Grand Rapid Griffins this weekend.

Friday, the Amerks lost 4-2 and Saturday, 4-1, to the Detroit Red Wings affiliate.

Florida Prospect Anthony Stewart and Buffalo prospect Mark Mancari tallied the two goals for Rochester in Friday's Game, while Mancari had the lone Amerks goal in Saturday's rematch.

Sabre's prospect Dennis Adams turned back 21 shots Saturday, while Florida farmhand Craig Anderson handled the netmind chores in Friday's loss.

The Amerks were without wingers Drew Stafford and Daniel Paille who are on recall to Buffalo, and centers Drew Larman and Rob Globke, who played in another Florida Panther loss, this time, 3-1 to the Thrashers.

Rochester remains on the road for two games, Tuesday and Wednesday, against the Manitoba Moose.

Friday's game:

Amerks fall short at Grand Rapids
Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore

Saturday's Game:

Amerks look rundown in another road loss
Game Summary
Game Report
Boxscore

The Hurricane affiliated Albany River Rats also dropped their weekend pair, 4-3 Friday to the Milwaukee Admirals and 3-1 Saturday to the Portland Pirates.

River Rats leading scorer Pat Dwyer tallied the lone goal Saturday. Mark Flood, Carolina's Keith Aucoin and Colorado's Ben Guite tallied for the Rats on Friday night.

Cane prospect Justin Peters got the nod in net on both nights turning back 23 shots on Friday and 27 on Saturday. The rookie netminder is now 2-9-0 on the season with a 3.25 GAA and a .877 save percentage.