AUSTIN, MN – The Bismarck Bobcats are making their first extended roadtrip of the 2010-11 season this upcoming weekend as they make a three-game weekend swing with games against the Austin Bruins and the Owatonna Express.
The Cats open the weekend with a two-game set against the expansion Austin Bruins. The Bruins (1-4-0, 2 pts) sit in a fifth place tie in the Central Division with a four-game losing streak off the heels of one of the biggest upsets of the young season on opening day, a 4-3 win over the 2010 National Runner-up Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
Austin is led in scoring by James Dickinson’s three goals and one assist while former North Iowa Outlaw goalie Keegan Asmundson anchors the Bruins in net with a 3.44 GAA and a .897 SV%.
“Looking at Austin, they’re a lot better than a 1-4-0 record would indicate,” said Bobcats head coach Layne Sedevie. “[Bruins head coach] Chris Tok is a great hockey mind, coming in from Michigan Tech, and he knows what it takes to win at the junior level. That team is going to be a strong presence in the Central Division.”
The two-game series opens Friday night at 7:35 PM and wraps up Saturday night with a 7:05 PM rematch.
Sunday the Bobcats will finish the road swing with a 12:00 PM matinee against the Owatonna Express, a long-time franchise rival.
The Express sit at 2-3-0 after notching a 2-1 win at Austin Saturday night in both teams’ divisional openers. Third-year forward Chris Bournazos leads Owatonna in scoring with two goals and four assists while the Express rely on a three-goalie rotation of Charles Williams, Jared Lenner and Brock Kautz in net.
Owatonna has a new look behind the bench as long-time Express head coach Jon Cullen accept an assistant coaching job at St. Olaf College; Cullen was replaced by former Albert Lea Thunder head coach Chuck Linkenheld over the summer.
“Bringing in Chuck was about the best move Owatonna could have made,” noted Sedevie. “He took a miserable mid-season situation in Albert Lea and turned them into a playoff team, and he gave them a tough, physical identity. That’s a big switch from the old regime and will make Owatonna very difficult to play as the season goes on.”
The Bobcats enter the weekend as winners of two of their last three games, including a big 5-2 home win over the Alexandria Blizzard on Saturday. The Cats are led up front by rookie forward Charlie Mosey’s five goals and five assists; Dartmouth recruit Ryan Faragher remains the Bobcats’ stalwart in net at 3-2-1 with a 2.50 GAA and a .904 SV%.
All three games will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at http://nahl.fasthockey.com/. Pre-game coverage will begin 30 minutes before the puck drop for each contest.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2010-11 season! Call the Bobcat Hockey office at (701) 222-3300 or email gobobcathockey@aol.com for more information on reserving your seats for the entire season as the Bobcats look to defend the Robertson Cup!
BOBCAT HOCKEY
2010 ROBERTSON CUP CHAMPIONS