Bobcats to Host Bruins for Christmas Party Weekend
Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (11-14-1) vs Austin Bruins (13-11-4)
Games: Friday, December 16, 7:15pm; Saturday, December 17, 7:15pm
Venue: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Season Series: Series tied 3-3-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Bruins 31-23-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 6:45pm both nights
Internet TV: http://www.HockeyTV.com, 6:45pm
BISMARCK, ND – In the last two games before players head back to their respective homes for the team’s 10-day Christmas Break, the Bismarck Bobcats will host the Austin Bruins for two pivotal contests at the VFW Sports Center.
The weekend will also be the Bobcats’ annual Christmas Party games, with an Ugly Christmas Sweater contest on Friday before the team’s fourth annual Teddy Bear Toss Night on Saturday. Fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals—inside plastic bags—to throw on the ice when the Bobcats score their first goal; all stuffed animals thrown will be donated to Toys For Tots and the Sanford Hospital Children’s Wing.
“Being able to work with our great fans to give back to kids in need at this time of year is an awesome thing,” expressed Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie. “Last year when we took the Teddy Bear Toss bears to the kids at Sanford, it was the best day I’ve had as a coach, seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces.”
Between the boards, the Cats are looking to shake off a season-high six-game losing streak dating back to November 23.
Of the six games, the Bobcats outshot their opposition in five of them—leading to optimism in the locker room despite the results.
“We have had our scoring chances, but we aren’t getting the bounces we need right now,” explained Bobcat co-captain Zach Kennedy, who played his first two NAHL season with the Bruins. “We can’t get discouraged: if we keep working hard and put together a consistent effort for 60 minutes, we’re confident we can pick up some big points [in the standings] heading into the break.”
Austin, sitting seven points ahead of the Cats with two more games played, is led in scoring by the veteran duo of Travis Kothenbuetel (12g, 14a) and Justin Misiak (10g, 16a) with 26 points each. With starting goalie Jake Kucharski on a call-up to Des Moines of the USHL, first-year netminder Alex Schilling is expected to get the call in net for both games this weekend for Austin; Schilling is 1-1-0 in two starts against the Bobcats with a 2.00 GAA in those games.
Winger Tobias Fladeby remains the Bobcats’ top point-getter in 2016-17 with 13 goals and 16 assists. Rookie goalkeeper Camden Haugenoe, a product of Williston High School, is 2-4-0 in six starts with a 3.60 GAA.
Tickets are now on sale for both nights of the Cats’ Christmas Party weekend: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge-by-phone at 222-3300.
Also available at BismarckBobcats.com is the team’s 2016 line of clothing—just in time for Christmas—as well as the all-new Bobcat Bucks gift certificates!
Friday’s weekend opener will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com–the web television partner of the North American Hockey League–with pregame coverage starting at 6:45pm.
Pro-rated season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats’ landmark platinum anniversary campaign fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.