Photo courtesy of Carl Kacvinsky/CK Photography
Throughout the month of August, BismarckBobcats.com will be taking a one-by-one look at the players on the Bobcats’ Training Camp Roster. Today’s installment covers incoming Bobcats forward Bob Kinne.
Name: Bob Kinne
Position: Forward
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
2011-12 Team: Lincoln Stars
2011-12 Stats: 6 G, 2 A, 8 PTS, +3, 10 PIM
Favorite NHL Player: Steven Stamkos
Favorite TV Channel: MTV
What I’m Looking Forward To in 2012-13: “Just getting out there and playing. I met everyone at Main Camp and there’s a great group of guys and I can’t wait to get out there with them and get it going on the ice.”
Beaver Legacy
When arriving in the North American Hockey League, most players are seeking to earn an NCAA Division I scholarship; Bob Kinne, however, is uncommon in that he is coming to the Bismarck Bobcats with a scholarship in hand to play for the WCHA’s Bemidji State Beavers for 2013-14.
“Bob is a guy who knows where to be and can bury the puck in tight areas,” credited Bobcats assistant coach Garrett Roth, who is not only the Cats’ all-time leading scorer but played his college hockey for Bemidji State. “He’s a smart player who knows how to get to those quiet areas in the offensive end, so he’ll be a great fit with Bemidji State.”
Not only is Roth a former Beaver, but so is Bobcats head coach Layne Sedevie.
This Green and White connection was no small factor in Kinne’s decision to play for the Bobcats.
“I’m excited to be playing for Coach Sedevie and Coach Roth because they’re both Beavers,” admitted Kinne, “and I don’t think there’s anyone better out there to prepare me for playing for Coach [Tom] Serratore than two guys who have been through it like they have.”
The Bobcat coaching staff, though, isn’t the only connection Kinne has to Bemidji State: his older brother Ben is preparing for his final season with the Beavers in 2012-13.
“Just missing out on playing with Ben is a little disappointing,” expressed the St. Paul native, “but it’s been really nice for our family. We’ve gotten to know the city and know Coach Serratore and his staff and that’s been really helpful to get prepared for next year, too.”
Kinne will join the Beavers in time for Bemidji State to be a key player in the new-look WCHA, which is set to add five new teams as part of college hockey’s sweeping realignment for 2013-14.
High Expectations
Coming into the season with a college commitment, one might think that it would relieve the pressure on a player. Kinne disagrees.
“There’s a different kind of pressure involved, actually,” offered Kinne. “Having a scholarship means that guys on the team and the coaches look to you as one of the best guys out there. Expectations go way up.”
Independent of other circumstances, the forward has lofty goals for himself as a Bobcat.
“I want to be a scorer and a leader as a Bobcat,” stated the Bemidji State recruit. “I’m expected to be a top-six forward and do power play and penalty kill and anything the coaches want me to do. It’s what I plan to do as one of the older players on the team.”
Bold talk? Not so, according to Sedevie.
“Bob is a confident player, but he’s a team player,” the former Beaver netminder stressed. “He knows what we see his role to be and he’s ready to do what we ask of him.
“He’s a great player, but he’s also a good guy.”
Familiar Territory
After a year in Lincoln, Neb., Bob Kinne will be relocating back to the upper Midwest when he moves to North Dakota at the end of the week—when Bobcat players report for training camp.
“It will be different but the same,” Kinne noted. “It may be a little windier in Bismarck than Minnesota but the lifestyle and the people will be similar."
His offseason plans have brought him closer to home as well, as the forward has been training with fellow 2012-13 Bobcats such as Mike Dockry, Cory Chapman and Kevin Becker.
“I’ve been back at MAP Hockey in Mendota Heights (Minn.) training with the guys,” explained Kinne, “and I’ve also spent a couple of weeks in Bemidji training up there.
“It’s been good working out and training with my teammates so that we can be ready to get back to Bismarck this weekend and start working on bringing the Robertson Cup back to Bismarck this season.”
Stay tuned to BismarckBobcats.com over the next month as we take you in-depth with every player on the Training Camp Roster in preparation for the 2012-13 season. This week we will also feature Nate Repensky, Johno May and Shane Joyce.