BISMARCK, ND – Already big-time buyers at the 2011 NAHL trade deadline, the Bobcats pulled off one more move this week, trading a draft pick and a 2011 tender to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs in exchange for forward Blake Schammel and defenseman Jason Nash.
Last week the Bobcats brought in defensemen Rodney LaLonde and Donald Olivieri from the Texas Tornado and forward Castan Sommer from the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints to shore up the blue line and add depth up front.
The moves paid off as the Bobcats went 2-1-0 on a three-game weekend, getting five points (3 G, 2 A) from the newest Cats plus a strong physical presence from all three.
Bobcats head coach Layne Sedevie expects his swap with the Ice Dogs will have a similar effect.
“Blake is a veteran forward, who skates well and will give us excellent depth up front,” noted Sedevie, “while Jason is a skilled defenseman who is a top-four kind of guy on any team in the league.”
In 32 games this season Schammel, a second-year NAHL veteran from Red Wing, Minn., who spent the 2009-10 season with the Owatonna Express, has four goals and five assists.
Nash, who has one assist in just five games with the Ice Dogs, is the third defenseman to be brought in at the deadline as injuries have caused blueliners Nick Romanick, Dan Kovar, Dalton Spicer and Charlie Aus to miss significant amounts of time over the past month.
The new-look Bobcats will welcome the Austin Bruins for their second-ever weekend series at the VFW Sports Center starting Friday with a 7:15 PM start.
Friday’s contest 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 at 6:45 PM CT.
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