BISMARCK, ND — The Bismarck Bobcats will get an infusion of local blood behind the bench for the 2009-2010 season as local native Layne Sedevie has joined the staff in the role of assistant coach.
\”It\’s exciting to be able to start my coaching career not just here in my hometown of Bismarck, but with the Bobcats,\” said Sedevie. \”The junior level is really important for hockey, getting players ready to move onto college and the pros, and Bobcat Hockey has a great reputation for being one of the best organizations in the North American league.\”
Sedevie comes to the Bobcats following four years as a goaltender for the Bemidji State Beavers in the College Hockey America conference and one year in the Central Hockey League with the Wichita Thunder and Youngstown Steelhounds during the 2007-08 season.
\”I think of this as the next step in my career, moving on from playing to coaching,\” said Sedevie. \”I\’ve played hockey my whole life and [following a year off] I missed the game, and I look at moving into coaching as a great way to get back into it, just from a different perspective.\”
The 26-year-old former netminder will replace Aaron Kinslow as an assistant to Bobcats Head Coach Byron Pool. Kinslow, who spent one year on the bench with the team, moved to the Bobcats\’ scouting staff during the 2009 offseason.
\”The best part about bringing in Layne,\” says Pool, the 2008-09 NAHL Coach of the Year, \”is that he has so much to offer Bobcat Hockey. For starters, as a former goaltender he helps us kill two birds with one stone because we get an assistant coach and a goalie coach. He\’s also played at a high level with Division I and pro experience and he\’s got a great passion for the game.
\”Plus he\’s a little younger which will help bridge the generation gap between the coaching staff and the players.\”
Sedevie grew up playing hockey in Bismarck before playing two years of junior hockey with the USHL\’s Sioux Falls Stampede and Topeka Scarecrows from 2001 until 2003.
\”While it wasn\’t a big factor in making our decision,\” says Pool, \”it\’s great to have a local guy on board. All the fans, especially the kids, can look and see where a career in hockey can take you–from playing to coaching–and put a local face to it.\”
\”It\’s a pretty rare opportunity, to be able to coach in your hometown,\” adds Sedevie. \”The NAHL has a great brand of hockey that the fans really get excited about, so I\’m looking forward to being a part of that and helping to get more people into the game where I grew up.\”
The Bobcats open preseason play on Friday, September 11th, when they host the Alexandria Blizzard for a two-game set at the VFW Sports Center. The regular season begins Wednesday, September 16th, in Blaine, Minn., when the Bobcats take on Team USA at the Sherwood NAHL Showcase.
You can watch every Bobcat Hockey game this season–home and away–on B2 Networks and listen on the radio home of the Bobcats, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM.
You won\’t want to miss any of the games this season, so order your Season Tickets, Family Packs and Group Night’s today by calling the Bobcat Hockey Office 701-222-3300 or by e-mailing the office for more information at gobobcathockey@aol.com.