BISMARCK, N.D.–The Bismarck Bobcats (5-4-1) swept the St. Cloud Norsemen (4-5-1) in a two-game series at the VFW Sports Center by scores of 3-2 and 7-4.
The Bobcats never trailed throughout the series and were tied only twice throughout the two games. Luke Roelofs scored two goals on Friday, including the game winner with 7:55 remaining in regulation. St. Cloud had come back from a 2-0 deficit to tie things up only 21 seconds prior. It is Roelofs’ first career multi-goal performance.
Saturday’s game brought all the fireworks, with some carnage to boot. With the Bobcats leading 5-2 in the third period, two Norsemen players jumped Adam Pietila on a neutral zone faceoff, sparking a line brawl. Three players on each side received major penalties for fighting, which disqualified them from the remainder of the game with 11 minutes left.
“I do not coach that way,” head coach Layne Sedevie said. “I do not think it is right. Obviously, the game has changed. The reason I say that is player safety. I am glad that our guys on the ice stuck up for our guys, and nobody got hurt.”
Bismarck had to finish the night with only three defensemen not serving penalties, but used a comfortable three-goal lead to get them to the finish line. The Bobcats scored seven goals with seven different players. Erik Atchison and Kyle Doll each picked up their first career goals as Bobcats. Overall, 226 penalty minutes on 36 infractions were issued to go along with 11 combined goals.
“We are at home and we got four points,” Sedevie said. “That is what the task at hand was, and the guys did a nice job.”
The Bobcats have a bye week to sort everything out before the Austin Bruins come to town. The two-game series begins on Friday, October 21 at the VFW Sports Center. Tickets are on sale now at tickets.bismarckbobcats.com and the free Bismarck Bobcats mobile app.