Bobcat Weekend Preview: Bobcats Host Brookings in One-Off Rematch
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (21-18-1, 3rd Central) vs. Brookings Blizzard (13-18-7, 5th Central)
Games: Saturday, January 24, 7:15pm
Place: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
This Year: Bobcats lead Blizzard 6-4-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Blizzard 19-11-2
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm
BISMARCK, ND – Fresh from their second-longest layoff of 2014-15, the Bismarck Bobcats return to the VFW Sports Center to host the Brookings Blizzard for one game Saturday.
The Bobcats enter the weekend smarting from a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the Blizzard last weekend, including a 6-2 home loss on January 16.
Brookings, on the other hand, has run off a 2-1-1 mark in their last four games thanks to a huge burst from their special teams, which has provided two shorthanded goals and eight power play scores in that span.
Rookie goalie Ryan Kubic has also played a huge part in the Blizzard’s recent turnaround: the 16-year-old Manitoban is 3-1-1 in his last five starts and is fifth league-wide with a 2.00 GAA.
Though the Bobcat offense stalled out against Kubic last weekend, the main focus during the team’s preparation for Brookings focused on the defensive end; the Blizzard’s sweep marked the only contests in 2015 that the Cats surrendered four-plus goals.
“You look back against Brookings and you see two games with two-goal leads for us,” illustrated Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, “and then we shot ourselves in the foot in our own [defensive] zone, especially on the penalty kill. We didn’t block enough shots or do a good enough job of clearing traffic for our goalies either night [against Brookings].”
In the two games, the Blizzard scored six times on the power play but just twice even-strength.
It’s not all bad news, however, for the Bobcats: co-captain Evan Giesler stormed into a tie with Ryan Wiggins for fourth all-time in franchise history with 46 goals courtesy of his three-score barrage last weekend against Brookings and Minot.
Meanwhile, Bismarck High grad Jared Spooner has pulled into a tie for the team lead in assists with 23 thanks to five helpers in his last three games.
Tickets are now on sale for Saturday’s one-off grudge match: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Saturday’s home tilt will begin at 6:45pm locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com, the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League.
Though the 2014-15 season is over half way through, there is still time to order season tickets for the year; fans who want to lock in their seats for the rest of the campaign should call the Bobcat office at 222-3300 today!
