Monday Roundup: Bobcats set for Veterans Day Duel with Blizzard
Last Week:
Friday, November 7: Bobcats 3, Blizzard 0
Saturday, November 8: Bobcats 4, Brookings 1
This Week:
Tuesday, November 11: Bobcats vs. Blizzard, VFW Sports Center, 7:15pm
Saturday, November 15: Bobcats vs. Wings, VFW Sports Center, 7:15pm
Military Appreciation Night
BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats will face the Brookings Blizzard at 7:15pm Tuesday at the VFW Sports Center for Military Appreciation Night on Veterans Day.
For the special Tuesday Tilt, the Bobcats will be wearing special edition camouflage North Dakota National Guard jerseys that will be auctioned off following the game with proceeds going to the North Dakota National Guard Foundation—serving our fallen soldiers and their families.
Hardee’s will also be selling “Happy Stars” at the game to benefit the NDNG Foundation; the first 100 fans to buy a Happy Star will also get a free key chain. They will also be giving away military can koozies to the first 500 fans through the gates Tuesday. The Bobcats expect to raise over $10,000 at the game.
Tickets for military members and their significant others will be $2.00 off for Military Appreciation Night. Fans can buy and print their tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Tuesday marks the last of five straight meetings between the Bobcats and Blizzard; the Cats have taken the last three matchups after Brookings stunned the black and gold 2-1 on Halloween at Larson Ice Center.
Brookings center Beau Michaud—tied with Bobcat winger Cullen Willox for the Central Division’s scoring lead—has a point in three of the four contests between the two sides.
Willox has made his presence felt in the extended five-game series with a goal and six assists since November 1.
Live coverage of the special Tuesday 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 now under way, there is still time to order season tickets for the year; fans who want to lock in their seats for the entire campaign should call the Bobcat office at 222-3300 today!
Star Bright
For the first time this season, the Bobcats swept the North American Hockey League’s weekly awards as goalie Alex Bitsakis claimed Central Division Star of the Week while forward Oskars Batna earned Second Star of the Week for the Central.
On the heels of being named Goalie of the Month for October, Bitsakis went 2-0-0 last weekend against Brookings—including a 3-0 shutout on Friday—while stopping 43 of 44 shots over two games to secure a Star of the Week nod for the second time season.
“Alex is establishing himself as one of the top goalies in this league. We are at a time in the year where we are behind the 8-ball a little bit and need all the wins we can get, and during that time frame Alex has played his best hockey,” said Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie.
Batna’s first recognition by the league comes as a result of a two-goal, two-assist weekend that comprised both game-winning goals in the home-and-home sweep of the Blizzard. Overall, the Riga, Latvia, native has posted four goals and two assists in his last three games to tie Jared Spooner for fourth on the Cats’ scoring list.
Alumni Update
Former Bobcats continued to do the black and gold proud at higher levels over the weekend.
Among the NCAA Division I ranks, Tommy Burke continued the dominance of Bobcat goaltenders, collecting the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week award thanks to a 2-0-0 weekend—featuring 62 saves on 66 shots—for Bowling Green on the road against Alaska-Fairbanks. Fellow Bobcat alum Matt Pohlkamp scored in both Falcons wins over the Nanooks and is now second for BG in points with nine (3g, 6a).
John Furgele, who manned the Cats’ blueline 2010-12, earned his first collegiate point for New Hampshire in their 5-2 romp over Michigan State Saturday.
Other D-I alumni to find the scoresheet included 2009-10 defenseman Sam Rendle (Bemidji State, 1g, 1a) and forward Castan Sommer (Holy Cross, 1a). Goalie Ryan Massa continued his torrid start to 2014-15 for Nebraska-Omaha, improving to 5-0-1 behind 25 saves in the Mavs’ 4-1 Friday win over Ohio State.
At the Division III level, former Bobcats stuffed the stat sheets, with points coming from: Rory Vesel (Augsburg, 2 g), Frankie DeAugustine (UMass-Boston, 2g, 1a), Cory Chapman (Augsburg, 2a), Sam Coborn (Concordia, 2a), Adam Knochenmus (UW-Eau Claire, 1g), Patrick Coyne (Lawrenca, 1g), Charlie Aus (Concordia, 1a), Don Olivieri (Nazareth, 1a), Nate Flynn (Augsburg, 1a), Sam Dougherty (St. Norbert, 1a) and Mike Fazio (UW-River Falls, 1a).
In the pros, goalie Ryan Faragher got his first start at the AHL level Wednesday, making 19 saves in the Norfolk Admirals’ 3-1 loss at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
