Bobcats Make First Trip to Minot Saturday
Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (4-3-0) vs Minot Minotauros (6-1-0)
Games: Saturday, October 8, 7:35pm
Venue: Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.
2015-16 Season Series: Minotauros defeated Bobcats 7-5-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minoatauros 36-19-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 7:05pm
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 7:05pm
BISMARCK, ND – Fresh off a six-day layoff, the Bismarck Bobcats will play their only game of the week Saturday when they make the 111-mile trek up Highway 83 for their first regular season duel with the archrival Minot Minotauros at Maysa Arena.
“It’s a game that everyone has been looking forward to,” admitted Bobcats winger Tobias Fladeby, who had three goals and two assists against Minot in nine appearances as a rookie a season ago. “Guys who were here last year know all about the rivalry and how much it means and all the new guys are excited to get their first feel for it.”
Saturday’s tilt promises a clash of early-season philosophies: the Cats have averaged 5.33 goals per game in Central Division play while Minot has posted a league-best 1.29 GAA among their three netminders.
“Goaltending will be critical Saturday,” assessed Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team has not won a season series from Minot since 2013-14. “[Bobcat goalies] Will [Ulrich] and Cam [Haugenoe] are starting to play with some more confidence and all three guys in net for Minot have been lights-out so far.
“In a stressful environment with two big points on the line, whoever is in that net will have to come up big.”
Idle Friday, the Bobcats rested as the Minotauros saw their season-opening six-game win streak halted in Aberdeen with a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the new-look Wings.
Linemates Parker Mismash (5g, 7a) and Fladeby (6g, 5a) lead the Bobcats offensively, while Ulrich and Haugenoe are each responsible for two wins in net so far.
Returners Zach Bross and Jack Murphy, along with newcomer Alex Adams, share the Minotauros’ scoring lead through seven contests.
Saturday’s archrivalry go-round will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com–the web television partner of the North American Hockey League–with pregame coverage starting at 7:05pm.
Season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats’ landmark platinum anniversary campaign fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.