ANN ARBOR, MI – A late rally by Team North toppled the Central Division 5-2 at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube on Wednesday, clinching first place for the North at the 2010 Top Prospects Tournament while Team Central secured second place at the NAHL’s third annual all-star event.
The Central took the early lead less than five minutes into the game on Owatonna defenseman Marian Fiala’s first goal of the tournament, assisted by Chris Bournazos (Owatonna) and Brian Nehring (Albert Lea).
Two minutes later, though, Rui Encarnacao (Janesville) tied the game for the North off a feed from Jets teammate Ross Mauermann.
The score remained tied until Brent Bain (Marquette) blew a transition one-timer past Bismarck Bobcats goalie Ryan Faragher to give the North a 2-1 lead just 3:22 into the second period.
Five and a half minutes after Bain’s go-ahead goal, Cory Thorson (Owatonna) scorched a high wrister past Kevin Kissaw to tie the game at two a side.
With 9:35 left in the second period, Faragher and Kissaw were both lifted for fellow all-stars Chris Kamal and Matt Wichorek, respectively; neither starter figured in the final decision.
The difference in the game ended up being a three-goal outburst by Team North in the third period as Encarnacao and Bain each scored again while Mauermann added an empty-net tally to seal the game with 1:07 left.
Faragher finished with 15 saves on 17 shots.
2010 marks the third year of the NAHL’s Top Prospects Tournament. Nearly 30 players who participated in last year’s second-annual Top Prospects event eventually secured D-I scholarships.
Each year, the six-game showcase draws in over 100 collegiate and professional scouts, making it one of the most highly scouted hockey events in the country.
The rest of the Bobcats are busy preparing for their Friday contest at Owatonna on January 22nd—a 7:00 PM faceoff against the second-place Express at the Four Seasons Centre.
Friday’s game will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at BismarckBobcats.com via B2 Networks. The pre-game show starts at 6:30 PM.
You won\’t want to miss any of the games this season, so order your Season Tickets, Family Packs and Group Nights today by calling the Bobcat Hockey Office at 701-222-3300 or by e-mailing the office for more information at gobobcathockey@aol.com.
BOBCAT HOCKEY
IT’S ADDICTIVE!