The American Way
SAN DIEGO, CA — While it was a lightly scheduled week for Bismarck Bobcat alumni at the collegiate level, three different alums all got the call to the American Hockey League–hockey's top minor league level: the Anaheim Ducks assigned Ryan Faragher (2009-11) to the San Diego Gulls; Ryan Massa (2009-10) signed a PTO with the Toronto Marlies; and Tony Turgeon (2007-09) signed a PTO with the Portland Pirates.
It marks the most alumni the Bobcats have had at the AHL level or higher at any one time.
For Faragher and Turgeon it is a return to the AHL; Faragher played 15 games for the Norfolk Admirals in 2014-15 while Turgeon made 23 appearances over the previous two seasons with the San Antonio Rampage.
Massa–on his first career stint in the American League–made a big splash in his debut for the Marlies on Friday, turning away 16 of 17 shots to secure his first AHL win 3-1 over Syracuse to help keep the Maple Leafs affiliate in first place in the North Division.
Faragher followed up his former tandem-mate's success the next night with 24 saves to help the Gulls to a 3-1 road win over the rival Ontario Reign.
Turgeon signed with Portland on Tuesday morning, and will be available for the Pirates Friday when they visit divisional foe Providence.
Now Just a Second
With three goals in two games across the holiday week, Bobcats winger Willie Brown earned the Second Star of the Week for the Central Division Monday.
It is the second time this season Brown has found his way onto the league's weekly honor roll, having been named the division's Star of the Week on September 21.
Brown has four goals and two assists in his last six games to bounce back from six games without any points–his longest such streak since coming to the Bobcats in February 2015.
Norwegian-born forward Tobias Fladeby picked up an honorable mention for Monday's Star of the Week award with two goals and an assists over Thanksgiving.
Fladeby is now tied for the team's longest streak of consecutive goals at three games (Alex Strand) and is sixth on the Bobcats in scoring with 12 (6g, 6a).
Line Item
- The line of Alex Strand, Harrison Aide and Tobias Fladeby is the Cats' top-scoring unit with a combined 21g and 26a.
- Travis Wood leads the team with a +11 rating, placing him in the Top 25 in plus/minus league-wide.
- Since being promoted to the power play, winger Kyle Sylvester has two goals and an assist in three games.
- After a 13-game stretch that saw a 2-for-44 drought on the power play, the Bobcats 'PP' has exploded to an 8-for-30 mark in the last six contests.
- Conversely, the Cats' PK has allowed nine goals in the last six games after a streak of five straight games without allowing a single opposing power play goal (18-for-18).
Upcoming Schedule
Coming off a .500 month of November, the Bobcats will open the last month of 2015 with a home-and-home series against their biggest rivals: the Minot Minotauros.
Bobcats vs Minot
Friday, 12/4/15, at 7:15pm
VFW Sports Center
Radio: SuperTalk 1270
Web TV: FASTHockey.com
Tickets: BismarckBobcats.com
Bobcats at Minot
Saturday, 12/5/15, at 7:35pm
Maysa Arena
Radio: SuperTalk 1270
Web TV: FASTHockey.com
Alumni Stats
NCAA Division I
Castan Sommer (2010-12, Holy Cross): 1 G
Evan Giesler (2012-15, Air Force): 1 G
Filip Starzynski (2011-14, Northern Michigan): 1 A
John Furgele (2010-12, New Hampshire): 1 A
NCAA Division III
Nick Miglio (2010-12, Utica): 1 G
Adam Knochenmus (2011-13, UW-Eau Claire): 1 A
Patrick Moore (2011-13, UW-Eau Claire): 1 A
Mike Dockry (2011-13, St. Thomas): 1 A
Bob Kinne (2012-13, St. Mary's): 1 A
Joe Giordano (2012-13, Connecticut Coll.): 1 A
AHL
Ryan Faragher (2009-11, San Diego): 1-0-0, 25 S, 24 SV
Ryan Massa (2009-10, Toronto): 1-0-0, 17 S, 16 SV
ECHL
Austin Coldwell (2007-08, Quad City): 1 G
Tony Turgeon (2007-09, Manchester): 1 G
Shawn Skelly (2006-07, Fort Wayne): 1 G
Donnie Harris (2007-08, Wichita): 1 A
SPHL
Matt Grogan (2007-09, Mississippi): 1-0-0, 24 S, 19 SV
Charlie Mosey (2010-11, Mississippi): 1 G, 2 A
Will Aide (2006-09, Huntsville): 1 G, 1 A
Blake Hietala (2007-08, Louisiana): 1 G
Nick Schneider (2003-05, Huntsville): 1 A