Bobcat Weekend Preview: Bobcats Host Wings in One-Off Showdown
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (9-11-0, 4th Central) vs. Aberdeen Wings (10-9-0, 3rd Central)
Games: Saturday, November 15, 7:15pm
Place: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
This Year: Bobcats lead Wings 2-0-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Wings 31-12-7
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm
BISMARCK, ND – With a rare Friday off, the Bismarck Bobcats will play their only game of the weekend Saturday as they host the Aberdeen Wings at the VFW Sports Center.
While it will be the third round of the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup for 2014-15, Saturday will be the Wings’ first visit to the capital region; the Bobcats claimed the first two meetings in Aberdeen to lead the traveling trophy series 4-0.
Saturday projects as a matchup of top goaltenders with Alex Bitsakis (8-4-0, 1.75 GAA, .936 SV%) in net for the Bobcats, facing Aberdeen’s Andrew Shortridge (6-4-0, 1.68, .937). The two netminders have the best per-game stats for any goalies in the North American Hockey League with 10 or more starts.
“We are looking forward to a marquee matchup in net Saturday,” agreed Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, a former goaltender himself at the junior, collegiate and professional levels. “You’ve got the two best regular starters and the last two division Stars of the Week out there facing off. There’s going to be some fun hockey out there.”
Contrasting styles will be a story line for the night: the Wings boast the Central Division’s top defense, having allowed just 43 goals while the Cats have are tied for the second-most goals scored in the division at 57.
Aberdeen has been a tough out on the road in divisional play, opening the year 5-0-0 away from Odde Ice Center against Central foes before a three-goal rally by Minot on Tuesday handed the Wings their first away loss in-division at 3-2.
The line of Cullen Willox, Matt Perry and Oskars Batna has compiled 19 points in the last four games on seven goals and 12 assists for the Bobcats. Aberdeen’s top line poses an equal threat, with Kyle Haak, Ronnie Hein and Michael Soucier combining for 18 scores and 27 helpers nearly one-third of the way through the season.
Tickets are now on sale for Saturday’s installment of the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup: fans can buy and print their tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of the rivalry tilt will begin Saturday 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!
