Bobcat Weekend Preview: Bobcats’ Battles with Wings, Tauros Change Venue
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (14-13-1, 3rd Central) vs. Aberdeen Wings (13-13-2, 4th Central); Minot Minotauros (16-8-3, T-1st Central)
Games: Friday, December 12, 7:15pm; Saturday, December 13, 7:15pm
Place: Odde Ice Center, Aberdeen, S.D.; VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
This Year: Bobcats lead Wings 3-0-1; Minotauros lead Bobcats 2-1-1
All-Time: Bobcats lead Wings 32-12-8; Bobcats lead Minotauros 28-8-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm both nights
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm both nights
BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats’ month of battles against their biggest rivals rolls on with a change of scenery as the Cats will head to Aberdeen for a Friday showdown with the Wings before returning home to face the Minot Minotauros on Saturday.
Last weekend, the Bobcats hosted the Wings Friday—winning 3-2 in a shootout—before topping the Tauros 4-1 at Maysa Arena the next night.
Though the Bobcats have bounced back from a rocky 6-10-0 start with a record of 8-3-1 in their last 12 games, half of the four losses in that span have been to Aberdeen and Minot—including a humbling 7-0 home defeat to the Minotauros on November 21. The Bobcat coaching staff, however, doesn’t want the recent success to carry too much weight for the players.
“We told the guys to enjoy last weekend’s wins last weekend because they mean nothing for this weekend,” cautioned Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team is 5-1-0 since the aforementioned home loss to Minot. “We will be facing two very good teams in tough situations: Aberdeen has historically been a very difficult place to play and Minot is 10-1-1 away from home this year.
“Our team will have to be at its best both nights if we want four points.”
While Ronnie Hein, Kyle Haak and Michael Soucier continue to lead the Wings with a combined 22 goals and 34 assists, Aberdeen defenseman Tanner Okeson has done the most damage of late to the Bobcats: scoring twice in the last two meetings, including the overtime-winner at the VFW Sports Center on November 15, and adding a shootout goal for good measure.
While another tremendous trio tops Minot’s scoring ranks with Blake Lizotte (8g, 25a), Christian Mohs (9g, 29a) and Johnny Walker (12g, 9a) all over the 20-point mark through just 27 games, Minot actually takes quite a balanced approach: 10 players have five or more goals to fuel the Central Division’s top offensive unit.
Bobcat co-captains Cullen Willox and Evan Giesler have paved the way for the Bobcat attack with 24 and 23 points, respectively. Willox leads the Cats in points per game at 1.09 while Giesler sits tied for third league-wide in goals with 16.
When the Tauros come to the VFW Sports Center on Saturday, it will be Christmas Party Night, featuring the Cats’ second-annual Teddy Bear Toss, an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest and a visit from Santa.
For the Teddy Bear Toss, fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals that will be thrown out onto the ice following the Bobcats’ first goal. The bears—and other stuffed toys—will then be distributed to kids in need around the Bismarck/Mandan area this holiday season.
Tickets are now on sale for Christmas Party Night and the 2014 Teddy Bear Toss: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Friday’s road tilt in Aberdeen 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!
