Bobcats, Tauros Dazzle Capacity Dickinson Crowd
DICKINSON, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats and the Minot Minotauros gave a sold-out crowd quite a show Tuesday at the Dickinson Recreation Center as the Tauros edged the Bobcats 5-4 in a shootout in an exhibition contest to help kick off the 2012-13 season for the Dickinson Hockey Club.
“We couldn’t be happier to have been a part of DHC kick off night,” extolled Bobcats team owner Thom Brigl, “and the hockey fans here in Dickinson really showed up and packed the barn for a really exciting game here [Tuesday].”
Bob Kinne got the Bobcats started 3:49 into the game, taking a centering feed from below the goal line from Sam Coborn and popping it through the legs of Minot netminder Ryan Ruck for a fast 1-0 lead for the Capital City contingent.
Minot answered back 39 seconds later as a failed clear by the Bobcat defense turned into a deke into the middle by Tauros forward Cameron Rowat, who flicked a backhander five-hole past Bobcat goalie Bryan Nies to knot the game 1-1.
The two sides traded blows in the first six and a half minutes of the second as Cody Milligan pushed Tauros in front, only to be answered within a minute by Mike Dockry, who cashed in a defensive zone turnover to even the game at two with 13:45 to go in the middle frame.
Bobcat newcomer Tyler Klein, formerly of the Coulee Region Chill, edged the Bobcats ahead with 2:12 to go in the second, swiping home a give-and-go with defender Chris Diver seconds after a Bobcat power play to make it 3-2 for the Cats.
Lucas Oliver brought the side from the Magic City back to even 70 seconds into the third, popping in a Mason Morelli rebound to push the score to 3-3.
Klein notched his second of the night, roofing a loose puck over the glove of Ruck to push the Bobcats back in front at 4-3.
Morelli found a little magic for the Tauros late, though, lifting a backhander in transition over a Bobcat defender and past the glove of Nies to square the game at 4-4.
Neither side could solve the goalies in the remaining seven-plus minutes or in overtime, forcing a decisive shootout. Nies and Ruck stymied all shooters through the first three rounds; Minot struck in the final two rounds of the shootout while Klein and Kevin Becker split their two attempts, giving the Tauros the 5-4 decision in the Queen City.
Nies made 21 saves in defeat while Ruck stopped 20 shots for the win.
Regular season action resumes Friday as the Bobcats host the opening round of the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup as the Aberdeen Wings pay their first visit of the season to the VFW Sports Center for a 7:15 rematch of the 2012 Central Division Semifinals, which the Cats claimed 3-games-to-1.
Friday’s rivalry showdown will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide on the official internet television partner of the NAHL, FASTHockey, at http://nahl.fasthockey.com. Pregame coverage gets under way at 6:45.
Pro-rated season tickets for the 2012-13 season are now on sale—and going fast! Call the Bobcat Hockey office today at (701) 222-3300 to reserve your seats for another great season of Championship Entertainment.