Vienna Waits for You
VIENNA, AUSTRIA — For the sixth time in eight years, the Bismarck Bobcats will send an active skater to the IIHF's annual World Junior Championships as forward Tobias Fladeby will suit up for Team Norway starting Sunday.
"It is an honor to be able to play for my country, of course," expressed Fladeby, who departs the Bobcats amid a five-game point streak, "and I'm also proud to be able to represent the Bobcats at World Juniors this year."
Norway will be playing in Division I, Group A, of this year's tournament; the winner of the group will be promoted to the main U20 tournament for 2017 to face perennial powers such as the United States, Canada, Russia, Finland and Sweden.
In past years, Bobcat forwards Nick Jensen (Denmark, 2009), Nikolaj Rosenthal (Denmark, 2011), Filip Starzynski (Poland, 2012 and 2013) and Oskars Batna (Latvia, 2015) have all gone to represent their countries–all in Division I.
Fladeby departed for Norway for the national pre-tournament camp and will return to the Bobcats for their December 30 game at Minot.
The Norwegians will take on Latvia, Germany, Italy, Kazakhstan and the host Austrians for the right to move up for 2017.
Main Man
In advance of the 2016 World Junior Championships' top division tournament–slated to begin the day after Christmas in Helsinki, Finland–Bobcat alumnus Roope Hintz has been invited to Team Finland's final WJC camp that begins Sunday.
Finland's final camp features 27 invitees; the roster will be trimmed to 23 by Christmas.
Hintz, who played with the Cats during the 2012-13 season, also played for Finland at World Juniors in 2015, picking up two assists–including one in the quarterfinals against eventual Bronze Medalist Sweden–as the Finns placed seventh in last year's event.
The 2015 Dallas Stars NHL Draft pick is the only current or former Bobcat to play in the top division at the World Junior Championships.
Here are our Specials
- The Bobcat power play went 6-for-12 on the weekend, including Tobias Fladeby's empty-netter Friday and Jared Pike's crazy pinball goal Saturday.
- On the other side, the Cats' PK surrendered goals on both nights and has now conceded opposing power play goals in eight straight games on the heels of five consecutive games without allowing any on the kill.
- Hunter Shepard picked up his first career assist Saturday, providing the secondary helper on Pike's PPG.
- Patrik Demel notched five points (1g, 4a) on the weekend to surge into the team lead for points for defensemen at 13; Garrett Nelson is in second with eight points.
- The Bobcats pulled off two trades last week: acquiring D Jordan Fralich from the Minnesota Magicians in exchange for G David Fessenden; and getting G Nick DeSimone from the Johnstown Tomahawks for F Luke Picek.
Upcoming Schedule
Coming off a successful weekend in-state, the Bobcats will hit the road to South Dakota for contests against Aberdeen and Brookings
Bobcats at Aberdeen
Friday, 12/11/15, at 7:15pm
Odde Ice Center
Radio: SuperTalk 1270
Web TV: FASTHockey.com
Bobcats at Brookings
Saturday, 12/12/15, at 7:30pm
Larson Ice Center
Radio: SuperTalk 1270
Web TV: FASTHockey.com
Alumni Stats
NCAA Division I
Matt Pohlkamp (2012-13, Bowling Green): 3 A
Stanislav Dzakhov (2012-14, Niagara): 2 A
Evan Giesler (2012-15, Air Force): 1 A
John Furgele (2010-12, New Hampshire): 1 A
Brandon Wildung (2011-12, Mercyhurst): 0-1-0, 41 S, 36 SV
NCAA Division III
Adam Knochenmus (2011-13, UW-Eau Claire): 5 G
Charlie Aus (2010-12, Concordia MN): 1 G, 3 A
Tyler Dunagan (2013-14, St. John's): 2 G, 1A
Huba Sekesi (2013-14, St. John's): 1 G, 2 A
Nate Flynn (2013-14, Augsburg): 1 G, 2 A
Joe Giordano (2012-13, Connecticut Coll.): 3 A
Danny Ray (2010-12, UW-Stout): 1 G, 1 A
Cody Longie (2014-15, Northland): 1 G, 1 A
Corbin Chapman (2012-13, Augsburg): 1 G, 1 A
Patrick Moore (2011-13, UW-Eau Claire): 2 A
Nick Miglio (2010-12, Utica): 1 G
Mike Dockry (2011-13, St. Thomas): 1 G
Rory Vesel (2010-12, Augsburg): 1 G
Mike Fazio (2010-11, UW-River Falls): 1 G
Cullen Willox (2013-15, St. Thomas): 1 A
AHL
Ryan Faragher (2009-11, San Diego): 0-2-0, 63 S, 55 SV
ECHL
Ryan Massa (2009-10, Toronto): 1-1-0, 1 SO, 68 S, 64 SV
Austin Coldwell (2007-08, Quad City): 1 G
Donnie Harris (2007-08, Wichita): 1 G
SPHL
Shawn Skelly (2006-07, Macon): 1 A
Will Aide (2006-09, Huntsville): 1 A
Blake Hietala (2007-08, Louisiana): 1 A
Nick Schneider (2003-05, Huntsville): 1 A
Bobcat TV This Week: