Nelson Rides 95-Save Holiday to Division Star Award
FRISCO, TX – Bismarck Bobcats goaltender Aaron Nelson won all three of his starts and made 95 saves on 98 shots over a busy Thanksgiving holiday to pick up his second Central Division Star of the Week award of the season from the North American Hockey League.
Nelson made four appearances over the Bobcats’ taxing four-games-in-four night stretch: claiming wins in his three starts against Aberdeen and Brookings—including a 3-0 shutout of the Blizzard Saturday—while allowing just one goal in a shootout loss to Minot in relief on Thanksgiving Day.
“I see [Star of the Week] more as a team award, especially this week,” submitted Nelson, who also won the award on October 29, “playing four games in four days, you need everyone on the same page. The defense and the penalty kill all stepped up big and were blocking lots of shots in front of me.”
All told, the penalty kill stymied all 17 opposing power plays while Nelson manned the Bobcat net during the four-game stretch.
Over the course of four nights the Century High graduate made numerous game-changing stops, perhaps none more memorable than two consecutive back-door denials of Brookings forward Jeff McFarland at the 5:59 mark of the third period with the Bobcats clinging to a 2-1 lead on the road.
“Aaron is playing hot right now, so it was hard not to put him back between the pipes for each game,” hailed Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie. “He uses his quickness so well in getting from Point A to Point B and came up with some big saves.”
Nelson wasn’t the only Bobcat with a big week: first-year forward Matt Anders, who entered Wednesday’s game with a lone assist on the season, busted loose for three goals and two assists in four games. For his efforts, Anders was named honorable mention for the divisional Star of the Week honors.
The Bobcats strike out on the road once again Friday as they open a two-game series at Aberdeen with a 7:15 PM showdown at Odde Ice Center against the Wings for Game Three of the 2012-13 Titan Machinery Dakota Cup. The Cats currently lead the Dakota Cup by a count of 4-1 over the Wings.
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 PM.
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.