Bobcats Return to Action with Minot Three-in-Three
Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (13-14-1) vs Minot Minotauros (18-8-3)
Games: Thursday, December 29, 7:05pm; Friday, December 30, 7:35pm; Saturday, December 31, 7:15pm
Venues: Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.; VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Season Series: Bobcats lead Minotauros 3-1-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minotauros 39-20-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 6:35pm Thursday; 7:05pm; 6:45pm Saturday
Internet TV: http://www.HockeyTV.com, 6:35pm Thursday; 7:05pm; 6:45pm Saturday
MINOT, ND – Hoping to build off the momentum of two big wins before Christmas, the Bismarck Bobcats return from the holiday break with three games in three nights against the archrival Minot Minotauros starting Thursday at Maysa Arena.
Both Thursday and Friday’s games will be in Minot, with the scene shifting to the VFW Sports Center on Saturday with the Bobcats’ annual New Year’s Eve party.
“Getting four points from Austin before the break is something we could end up looking back at and seeing as a turning point,” surmised Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie. “Coming into Thursday, we’re 12 points behind Minot but six of our next eight games are against them; we’ve given ourselves a chance to get right back into not only the playoff race, but the division race.”
With the state of North Dakota still digging out from a major blizzard that hit on Christmas Day, both the Bobcats and Minotauros are playing catch-up on practice time heading into the weekend.
“I was talking to [Minot head coach] Marty Murray earlier, and he told me that they are having the same problem we are: players are having trouble getting back into town because of the storm,” explained Sedevie. “We practiced with the 15 or so guys who were here on Wednesday, and we’ll have a short practice on [Thursday] but everyone will still probably be contending with some rust for Thursday’s game.”
Rookie duo Alex Adams (14g, 14a) and Reid Stefanson (13g, 14a) have combined for 55 points near the halfway mark to lead the division-leading Minotauros in scoring. Netminder Lucas Murray has received the bulk of the Minotauros’ minutes in net, posting a 12-5-2 record in 20 appearances with a 2.97 GAA and a .898 SV%.
Second-year winger Tobias Fladeby continues to sit atop the scoring table not only for the Bobcats but the Central Division at large with 31 points on 14 goals and 17 assists through 28 contests. Goalie Camden Haugenoe—pressed into service due to Will Ulrich’s leg injury—is 2-1-0 in his last three starts with a 2.00 GAA in that span.
Tickets are now on sale for Saturday’s New Year’s Eve bash: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge-by-phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Thursday’s installment of the Subway North Dakota Cup will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com–the web television partner of the North American Hockey League–with pregame coverage starting at 6:35pm.
Pro-rated season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats’ landmark platinum anniversary campaign fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.