Well-Protected

BISMARCK, ND – Striving to reload after a record-setting 2011-12 season the Bismarck Bobcats have unveiled their 30-man protected list for the 2012-13 season, comprising returning veterans, draft picks and players who signed pre-draft tender agreements.

Having lost 12 players to USA Hockey Junior ‘A’ age restrictions—including the Cats’ three top scorers and a 31-win goaltender—Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie had his work cut out for him to put together the team’s list in anticipation of July’s Main Tryout Camp.

“When you look at the guys we have on our protected list and the players we have invited to Main Camp, it will probably make my job a lot tougher in July,” assessed Sedevie, who is entering his third season at the helm of Bobcat Hockey, “because by the end of camp, I’m going to have to cut some really good players.”

The protected list prevents a team’s veterans and prospects from being invited to tryouts or otherwise picked up by other teams in the NAHL.

By the numbers, the Bobcats’ 2012-13 protected list contains 11 veterans, 10 draft picks and nine tendered players.

Returners from the 2011-12 Central Division champion squad include forwards Adam Knochenmus, Shane Omdahl, Patrick Moore, Ryan Callahan, Filip Starzynski and Ryan Callahan; defensemen Jeremy O’Keefe, Dan Kovar, Rory Vesel and John Furgele and goaltender Aaron Nelson.

Any player on the Bobcats’ final 2011-12 roster born on or after January 1, 1992, is eligible to be placed on the protected list.

Below is a full run-down of the Bobcats’ 30-man protected list:

Though Turbitt played 20 games for the Bobcats in 2011-12, he was not on the final roster so Sedevie used one of his nine tenders on the 6’1” forward to retain his services for the upcoming season.

Other notable tender signees include Nies, who anchored Red River’s undefeated regular season in North Dakota high school play and Wolfe, who is committed to the University of Maine (Hockey East).

Wolfe, Repensky, May and Steman have all played in the historic Minnesota High School Hockey State Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center. Repensky’s Duluth East Greyhounds played in the 2011 championship game.

Chapman, Burnsville’s top scorer in 2011-12 with 51 points on 22 goals and 29 assists, was a high school teammate of Bobcat veteran forward Mike Dockry.

Anders led the Roughriders in scoring with 15 goals and 23 assists in 40 games.

Hingtgen, a Williston native, is the youngest player on the protected list as a 1995 birth year. Monday is his 17^th birthday.

The 30 players on the protected list will join invitees from the Bobcats’ two pre-draft tryout camps at the Main Tryout Camp, scheduled for July 27-29 at the VFW Sports Center. Sedevie and the Bobcats’ front office will then select a Preseason Training Camp roster from the Main Camp hopefuls.

Season tickets for the 2012-13 season are now on sale—and going fast! Call the box office at (701) 222-3300 to reserve your seats and be a part of another Bobcat Hockey run for the title today!