Bismarck Bobcat Goaltender Bryce Francisco has had quite the start to his NAHL career. In 7 appearances Francisco has recorded a 4-1-1 record with a 2.36 GAA and an .899 save percentage. However, looking at how his NAHL career started, is quite the unique story.
Looking back at Francisco’s senior season at Hermantown High School they entered the Section 7A Playoffs on February 17th with a 14-0 win over North Shore in the Quarterfinals. That saw the Hawks advance to the Semifinal game against Cloquet/Esko/Carlton on February 21st. Unfortunately for Hermantown, they would fall in that game 4-1, ending their high school season. Fast forward just 6 days later to the 27th and Francisco is making his NAHL debut against the Minnesota Mallards. “Well, I thought I was going to get to relax a little bit after the season ended. Then I got a call that I could play a game that weekend against the Mallards. So then I figured I’d come practice a little bit then play. I didn’t know if I was staying or not, so I was just focused day by day and I wound up staying here and then I had to make the trek back to Minnesota to go to the award banquet.” Francisco said. Bryce would stop 30/32 in his debut and earn the win in his first NAHL start.
Francisco would go on to win the Frank Brimsek Award as the top Minnesota High School goaltender. Past award winners include former Bismarck Bobcat netminder and current Ottawa Senators goaltender, Hunter Shepard, along with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon. There’s no doubt that Francisco has a bright future ahead of him. As a 2008 birth year, he still has 3 more years of junior hockey eligibility remaining after this season.
You can catch Francisco and the rest of the Bobcats at home next weekend as they take on the Minot Minotauros in the final weekend of the regular season! Tickets are available by heading over to tickets.bismarckbobcats.com