Bobcats to Wrap Two Season Series over Busy Weekend
Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (33-17-3, T-1st Central) at Minot Minotauros (32-18-5, T-1st Central); vs Brookings Blizzard (21-27-6, 6th Central)
Games: Thursday, March 24, 7:05pm; Friday, March 25, 7:15pm; Saturday, March 26, 7:15pm
Venues: Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.; VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Season Series: Minotauros lead Bobcats 6-5-0; Bobcats lead Blizzard 7-2-1
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minotauros 36-18-4; Bobcats lead Blizzard 27-13-3
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 6:35pm Thursday; 6:45pm Friday and Saturday
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:35pm Thursday; 6:45pm Friday and Saturday
MINOT, ND – With the end of the regular season drawing ever closer, the Bismarck Bobcats will close out two divisional season series over the course of a three-game weekend: starting Thursday at Maysa Arena against the Minot Minotauros before a pair of home games Friday and Saturday against the Brookings Blizzard.
The Bobcats and Minotauros sit tied atop the Central Division standings with 69 points each, while Brookings comes into the weekend just three points behind the Aberdeen Wings for the division’s fourth and final playoff spot.
With forwards Aaron Herdt (18g, 29a), Alex Strand (23g, 29a) and Harrison Aide (14g, 28a) now all over the 40-point milestone, the Cats have three or more 40-point scorers for the eighth straight season, dating back to the 2008-09 campaign. Willie Brown (19g, 19a), Jared Pike (19g, 18a) and Travis Wood (10g, 25a) all sit within striking distance of 40 points, as well.
At 30-10-2 in 2015-16, Bobcat goalie Hunter Shepard is just the third goalie in team history to earn a 30-win season, joining Tommy Burke (31, 2011-12) and Ryan Faragher (30, 2010-11).
Red-hot play from center Derek Frentz has been a major boost to the Minotauros’ offense of late: the second-year skater has five goals and six assists—comprising the league’s second-longest active scoring streak at nine games—since February 21.
Netminder Gunner Rivers has bounced back from a road loss to the Blizzard on February 23 to win four consecutive starts, matching his season-high from September and October while with Odessa.
No team in the Central is riding higher than Brookings, as the Blizzard were the only team in the division to post two wins last weekend—including a 3-2 home victory over the Bobcats on Saturday—to stay within striking distance of a playoff berth.
Blizzard keeper Josh Kuemichel powered Brookings’ strong weekend, stopping 46 of 49 shots in triumphs over the Bobcats and Austin en route to being named Central Division Star of the Week on Monday.
Tickets are now on sale for Friday and Saturday’s home dates: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com, by clicking “Shop Now” on the team Facebook page or charge-by-phone 9:00am until 5:00pm at 222-3300.
Thursday’s final regular-season installment of the Battle of Highway 83 will be broadcast live locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com—the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League—with pregame coverage starting at 6:35pm.
Now that the Bobcats are in the playoffs, now is the time to reserve your 2016-17 season tickets! All new season ticket buyers will receive Playoff Priority for the Cats’ 2016 Robertson Cup Playoff. Fans can call 222-3300 starting later this week to reserve their seats and get Playoff Priority.