Bobcat Weekend Preview: Cats Dive into Divisional Trio
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (20-16-1, 3rd Central) vs. Minot Minotauros (24-8-4, 1st Central); Brookings Blizzard (11-17-6, 4th Central)
Games: Thursday, January 15, 7:05pm; Friday, January 16, 7:15pm; Saturday, January 17, 7:15pm
Place: Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.; VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.; Larson Ice Center, Brookings, S.D.
This Year: Minotauros lead Bobcats 5-1-1; Bobcats lead Blizzard 6-2-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minotauros 28-11-4; Bobcats lead Blizzard 19-9-2
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:40pm Thursday; 6:45pm Friday and Saturday
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:40pm Thursday; 6:45pm Friday and Saturday
MINOT, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats' fast start to 2015 will be put to the test in three different locales this weekend as the Cats play a rare Thursday road game against the Minot Minotauros before a home-and-home series Friday and Saturday against the Brookings Blizzard.
Thursday's intrastate throwdown in the Magic City pits the hottest teams in the Central Division against each other as the rejuvenated Cats–11-4-0 since being humbled 7-0 at home by Minot on November 21–battle the soaring Tauros, who have gone 9-0-1 since the Bobcats took a 4-1 decision at Maysa Arena December 6.
While recently committed winger Blake Lizotte (St. Cloud State) leads the Tauros and is ninth in the NAHL in scoring (10g, 29a), his linemate Christian Mohs has done the most damage against the Bobcats with four goals–two shorthanded–and nine assists in seven meetings.
Though the Bobcats are just 2-5-0 against Minot this season, first-year goaltender Hunter Shepard is 2-1-0 against the frontrunning Minotauros. After starting the season with one win in nine appearances, Shepard kickstarted a personal run of six wins in eight starts with a 5-4 shootout victory at Minot on November 21.
Following their day-trip up Route 83, the Cats return to the VFW Sports Center Friday to open another weekend home-and-home with the Blizzard before heading back to South Dakota to wrap the weekend on Saturday.
Forward-turned-defenseman Zach Glienke has the hot hand for the Blizzard, posting two goals and an assist last weekend against the Bobcats; the Eagan, Minn., native has five points (4g, 1a) in his last five games.
Veteran center J.M. Piotrowski continued his 2015 surge against the Blizzard, earning Central Division Star of the Week with both game-winning goals as the Cats swept the weekend from Brookings, contributing three tallies total.
Tickets are on sale right now for Friday's home date: fans can buy and print their tickets online 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Thursday’s road showdown in Minot will begin at 6:40pm 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.
Though the 2014-15 season is over half way through, there is still time to order season tickets for the year; fans who want to lock in their seats for the remainder of the campaign should call the Bobcat office at 222-3300 today!