FRISCO, TX – Following a five-point weekend against the Alexandria Blizzard and North Iowa Outlaws, Bismarck Bobcats forward Ryan Jacobson was named the Sherwood NAHL Central Division Player of the Week Monday.
Jacobson tallied three goals and added two assists to go with a plus-four rating as the Bobcats swept a three-game weekend from the visiting Blizzard and Outlaws to improve their lead in the Central Division standings over second-place Owatonna to a season-high 11 points.
“Ryan had his best weekend as a Bobcat,” said Bobcats head coach Byron Pool. “He regularly contributes on the scoreboard, but his all around-play was phenomenal. He was physical, great in his own end, he looked after the puck and he distributed it nicely.”
Jacobson is currently the second-leading goal-scorer in the NAHL with 19 tallies and credits the steady play of his line, where he joins Dominic Panetta and Tim Serratore, for his aiding his scoring touch of late.
“It took us a week or two to get going after Coach put me and Dom and Timmy together,” said Jacobson, “but now things are clicking and our line is playing really well together.”
After a hot start, scoring 11 goals in his first sixteen games, the Denver, Colo., native leveled off with a two goal, one assist showing in November before being combined with Panetta and Serratore. Since the line was put together, Jacobson has six goals and four assists.
Jacobson says that assembling his line isn’t the only positive boost the Bobcat coaching staff has given him.
“A while back, Coach Pool and Coach Sedevie really challenged me to become a more complete player,” noted Jacobson. “So I’ve been working on my physical game, defensive responsibility and getting involved in the passing game, and that has definitely paid off.”
Joining Jacobson on the league’s weekly honor roll was Panetta who, along with Bobcats defenseman Sam Rendle, was named honorable mention for Central Division Player of the Week. Bobcat netminder Ryan Faragher was also honorable mention for NAHL Goalie of the Week.
The ‘Cats have now won five of the last seven Central Division Player of the Week awards, with wins by Jacobson, Panetta, Rendle, Nick Jensen and Sean McKenzie since November 16th.
The Bobcats return to action on Friday when the second-place Owatonna Express pay a visit to the VFW Sports Center for a 7:15 PM puck-drop in a showdown of the top two teams in the Central Division.
The game will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at BismarckBobcats.com via B2 Networks. The pre-game show starts each night at 6:45 PM.
You won\’t want to miss any of the games this season, so order your Season Tickets, Family Packs and Group Nights today by calling the Bobcat Hockey Office at 701-222-3300 or by e-mailing the office for more information at gobobcathockey@aol.com.
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