Strand’s Clutch Goals Earn Star of the Week Nod
FRISCO, TX – Thanks to game-winning goals on consecutive nights to help the Bismarck Bobcats to a two-game road sweep of the Minnesota Magicians, the North American Hockey League named center Alex Strand the Central Division’s Star of the Week on Monday.
Strand scored twice on the power play Friday and then tallied in overtime Saturday to keep the Bobcats in a first-place tie in the Central.
“At this time of the year, you need your big-time players to make big-time plays and Alex stepped up and did that for us this weekend,” lauded Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team is deadlocked with Minot atop the division. “He had a strong showing at [the NAHL] Top Prospects [Tournament] last week and kept it going both nights [against the Magicians] with some very important goals.”
The third-year Bobcat chipped in two assists to help Team Central go 2-0-0 at Top Prospects, their third straight undefeated run at the league’s annual all-star summit.
With seven points (4g, 3a) in his last three games, the Roseau, Minn., native has moved into second in scoring for the Bobcats with 44 points—trailing fellow Minnesotan Aaron Herdt’s 44. Strand is also currently the league leader in shooting percentage at .265 with 22 goals on 83 shots.
Strand’s honor marks the eighth time this season a Bobcat has secured the league’s weekly hardware, joining goalie Hunter Shepard (twice), defenseman Patrik Demel and forwards Willie Brown (twice), Harrison Aide and Nick Alexander.
Earning honorable mention for this iteration of the division’s Star of the Week award was Shepard, who helped his own 2-0-0 week with an assist on Strand’s Friday game-winner.
Looking to maintain their share of the division lead, the Bobcats will open a two-game home series against the surging Aberdeen Wings with a 7:15pm duel Friday at the VFW Sports Center.
Tickets are now on sale for Friday’s home contest: fans can buy and print tickets online 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com, by clicking “Shop Now” on the team Facebook page or charge-by-phone at 222-3300.
Friday’s edition of the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup 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 6:45pm.
Season tickets are still on sale for the 2015-16 season at a pro-rated price; if you want to beat the rush of over 40,000 fans for this year, now is the time! Call 222-3300 to reserve your seats today.