Rule of Threes

Jan 11, 2017

Subway ND Cup Continues with Three-in-Three Clash

Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (14-18-1) vs Minot Minotauros (21-9-3)
Games: Thursday, January 12, 7:15pm; Friday, January 13, 7:15pm; Saturday, January 14, 5:00pm
Venues: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.; Maysa Arena, Minot, N.D.
Season Series: Minotauros lead Bobcats 4-2-1
All-Time: Bobcats lead Minotauros 39-23-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 6:45pm Thursday and Friday; 4:30pm Saturday
Internet TV: http://www.HockeyTV.com, 6:45pm Thursday and Friday; 4:30pm Saturday

BISMARCK, ND – Hoping to harness the momentum of a come-from-behind win five days prior, the Bismarck Bobcats will embark on a three-games-in-three-nights series against the Minot Minotauros in the Subway North Dakota Cup starting Thursday at the VFW Sports Center.

It is the second such three-in-three series the two North Dakota NAHL entries will stage in the last three weeks. Minot took all three matchups between December 29 and 31.

“With new players on the roster and coming together and getting practices under our belts, we feel like we’re a different team than we were even two weeks ago,” stated rookie center Matt Barry, the Cats’ third-leading scorer with 10 goals and 16 assists. “We’ve watched the film and are learning from our mistakes [in late December]; we’re ready to have a better showing this week.”

A major highlight for the Bobcats amid a 1-1-0 weekend to open 2017 was their power play, which posted a 66.7% efficiency in divisional games against Aberdeen and Minnesota with four goals in six chances—including the tying and winning goals Saturday against the Wilderness.

“Right now, we have two units that are rolling and looking sharp—that’s been a big lift to our offense,” noted Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team boasts the league’s second-best power play rate at 25.2%. “The big difference-maker from when our ‘PP’ was struggling last month is that each unit has a different approach, which makes it harder for opponents to make quick adjustments.”

Newcomer Mitch Walinski paced the power play against the Wings and Wilderness with two special teams goals last weekend while Tristan Ashbrook added three extra-man assists on the weekend.

Goalie Camden Haugenoe sits at 5-7-0 on the season, with a 3.39 GAA and a .891 SV%.

Minot continues to be led in scoring by the dynamic rookie dual threat of Alex Adams (15g, 15a) and Reid Stefanson (14g, 16a) along with second-year center Tyler Jeanson (10g, 20a). Netminder Lucas Murray has won his last three starts against the Bobcats and has improved his GAA to 2.75 on the season.

Tickets for Thursday and Friday’s home games are now on sale: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.

Thursday’s weekend opener in the Subway North Dakota Cup will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270 AM, and worldwide on HockeyTV.com–the web television partner of the North American Hockey League–with pregame coverage starting at 6:45pm.

Pro-rated season tickets are now on sale for the Bobcats’ landmark platinum anniversary campaign fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of Season Twenty now by calling 222-3300.