Shepard Gains Division Hardware Following Perfect Week
FRISCO, TX – Bismarck Bobcats goalie Hunter Shepard kept a clean net over the course of two games to close 2015 and open 2016 and, as a result, picked up Central Division Star of the Week honors, the North American Hockey League announced Monday.
In consecutive starts Thursday and Saturday, Shepard collected shutouts over the Minot Minotauros and Brookings Blizzard, respectively.
It is the first instance of back-to-back shutouts for a Bobcat netminder since Ryan Faragher pulled the feat off against Alexandria and Albert Lea in October 2009.
“Through half the season, Hunter has been our best player and a huge reason we've stayed right in the divisional race,” hailed Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team pulled into a tie for first place with their three-win week. “This past weekend ‘Shep’ made some big saves in big spots on grade-A scoring opportunities to give us a chance to win Thursday and Saturday.”
Monday marked the second time in the last three award periods that the Cohasset, Minn., native has claimed the top weekly divisional nod—also taking it on December 14.
Other Bobcats to be named Central Division Star of the Week this season include: Harrison Aide, Patrik Demel, Nick Alexander and Willie Brown.
Also making the Central Division’s weekly honor roll was center Alex Strand—earning honorable mention—whose two goals and three assists in three appearances vaulted him into a tie for the team scoring lead at 27 points (14g, 13a).
The Bobcats continue a very busy January with a home-and-home series against the Minotauros, starting with a 7:35pm road bout at Maysa Arena.
Friday’s chapter in 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 7:00pm.
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.