Bobcats Continue Busy January at Home against Brookings
Matchup: Bismarck Bobcats (16-19-1) vs Brookings Blizzard (18-13-3)
Games: Friday, January 20, 7:15pm; Saturday, January 21, 7:15pm
Venue: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
Season Series: Bobcats lead Blizzard 2-1-0
All-Time: Bobcats lead Blizzard 30-14-4
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, SuperTalk1270.com and the radioPup smartphone app, 6:45pm both nights
Internet TV: http://www.HockeyTV.com, 6:45pm both nights
BISMARCK, ND – Winners of three of their last four games, the Bismarck Bobcats are preparing to open up a two-game home weekend with major divisional implications starting Friday at the VFW Sports Center as the third-place Brookings Blizzard come to town.
Coming into Friday, the Cats (16-19-1, 33 pts) sit three points behind fourth-place Austin (16-16-4, 36 pts) in the Central Division playoff picture but just seven points back of second-place Minnesota (18-4-4, 40 pts) in the crowded January standings.
So far, the Bobcats and Brookings have only met three times: the Cats took the first two contests by one goal each before the Blizzard exacted revenge in a 6-1 blowout at Larson Ice Center on December 3.
“Brookings is a good team with lots of young talent and we know we can’t let them get their transition game going,” assessed Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team has not seen the Blizzard at home since October 22. “Paul Cotter’s line has been really good for [Brookings] lately and we know they can put up a lot of points in a hurry.”
Cotter (16g, 20a) and linemate Cade Borchardt (18g, 18a) sit in a four-way tie for the Central Division scoring lead with 36 points each. Goalkeeper Josh Boyko has seen the lion’s share of time in net for Brookings with 28 appearances and a 15-9-3 record to go with a 2.92 GAA.
Bobcat winger Tobias Fladeby is among those tied with Cotter and Borchardt for the Central’s top scoring mark, totaling 36 points on 16 goals and 20 assists.
In net, the Cats are currently anchored by the tandem of newcomer Severi Isokangas (2-1-0) and first-year goalie Camden Haugenoe (5-7-0) while opening day starter Will Ulrich remains out with an ankle injury.
“Severi played very well against Minot last weekend, so our plan is to go with him on Friday and then see where we stand,” surveyed Sedevie.
Tickets are now on sale for both nights of the weekend’s critical divisional matchup: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Friday’s inter-Dakota dustup 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.