Bobcat Playoff Berth Extends Franchise Record
Published on March 23, 2015 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BISMARCK, ND - With the Central Division's Robertson Cup Playoff picture now set, the Bismarck Bobcats are preparing for their seventh straight postseason.
It extends the Bobcats' franchise record for consecutive playoff bids further past the old record of five, set between 2000 and 2004.
The seven-year run began in 2008-09 when the Cats, led then by Byron Pool- named NAHL Coach of the Year that season- won the team's first regular season and divisional titles in their NAHL era and set franchise records for wins (43) and points (88).
Pool's successor, current head coach Layne Sedevie, has presided over five of the seven playoff campaigns.
In that seven-year span, the Bobcats have won three Central Division regular season crowns, five Central Cups and one Robertson Cup; they have also occupied every seed, one through four, in the Central Division Playoffs.
The Bobcats currently enjoy the third-longest active streak of NAHL playoff appearances behind Fairbanks (11) and Topeka/Santa Fe (9).
To open the 2015 playoffs, the Bobcats will face the archrival Minot Minotauros in the Central Division Semifinals.
With Honors
Thanks to strong performances to help the Bobcats snag three of four possible points on the road against the Minnesota Wilderness, goalie Hunter Shepard and winger Cullen Willox earned honorable mention Monday for the Central Division Star of the Week award.
Shepard made one appearance in Cloquet, Minn., securing the win in net Saturday; turning aside 39 of 41 shots to give the Cats the season series win over the Wilderness by a margin of 5-2-1. In three starts at Northwoods Credit Union Arena this season, Shepard posted a record of 3-0-0 behind 103 stops.
Up front, Willox propelled a surging Bobcat power play with goals on the man advantage both Friday and Saturday; he also added an assist on Tanner Salsberry's power play tally Friday.
Coming Up
The Bobcats will close out the 2014-15 season with a playoff preview as they host the Minotauros for a pair of contests at the VFW Sports Center.
Tickets are on sale now for the hottest rivalry in the Central Division: fans can buy and print tickets for Friday and Saturday 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Friday's intrastate throwdown will begin at 6:45pm 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.
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