Bobcats Rout Tauros in Preseason Opener
Published on September 9, 2011 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BISMARCK, ND - The Bismarck Bobcats scored four goals inthe first 25 minutes of the game and never looked back, blazing to an 11-3laugher over the expansion Minot Minotauros in each team's preseason debutFriday at the VFW Sports Center.
"We were all very excited to be back out there andplaying, and a lot of us picked right up where we left off," said Bobcatsforward Frank DeAugustine, who tallied a goal and three assists in the victory.My line with Dan [Zawacki] and Tyler [Richter] has a lot of chemistry from lastyear so we were able to click right away."
DeAugustine and Richter each picked up a fast assist asblueliner Charlie Aus opened the scoring by stinging home a Richter reboundjust 4:27 into the game to put the home side out to a fast 1-0 lead.
John Furgele doubled the lead to 2-0 with 2:23 to go inthe first, getting free on a 4-on-4 and converting a perfect back-door feedfrom DeAugustine.
The Bobcats claimed control quickly in the second,getting goals in the first five minutes of the middle frame from Zawacki andGrant Mindt to push the lead to a comfortable 4-0.
Minot responded to Mindt's strike with their first scoreas former Minot High star Jadin Martin beamed a rising slap shot that deflectedoff a Bobcat defender and in, cutting the Cats' cushion to 4-1.
Martin's tally would be the only one allowed by startingnetminder Tommy Burke, who shut down 11 of 12 shots he faced in 31:36 of workFriday.
"I liked the way the D was working in front of me,"commented Burke, who stands poised to seize the reins as the Bobcats' next topgoalie, "any time there were rebounds the defense cleared them and they gave mea nice look at almost every first shot."
Minutes later Aus notched his second of the night, thistime off a Ryan Callahan rebound to reinstate a four-goal lead for the Bocbatsat 5-1.
After the game, Aus- who did not score a goal in the2010-11 campaign- had a simple explanation for his new-found offensive flair.
"I owe it all to the number change," joked the defenderfrom Lino Lakes, Minn., who switched from number 20 to 7 in the offseason, "luckynumber seven! Seriously, though, guys were taking smart shots that createdrebounds and I was fortunate that a couple were long rebounds that came to me."
The Bobcat blitz continued as rookie Shane Omdahl andveteran Nikolaj Rosenthal added late-period scores to extend the advantage to7-1 after two periods.
Minot tried to climb back into the game early in thethird with Kelvin Walz and Kyle Bonstrom potting quick goals to slice it backto a 7-3 game, but the Minotauros would get no closer.
DeAugustine, Omdahl, Donald Olivieri and Rosenthalbrought the house down with consecutive goals to give the Bobcats the final11-3 margin, the most lopsided home win since Game One of the 2010 CentralDivision Finals when the Bobcats beat Alexandria 9-2.
The two teams will reconvene for the preseason finaleSaturday at 7:15 PM at the VFW Sports Center before each squad heads to Blaine,Minn., for their respective season openers at the 2011 Combat Hockey NAHLShowcase.
Saturday's contest will be broadcast locally on the radiohome of Bobcat Hockey Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at http://nahl.fasthockey.com. Pre-gamecoverage begins at 6:45 PM.
Season tickets are nowon sale for the 2011-12 season- and going fast! Call the Bobcat Hockey office at (701) 222-3300 or emailgobobcathockey@aol.com for more information on reserving your seats for the upcomingseason!
North American Hockey League Stories from September 9, 2011
- Bobcats Rout Tauros in Preseason Opener - Bismarck Bobcats
- NAHL Launches Redesigned Website at NAHL.com - NAHL
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- Monsters to Hold National Anthem Auditions this Sunday at Sierra Vista Mall - Fresno Monsters
- Stars Drop Preseason Finale, 5-2 - Traverse City North Stars
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