Cats-Tauros Rivalry Boils over into Playoffs
April 2, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BISMARCK, ND - Separated by 110 miles along US Route 83 and two wins in a fiery season series, the Bismarck Bobcats' rivalry with the Minot Minotauros will blast into prime time Friday as North Dakota's two NAHL franchises will meet for the first time ever in the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
"There has been a strong rivalry with Minot since they came into the league [in 2011-12]," explained Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, who enters his fifth straight postseason as the Cats' bench boss, "but this year it's jumped to another level and that's because of the success that the Tauros have had this year under [third year head coach] Marty Murray."
Fresh off a weekend split of the final two regular season games for each side, the Bobcats will open the Central Division Semifinal series with a 7:35pm tilt at Maysa Arena.
Over the course of the regular season, division-leading scorer Evan Giesler did the most damage for the Cats against Minot; the co-captain lodged five goals and five assists against the Tauros in 11 appearances, also contributing a shootout goal.
Minot's Christian Mohs, who finished second in points on the Tauros, was the top skater in crimson and cream against the Bobcats, piling up 14 points (4g, 10a)-including two shorthanded goals-in the 2014-15 Battle of US-83.
Goaltender Atte Tolvanen was an X-factor in the season series, as well, going 5-1-2 with two shutouts in eight appearances for Minot.
In net for the Cats, Hunter Shepard went 3-2-0 in five season-series starts while Alex Bitsakis bounced back from losses in his first four appearances against the Tauros with a mark of 2-1-0 in his final three bouts with Minot.
Tickets for Saturday's home playoff opener are now on sale: fans can buy and print 24 hours a day online at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
As the curtain rises on the 2015 Robertson Cup Playoffs, live coverage of will start at 7:05pm 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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