Home Stand Rolls Along as Bobcats Host Champion Wilderness
February 4, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Bismarck Bobcats News Release
BISMARCK, ND - A marquee weekend matchup awaits as two of the hottest teams in the NAHL will clash for a two-game series when the Bismarck Bobcats face the defending Robertson Cup champion Minnesota Wilderness Friday and Saturday at the VFW Sports Center.
It will be the second time this season that the Bobcats and Wilderness will play a two-game series: the two sides split a low-scoring set over Halloween weekend 2015.
"We know that coming into the weekend, we're going to see an elite team," noted Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, whose team went 2-2-0 at home against the Wilderness a season ago. "You look at their numbers against the rest of the league, and they speak for themselves: third in defense (2.41 GPG); sixth in offense (3.27 GPG); first on the power play (24.5%); fourth in penalty killing (86.4%). All that in a strong division; we know we need to bring our 'A' game this weekend."
Former Bobcat forward Alex Toscano paced the Wilderness offense to a 7-2-0 month of January, contributing three goals and six assists for a point-per-game average that propelled the third-year winger into third on the team in scoring with 24 total points (10g, 14a).
Netminder Luke Kania, who spent the end of the 2014-15 campaign with the Aberdeen Wings, submitted a flawless opening month of 2016 for Minnesota, going 6-0-0 with a 2.61 GAA and a .901 SV%.
Forwards Aaron Herdt (4g, 9a), Travis Wood (4g, 7a), Willie Brown (5g, 4a) and Harrison Aide (3g, 6a) all averaged a point per game or better in the Cats' last nine games, with Herdt earning runner-up for the league's Forward of the Month award for his efforts.
In net, Hunter Shepard picked NAHL Goalie of the Month honors Monday after an 8-0-0 January with a 1.97 GAA and .929 SV%. In his last 18 starts, the Cohasset, Minn., native is 15-1-0.
Tickets are now on sale for Friday's interdivision clash: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com, by clicking "Shop Now" on the team Facebook page or by calling 222-3300.
Friday's matchup 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 6:45pm.
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.
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