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September 26, 2006 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release

Bobcats find ways to win

Bismarck opens home slate with victories

Bismarck Bobcats coach Dane Litke will be the first to tell you his team's pair of wins over the Alaska Avalanche last weekend weren't works of art, but they translated into four points in the standings nonetheless.

"I thought we got pretty lucky both nights, actually," said Litke, whose team upped its record to 5-1 on the season, "but it was nice to get those two big wins at home."

On Friday, the Bobcats held a 2-0 lead on goals by Tom Menozzi and Willie Beetham heading into the third period before Alaska tied it up. Gerritt Hooker's tally in the seventh round of the shootout finally gave Bismarck the win.

The next night, Tyler Romasco's power-play marker with 11 second left in regulation broke a 3-3 tie to give the Bobcats a 4-3 triumph. Ross Janecyk added a goal and two assists in the win, including one on Romasco's game-winner.

"We're finding ways to win right now. We have to get the guys playing hard for 60 minutes and I think we'll be fine," said Litke. "And I don't want to take anything away from Alaska; they're a great team and both games could have gone either way."

Lidke has been very impressed with his goaltending tandem of Tim Krystosek and Clark Oliver. Krystosek stopped 31 shots in Friday's win, while Oliver made 28 saves on Saturday.

"They've been good since the Showcase," Litke said of his keepers. "They've been our backbone and without those two guys we don't win those games. They've been great and hopefully they can keep it going."

Janecyk and Hooker are establishing themselves on the offensive side of the puck for Bismarck, but Litke is waiting for others to step up.

"If we can get a couple of other guys going, I think we'll be heading in the right direction," said the coach.

Litke is hoping his team's winning ways carry over into this weekend, when the NAHL's other Alaskan entry, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, visit North Dakota's capital.

"Let's hope we can keep it going against a good Fairbanks team," said Litke.

Pietila, Hunwick named Sherwood Players of the Week

Traverse City North Stars forward Aaron Pietila and Alpena IceDiggers goaltender Shawn Hunwick were named the Sherwood/NAHL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for the week ending September 24.

Pietila, from Brighton, Mich., struck for two goals and two assists in the North Stars' 5-1 triumph over the U.S. Under-17 Team on Saturday. One of those assists came on Kory Kaunisto's game-winning goal. On the season, the 18-year-old has three goals for five points after six games.

"He did it all," said North Stars coach Scott Gardiner. "Scored goals, assisted on others, blocked shots - a real gritty performance."

Hunwick, a Sterling Heights, Mich., native, backstopped the IceDiggers to two wins last week, allowing only three goals against on 58 shots. He also turned aside a penalty shot in Alpena's 2-1 win over Marquette on Friday. In six appearances this season, the 19-year-old holds a 4-1 record to compliment a 2.98 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.

"Shawn was the major reason we were able to win both games this weekend," said IceDiggers coach Kenny Miller. "Like he's done so far this season, he gave us a chance to win and that's all you can ask from your goalkeeper. I fully expect him to play like that night in and night out."

LAST WEEK'S SCORES/HIGHLIGHTS

Thursday, September 21
Fairbanks 1 @ Alexandria 2 (ALX: Borre, GWG)

Friday, September 22
Alaska 2 @ Bismarck 3 (SO) (BIS: Hooker, G, SOG)
Texas 2 @ Santa Fe 3 (SO) (SF: Kinney-Kamrass, G, SOG)
St. Louis 2 @ Wichita Falls 3 (OT) (WF: Nealon, OTGWG, A)
USNTDP 5 @ Traverse City 4 (SO) (USA: Kristo, G, A)

Saturday, September 23
Alpena 3 @ Marquette 2 (ALP: Barron, GWG)
St. Louis 2 @ Wichita Falls 1 (STL: Rauch, GWG, A)
Alaska 3 @ Bismarck 4 (BIS: Janycyk: G, 2A)
Texas 2 @ Santa Fe 1 (TEX: Bullis, G, GWG)
USNTDP 1 @ Traverse City 5 (TC: Pietila, 2G, 2A)

Sunday, September 24
Fairbanks 8 @ Alexandria 2 (FAI: McRae, 2G, A)

AROUND THE NAHL

GONE CAMPING: Tornado goaltender Thomas Tragust, who played for the Italian National Team at last winter's IIHF World Championships, missed the NAHL Showcase to attend Buffalo Sabres training camp. Tragust signed with Buffalo this past summer as a free agent.

AC COOLING OFF OPPONENTS: Wichita Falls was expecting big things out of second-year forward Adam Cardwell coming into the season, and with four goals (eight points) in six games, the 19-year-old hasn't disappointed. "He's already scored big goals for us and is a tireless worker, on and off the ice," said Wildcats coach Brian Meisner. "He is - and will be - a big part of any success we have as a team."

HOMETOWN HERO: Already averaging a point a game (six), forward John Bullis, a Frisco, Texas, native, scored both goals in Texas' 2-1 win over Santa Fe on Saturday. "John is learning to be a dominant player in this league," said Tornado coach Tony Curtale of the 19-year-old. "For a rookie to be this far along is very impressive."

SAVING THE DAY: Despite two losses to Alpena over the weekend, Stephen Ritter continues to shine between Marquette's pipes. The Tenafly, N.J., native turned aside 73 of 78 shots last weekend, good for a .936 save percentage. "Stephen gave us a chance to win both nights," said Rangers coach Leigh Mendelson.

HATS OFF: Pittsburgh native Matt Quigley, 18, rang up a hat trick in Mahoning Valley's 6-4 loss to the U.S. Under-18 Team on Friday. It was the second-year forward's first three goals of the season.

GOAL-GETTER: Alaska's Jesse Bryant notched three goals and an assist as the Avalanche dropped a pair in Bismarck. The 20-year-old from Anchorage is averaging a point a game (six).

LET'S MAKE A DEAL: Santa Fe traded forward Bryan Beaman, a Kansas City native, to Bismarck for a tender. Beaman recorded an assist in two games with the RoadRunners.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Thursday, September 28
Alaska @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
Fairbanks @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm

Friday, September 29
Alaska @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:35 pm
North Iowa @ Springfield, 7:30 pm
Texas @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Fairbanks @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Wichita Falls @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm
Traverse City @ Alpena, 7:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm

Saturday, September 30
Texas @ St. Louis, 7:30 pm
Fairbanks @ Bismarck, 7:05 pm
Alaska @ Fargo-Moorhead, 7:05 pm
Wichita Falls @ Santa Fe, 7:05 pm
Alexandria @ Southern Minnesota, 7:05 pm
Alpena @ Traverse City, 7:00 pm
Mahoning Valley @ USNTDP, 7:00 pm
Springfield @ North Iowa, 7:05 pm

Check out the North American Hockey League Statistics

North American Hockey League Stories from September 26, 2006

Express Drop Final Tuneup Game 4-3 - Owatonna Express
U.S. National Under-18 Team Travels To Alaska To Commence NCAA Portion of 2006-07 Schedule - U.S. National Team
Stars' Pietila wins NAHL honor - Traverse City North Stars
NAHL weekly - NAHL
Hunwick named Sherwood/NAHL Defensive Player of the Week - Alpena IceDiggers
Jets Weekly - Fargo-Moorhead Jets

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