Bobcats Set Franchise Win Record with Pair of 4-1 Victories over Minot
The Bismarck Bobcats ended the 2024-25 regular season with a home and home series against the rival Minot Minotauros.
Friday night was in Minot and from the get-go the Bobcats took control of the game as the Bobcats outshot Minot 14-3 in the 1st period. The Bobcats opened the scoring late in the 1st as Keanu Krenn deflected a puck that hopped high off the bar and off the back of Minot goaltender Lukas Swedin to make it 1-0. Bismarck would extend the lead just 51 seconds later on a 2nd chance opportunity. Kyle Doll worked his way toward the front of the net and fired it home, glove side to make it 2-0. The Bobcats would take the 2-0 advantage into the 2nd period.
Minot would begin to generate some chances in the 2nd, but the Bobcats continued to press on. Following a board battle behind the net, Zane Rowan picked up the loose puck and fired it home to extend the Bobcat lead to 3. Later in the period, Louie Kamienski pushed forward on a 2 on 1 with Tommy Cronin and executed a perfect give-and-go as Kamienski tapped it home into the empty net to make it 4-0. Minot would respond and get a goal of their own, but Bismarck entered the 3rd period with a 4-1 lead.
The Bobcats would tighten the bolts in the 3rd period and shut down Minot and hang on for the 4-1 victory. Defensemen Royce Pietila and Patch Cronin made their NAHL debuts on Friday and looked mightily impressive out on the ice.
Kai Weigel stopped 25/26 that came his way and notched his 9th win of the season.
Moving ahead to Saturday’s game, it was a similar beginning to the game as the Bobcats would open the scoring late in the period. Sasha Kim crashed the net and popped the rebound into the back of the net, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Under 3 minutes later, Tommy Cronin with an incredible individual effort found his way to the deep slot and fired home a howitzer bar-down to extend the Bobcat lead to 2-0. Similarly to Friday night, the Bobcats came out of the 1st with a 2-0 lead.
Midway through the 2nd period, in the middle of a Bobcat power play, the Tauros would strike shorthanded as Mackley Morelli, the Minot High standout, notched his first career NAHL goal on the breakaway. The Bobcats had a quick response, nonetheless, as Evan Hunter went to the front of the net and deflected the puck into the back of the net as he was being knocked down in the crease to restore the two-goal lead. At the end of the 2nd period, the Bobcats led 3-1, and were outshooting the Tauros 22-16.
Minot pressured extremely hard in the 3rd period, but Tomas Anderson was able to stand tall and make some key saves down the stretch to maintain the lead. The Bobcats killed off an abbreviated 5 on 3 in the 3rd period, before striking with the dagger as Kamienski fired home the empty net goal. Patch Cronin notched his 1st career NAHL point on that goal with the primary assist.
Tomas Anderson stopped 26/27 that came his direction and notched his 37th win of the regular season. The Bobcats conclude the regular season with a 47-10-2 record with 96 points.
Next weekend the Bobcats are back on home ice for Round 1 of the Robertson Cup Playoffs! Puck drop is set for 7:15 P.M. both Friday and Saturday as the Bobcats take on the Aberdeen Wings! Be sure to pack the VFW to show your support for YOUR Bismarck Bobcats! Log onto www.BismarckBobcats.com or call 390-7422 to get your tickets!