Five In A Row: Bobcats Stay Undefeated With Sweep Of NAHL Showcase

Photo Credit: NAHL

 

By: Brian Gornick

The Bismarck Bobcats with their 3-2 victory over the Janesville Jets Saturday afternoon officially completed their sweep of the 21st Annual NAHL Showcase.

Leaving the Showcase undefeated is a welcome sight for fans, as the Showcase has not been kind to the Bobcats in recent history. It’s been over ten years since the Bobcats swept the Showcase, and the first time since the 2018-19 season they left the Showcase with a winning record.

This year, the Bobcats entered the Showcase with a 2-0 record following a sweep of the Watertown Shamrocks. The first game came on Wednesday, September 25, against the Danbury Hat Tricks. Evan Hunter, who led the Bobcats in scoring last year, scored the team’s first goal of the Showcase early in the first period. With the game tied 1-1 by the third period, Julian Beaumont scored the game-winning goal to give the Bobcats their third win of the season. The victory can be attributed to the Bobcats’ lockdown defense in the final two periods of play: only three shots allowed in each period.

Back on the ice the next day, the Bobcats found scoring prowess from both returners and rookies against the Philadelphia Rebels. Top scoring defenseman from last year, Matthew Rafalski scored his first goal of the season, followed quickly by Keanu Krenn a minute later. In the final minutes of the third period, rookie Brendan Ruskowski sniped an unassisted goal for his second in his first three NAHL games. Beaumont scored his second goal of the Showcase 28 seconds after for the Bobcats final of the game. Despite being outshot by seven, including only two shots on goal in the second period, the Bobcats defeated the Rebels 4-2 for their second win of the Showcase.

A break on Friday would then send the Bobcats to their final game on Saturday, September 28. For the first time of the Showcase, the Bobcats would be facing a team that made the Robertson Cup Playoffs last year: the Janesville Jets. Through the first two periods, the Bobcats found themselves down by one against the Jets, despite outshooting them 38 to 15. The lone Bobcats goal through 40 minutes came from Jakub Kopecky, who was recently shouted out by General Manager Niko Kapetonovic in our season preview on players who could make a big step forward. With just over 30 seconds of regulation left, Beaumont would find the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season in five games, sending both teams into overtime. A shootout would be called after a scoreless overtime period, and the winning scores would come from Hunter and Wyatt Sypniewski, keeping the Bobcats undefeated with the comeback victory. The Bobcats had a season-high 61 shots on goal in the victory.

The Bobcats beginning the season 5-0, including the sweep of the Showcase, is a great start to a season with a new head coach and new faces up-and-down the roster. One reason for the early success is the strong play from the goaltenders, notably Tomas Anderson. The Niagara University commit has played three games and won all three, only allowing five goals with a save percentage of 0.933. Anderson has solidified himself as one of the top goalies in the NAHL through his strong play in the Showcase, and all signs point to him being the team’s number one goaltender going forward.

Many of the team’s veterans are picking up where they left off last season. Beaumont scored five points in the Showcase, increasing his point total to eight in only five games. Five players are currently tied for second in team scoring with four points: forwards Hunter, Sypniewski, Alexandr Kim, and Josh Lehto, and defenseman Rafalski. Rafalski looks to repeat his performance as the Bobcats’ leading scoring defenseman this season, and his three points in the Showcase are no doubt a reminder of how good he can be coming off the blue line.

The rookies aren’t to be forgotten too. Sypniewski and Lehto both are at almost a point-per-game pace early on in their rookie seasons. A Providence University commit, Sypniewski is tied for second in goals scored with two. Lehto, meanwhile, is tied for second in assists scored with three. Both look to be heavy contributors this season, and are key cogs in the middle forward lines.

The Bobcats five wins give them ten points on the season, and puts them at the top of the Central Division. Behind them are the Austin Bruins, who are also undefeated at 4-0 with eight points, and the St. Cloud Norsemen with seven points at 3-1.

October 4th is the next time the Bobcats will hit the ice for their home opener: a Central Division matchup against the Minnesota Mallards. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT..