Short-Handed Bobcats Sweep Shamrocks Heading into Christmas Break

The Bismarck Bobcats hosted the Watertown Shamrocks this past Friday and Saturday for the final regular season meetings between the two teams.

Friday night couldn’t have started out better for the Bobcats. All it took was 40 seconds as Gabe Kenne made an incredible play along the half wall, centering the puck for Defenseman Matthew Rafalski who fired the puck home into the back of the net giving the Bobcats the 1-0 lead in the contest. That would be the only goal to speak of in the period, however, the Bobcats got right back to playing Bobcat hockey as they outshot the Shamrocks 10-4, despite being short handed twice in the opening frame.

The 2nd period was where things got extremely chippy between the two sides. 14 penalty minutes between the two sides in the middle frame, but it was the Bobcats striking early once again. Rafalski took possession of the puck in the deep slot, deked around a sweeping defender’s stick to the top of the far faceoff circle and rifled a wrister home to make it 2-0 Bobcats. Despite the penalties and power plays in the 2nd, the Bobcats would take the 2-0 lead into the 3rd and final period.   

Strap in for the 3rd period, because it was WILD. The Shamrocks would score six minutes into the period, thwarting Bismarck goaltender Tomas Anderson’s bid at a shutout. Luckily for the Bobcats, that woke them up. Just a minute and a half later the Bobcats would score 3 goals in the span of 1:00. Kyle Doll with 2 and Kenne with the other for the Bobcats saw a 2-1 game turn into a 5-1 contest. The Shamrocks would battle back though with two goals late, but it was no match for the Bobcats as they skated away with the 5-3 victory and the 2 points in the standings.  

Moving ahead to Saturday’s game where the anticipation and guesses filled the room of who would score the teddy bear toss goal. Jan Gaspar answered that question on a net front scramble just over five minutes into the contest as he tapped the biscuit in the basket sending an array of fluff down onto the ice. Later in the period, the Bobcats would strike again. Evan Hunter slithered his way into the offensive zone and down near the corner before finding Josh Lehto with a centering pass in front of the blue paint who tapped home the point-blank opportunity, making it 2-0 Bobcats.  

The 2nd period was where the Bobcats got into penalty trouble. After an early power play, 4 straight penalties were called on the Bobcats in a span of 8:47. Oddly enough, the goal scored by the Shamrocks in the middle frame was a 5 on 5 goal from Carter Sproule that beat Bismarck goaltender Kai Weigel. The score would remain 2-1 going into the 3rd period. Watertown outshot the Bobcats 9-4 in the 2nd period.  

In the final period, the Bobcats once again struck quickly. 24 seconds into the period Doll would once again light the lamp for the 3rd time this weekend giving the Bobcats the 3-1 lead. The dagger would come on a later power play for the Cats as Julian Beaumont sniped a one-timer into the back of the net making it a 4-1 game which is where the score would end up. The Shamrocks only registered 4 SOG in the entire 3rd period compared to Bismarck’s 9.  

The Bobcats improved to 24-3-1 at the Christmas break and essentially the midway point of the 2024-25 regular season. 

The next contest for the Bobcats is Tuesday, December 31st vs. Minot Minotauros. Get your tickets by calling 390-7422 or by visiting BismarckBobcats.com