Game plan for the Bobcats was to out hussle the Oil Barons and run the Mob out of the rink.  Use their speed and make the visitors chase them.  They started off the first doing just that.  While the Oil Barons started the shooting and lead the shot clock briefly it was the home side who dictated the pace of play.  The Cats worked their way to the advantage in the shot count but while fighting off a two man advantage for the MOB the visitors opened the scoring on a shot through moving bodies off the right circle.

In their last preseason game the Bobcats showed an ability to get pucks to the net logging 70 shots on goal.  That proved consistent by the end of the first when the Cats lead the shot clock 19-10 – though trailing by a single.

The second period brought more of the same as the Cats dictate pace while looking for results from their efforts.  They didn’t wait too long when just under 5 minutes in sophmores connected.  Matthew Hakida forced his way across the offensive blue line before sliding the puck to Jack Birch who would even the score with a well placed shot from the right circle.  Back to even.  After 40 minutes the Cats had put a game’s worth of rubber towards the Oil Barons goal leading the shot clock 35-23.

The Oil Barons added 2 goals in the opening half of the third period before locals Teague McAllister and Kade Fendelet connected to get the home team back within one.  It was a fantastic effort by McAllister behind the net shedding a defender (though his stick remained tucked under McAlister’s arm) and sliding the puck through the crease off his back hand to a wide open Fendelet who made no mistake for his first of the year.  It was Kade Fendelet who light the fire to ignite a near miraculous come back against the Battlefords North Stars 1 week ago.  One had to wonder if this was dejavu.

It was not dejavu.  The border city club did not lack for effort in the dying minutes pushing for the equalizer.  Pucks off the crossbar and narrowly sliding through the crease were as close as it would get.  Their best efforts would not be rewarded, though those moments would shine a light on the 24/25 squads overall lack of quit.

Perhaps the biggest star of the evening was the crowd.  1216 fans packed the CCC on opening night.  The Cats will work Saturday night to repay fans in attendance for the support at the season opener with a rematch Saturday.  Puck drop on game 2 of the season and of the Cats/MOB season series is set for 7:00.