Bralin Technology Solutions
By Shane Tomayer
Having swept the previous weekend in Devon and Grande Prairie the Bobcats returned home to the CCC for a Sunday matinee against the Drayton Valley Thunder. The Cats sit firmly in the third spot in the AJHLs North division while the Thunder were attempting to claw their way back into the post season picture in the South division -10 points back from Drumheller for the last playoff spot.
Luke Fritz is always more than happy to play spoiler for the opposition, he showed that as he opened the scoring just under 3 minutes into the first on a beautiful feed from Alessio Nardelli. The Thunder however capitalized on a Bobcats team that seemed a little flat in the opening period and scored twice later in the frame sending them into the second with a 2-1 lead. Luke Fritz would maybe have you believe it was 2-2 however as he had (what the home side believed to be) a goal called back.
Kanerva opened the scoring in the second but again the Thunder answered back making it 3-2 mid way through the game. Drayton Valley however seemed to run out of gas shortly after. Understandable considering they’d played in Fort McMurray Friday and Bonnyville Saturday night before making their way East to Lloydminster. The Cats saw opportunity and pounced. First with Caiden Steinke picking up an El-Tahhan rebound and continued his point per game pace with his 9th goal of the season. Fritz not to be outdone would take the lead back for the Bobcats on a give and get play with Matthew Hikida just 56 seconds later to give the team a lead going into the third.
Costantino scored his 6th as a Bobcat on the powerplay just 4 minutes into the third for the insurance goal after being denied on a drive to the front of the net moments earlier. From there the team rallied pushing Luke Fritz for chance after chance at a hattrick, but it was not meant to be. He had two quality chances once on an open net and once on a breakaway after Hudson Perry returned to the net following Costantinos second of the period (going into an empty net).
Wins like this are critical for the Cats at this point in the season. The afternoon win clinched a playoffs for the border city team, but where exactly they finish is to be determined. They have a 10 point cushion on the Oil Barons, and with the Storms loss (in OT) today the Bobcats are just 3 points back of second spot and home ice advantage. The Storm who have lost 4 straight have two games in hand on the Bobcats so the gap may be larger than it seems initially. Compounding the interest in the push to the end of the regular season is knowing the two clubs are scheduled to close out the season against each other in a two game set March 14 and 15.
Not to get too far ahead of ourselves the Bobcats next action comes Friday February 28 on home ice against the Olds Grizzly’s. The Bobcats hold a 3-0 record against the Olds club this season and have outscored them 18-8. Record and score aside there’s not much more dangerous than a team with something to prove and the Grizzly’s have shown all season that they play right to the final buzzer. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 at the Civic Centre with the pregame show kicking off at 6:45 on FloHockey.
