The Bobcats were looking to snap a 2 game losing streak, and were coming home to play in front of their fans for the first time this month. To get back into the winning column the ‘Cats would have to do it by going through the defending AJHL and RBC Cup Champions, Brooks Bandits – coming into Friday night’s tilt with 10 wins in 11 games.
It would be the hometown team getting on the board first only 5 minutes into the game as Nolan Yaremchuk scored his fourth of the year to put the Bobcats on top – assists coming from Grant Baker and Cole Porter.
Going into the 2nd period, Bobcats up 1-0, it would prove to be a battle of discipline as both teams were handed major penalties throughout the period. Bobcats keeper Sean Kuehn would stand tall, making some key saves keeping the shut-out bid intact. Ryan Swier would get the fans energized by dropping the gloves with Bandits Mason Boh. A total of 54 minutes in penalties were handed out in the 2nd period.
However, the momentum would shift in the Bandits favour in the third period as Bandits Mark Logan evened up the score with a quick shot right off the faceoff. Five minutes later, with the Bobcats on the powerplay the Bandits would make the home team pay as Anthony Petruzzelli would add another one shorthanded. Bobcats would have some chances late but to no avail, losing 2-1.
Despite playing against the defending champions, Coach/GM Garry VanHereweghe didn’t believe there was much of a difference between the two sides tonight, “It came down to couple face-offs that we lost, ended up costing us two goals, if you do that against a good hockey team that’s all it takes sometimes. Overall, for the most part we battled hard.”
The Bobcats now dip to a game below .500, sitting at 6 wins and 7 losses on the season. Next up, the ‘Cats get right back to it Saturday night in Drumheller to take on the Dragons – then on Tuesday at home to take on the Whitecourt Wolverines at 7:30 PM.