Bobcats will be looking to end their 3 game, 3 day road trip with a win in Calgary on Sunday afternoon against the Mustangs. The ‘Cats opened up the road trip in Olds on Friday night, narrowly losing 3-2 against the Grizzlys then heading over to Okotoks falling to the Oilers 5-2 on Saturday night.
On Friday the 14-10-2 Bobcats took on the Olds Grizzlys who were looking for points in a South Division up for grabs meanwhile the Bobcats were looking to get their road trip off to a victorious start. Olds’ Austin Kernahan gave the Grizzlys the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes after a fairly evenly contested period. In the second period the Bobcats managed to get 17 shots at Grizzlys goalie Ethan Jemieff but were unable to capitalize. The scoring would commence in the third period as Olds got up to a 2-0 lead but the Bobcats would answer. Former Grizzly Tanner Dunkle got the ‘Cats on the board thanks to a pass from Cole Porter. Bobcats weren’t done yet as Taylor Mulder evened this one up at 2-2, assists from Braden Crone and Tyler Kunz. But only a minute later, Olds would take the lead again, Dustin Gorgi putting the Grizzlys on top and that’s how it would end. “We knew coming in here they were going to be a big strong team and it was going to be physical for everyone. Their goaltending was outstandings and we gave their big bodies too much room down low and they found a way to get to the net. We just didn't battle as hard they did. Defensively we were good but when we broke down they were able to capitalize,” said GM/Coach Garry VanHereweghe. Bobcats out shot Olds 39-21 while Sean Kuehn made 18 of 21 saves.
The Bobcats got back on the road and headed to Okotoks to take on the Oilers on Saturday night. Okotoks Oilers sitting in second place in the South Division with a record of 13-9-5. Bobcats start off the game on a positive note, on the powerplay they make no mistake as Eric Therrien pots one home from Lukas Biensch, ‘Cats up 1-0 after 20. Okotoks would come charging back in the second period thanks to goals from John Edwarth and Ty Clay to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead. But before the period would end, Austin McDonald would send this one into the intermission tied up a 2-2, helpers going to Eric Therrien and Patrick Geary. The third period didn’t go the ‘Cats way as Robbie Fischer would catch fire for the Oilers scoring not one but two goals, then Connor Hartley would finish it off on the powerplay to give Okotoks a 5-2 win on the night. “Okotoks is a big strong team that finishes their checks. They're a team that will score by committee and they work extremely hard,” said GM/Coach Garry VanHereweghe. Devin Green turned aside 32 of 37 shots with the Bobcats being out shot 37 to 22. Bobcats out shot Olds 39-21 but take the loss.
Bobcats now sit at a record of 14-12-2 with 30 points on the season and have company for 4th in the North Division as Grande Prairie Storm also have 30 points, but ‘Cats having two games in hand. The Bobcats now head into Calgary to take on the Mustangs on Sunday afternoon at 5:00 PM. Mustangs having the same record as the Bobcats at 14-12-2. “I think you'll see a Bobcats (team) that's even more desperate after tonight's (Saturday) game. We have to go home with points and worry about ourselves,” GM/Coach Garry VanHereweghe added.