Following an unexpected game cancellation on Saturday, the Lloydminster Bobcats (7-28-1) will be back on the ice Wednesday night when they host the Whitecourt Wolverines (15-22-2). The Bobcats currently are looking directly up at the Wolverines for the seventh and final playoff spot but sit 17 points back. With both teams entering the game on multi-game losing skids, one of them will be back in the win column after Wednesday. All the action can be heard live on Real Country 95.9 beginning at 7:15.
Heading In: Cats Blanked By Cru in Friday Night Loss
Playing their first game back from the Christmas break, the Lloydminster Bobcats did not have much luck Friday night when they hosted the Viterra North Division leading Sherwood Park Crusaders. Now winners of nine straight games, the Crusaders defeated the Bobcats 5-0 using goals in all three period en-route to their victory. For the Cats, they weren’t able to generate much offence early on, and unfortunately were not able to beat Carter Gylander on their higher quality chances. Curtis Meger made 36 saves for the Cats in the loss.
Head to Head
Despite already being into the January portion of the 2018/19 regular season schedule, Wednesday night will be just the third meeting of the season between these two Viterra North Division rivals. In their first meeting of the season, the Wolverines downed the Cats 4-0. However, Lloydminster took their second meeting 5-3 in what was the first win for Bobcats Head Coach and General Manager, Nigel Dube. The Bobcats and Wolverines will meet two more times this month before wrapping up the season series in March.
New Year's Resolutions
It’s no secret that 2018 did not go the way the Bobcats were hoping. After being swept in the first round of the playoffs by Whitecourt last year, the team wasn’t able to gain much traction once the new regular season got rolling in September. With plenty of changes made towards the end of the calendar year, the Bobcats enter 2019 looking to begin the build. With new styles in place, and new game plans being learnt, the team will continue to battle night and night out as they continue to lay a winning foundation.
Upcoming Schedule
Bobcats @ Grande Prairie – Friday January 4, 7:30 p.m. – Revolution Arena
Bobcats @ Grande Prairie – Saturday January 5, 7:30 p.m. – Revolution Arena
Drayton Valley @ Bobcats – Wednesday January 9, 7:30 p.m. – Centennial Civic Centre