Having lost their last three games by a 17-4 score, the Lloydminster Bobcats (5-13-1) are going through a major change heading into their Friday night contest against the Sherwood Park Crusaders (15-4-2). Friday morning, the Bobcats and Head Coach/GM Travis Clayton parted company. With the move, IHD’s Lance Ward will help fill in on an interim basis with the club. The Bobcat’s first game following the change will come with the team currently sitting two points out of the seventh and final playoff spot in the Viterra North Division.
Heading In: Bobcats Blanked By Bonnyville
A pair of first period goals proved to be too much to overcome Wednesday at the Civic Centre for the Lloydminster Bobcats. Playing host to the Bonnyville Pontiacs, the Yaks scored twice in the first half of the opening frame and shut down the Cats the rest of the way, as Bonnyville rolled to a 3-0 win. The loss is Lloydminster’s third straight, and on the heels of a tough weekend down south in which they were hoping to bounce back from. In the loss, Cale Elder made 31 saves in goal for Lloydminster.
Head to Head
The Cats and Cru have already met twice this season, with Friday’s game marking the midway point of their season series. Both games in the season series to this point were each other’s Hockey Hooky Day with Sherwood Park winning both. The Crusaders doubled-up Lloydminster in Sherwood Park 4-2, before rolling the Bobcats 8-3 at the Civic Centre. Following Friday’s game the two teams will next meet up on December 7th.
Going In a New Direction
The Bobcats made major news early on Friday when they announced the team and Head Coach/GM Travis Clayton had parted company. Clayton had served as the Bobcats bench boss since the 2016/17 season. Lance Ward will now help fill in on an interim basis. Ward played 20 games with the Lloydminster Blazers during the 1993/94 season before spending the next four years in Red Deer with the WHL’s Rebels.
Upcoming Schedule
Olds @ Bobcats – Saturday November 10, 7:30 p.m. – Centennial Civic Centre
Grand Prairie @ Bobcats – Wednesday November 14, 7:30 p.m. – Centennial Civic Centre
Bobcats @ Drayton Valley – Friday November 16, 7:30 p.m. – Drayton Valley Omniplex