Now into the final home stretch of the 2018/19 regular season, the Lloydminster Bobcats (9-44-2) will welcome the Sherwood Park Crusaders (39-14-2) to the Centennial Civic Centre Friday night. The Bobcats will be looking to play spoiler for a Sherwood Park team that currently sits two points back of the Bonnyville Pontiacs for top spot in the Viterra North Division. In looking to defeat the Cru, the Bobcats will turn to a local line-up. All six of their Lloydminster talents will hit the ice on Friday. That means rookies Ben Bygrove, Jayven Leslie, Mason Ward, and Matthew Mohrbutter, along with '99-borns Chase Stephenson and Chase Anderson will all be suiting up for the Cats making one-third of their skaters local products. All the action can be heard live on Real Country 95.9 beginning at 7:15.
Heading In: Saints Defeat Cats on Family Day
Throughout the opening twenty minutes of play, the Lloydminster Bobcats appeared set to go toe-to-toe with the Spruce Grove Saints Monday afternoon at the Grant Fuhr Arena. However, once the second period began, the Bobcats had a hard time keeping up with the defending AJHL champions. The Saints scored four straight goals after a scoreless opening frame to defeat the Bobcats 4-0 on Family Day. Bobcat’s goalie, Justin Vertesi made 55 saves on the loss.
Head to Head
Wrapping up the six-game season series, the Lloydminster Bobcats will try to get the better of the Crusaders before the season comes to an end. The Cru have won the first five match-ups between these two teams, however, the Cats have come close in a few of those games. In their first contest this season, the Bobcats jumped out in front but fell 4-2. On December 7th, the Cats recovered from a 2-0 third period deficit, but ultimately lost 3-2.
Familiar Faces Return to Lloydminster
The Lloydminster Bobcats and Sherwood Park Crusaders made league-wide headlines at the trade deadline when they Cats acquired Future Considerations for their captain, Zach Kaiser and defenceman Reid Irwin. Now for the first time since the trade, the two will square off against their former mates in the rink they used to call home. Kaiser was in his third year as a Bobcat and averaging nearly a point per game this season before being sidelined by an injury at the end of October. Since returning to the ice, he has been exactly what Bobcat fans had come to love and expect from Kaiser. He has already posted nine goals and five assists in 14 games with the Cru. Irwin, meanwhile, has tallied one goal and 12 assists through 16 games in Sherwood Park.
Upcoming Schedule
Spruce Grove @ Bobcats – Saturday February 23, 7:30 p.m. – Centennial Civic Centre
Bobcats @ Spruce Grove – Sunday February 24, 2:00 p.m. – Grant Fuhr Arena
Bobcats @ Bonnyville – Friday March 1, 7:30 p.m. – RJ Lalonde Arena