Bismarck Bobcats
Encyclopedia
The Bismarck Bobcats are a Junior A ice hockey
team in the North American Hockey League's
Central Division, and play out of Bismarck, North Dakota
, in the V.F.W. Sports Center
. Originally a part of the America West Hockey League, the Bobcats joined the NAHL in a merger of the two leagues in 2003. In 2005, the Bobcats hosted the Robertson Cup tournament.
The Bobcats are the 2010 Robertson Cup Champions, winning the national championship with a 3-0 victory over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs
on May 9, 2010. They are also the three-time defending NAHL Central Division champions.
In addition to the Robertson Cup, the Bobcats also won back-to-back Borne Cup titles as champions of the AWHL in 2002 and 2003. Their 2003 title was the last Borne Cup to be awarded prior to the NAHL-AWHL merger.
The Bismarck Bobcats came to Bismarck in 1997 and played their first season at the Bismarck Civic Center. They moved to the V.F.W. Sports Center the following year and have called it home ever since. The V.F.W. Sports Center was remodeled in the summer of 2008. The seating capacity 1,289 and with standing room is 1,450.
The Bobcats have had five head coaches in their tenure in Bismarck. Layne Sedevie is the current head coach, having been promoted from assistant coach following Byron Pool's decision to accept an associate head coach position with the Fargo Force
of the USHL. Sedevie, a Bismarck native, was a goaltender at Bemidji State University
and played professionally in the CHL
before serving as assistant coach under Pool for the 2009-10 season. In his first season behind the bench he led the Bobcats to their third straight Central Division Playoff championship.
Pool, who served as head coach 2007-2010 was named the NAHL "Coach of the Year" in 2009. In addition to leading the team to its first-ever Robertson Cup title in 2010, he led the Bobcats to the most successful regular season in history in the 2008-2009 season. The Bobcats won 43 games and earned 88 points in the standings, which both set franchise records. The Bobcats won consecutive Central Division Playoff titles under Pool in 2009 and 2010.
Other former Bobcat coaches include; John Becanic (currently head coach of the Wenatchee Wild
of the NAHL), Chad Johnson (currently head coach of the Lincoln Stars
of the USHL) and Dane Litke (currently the Head Coach with the Janesville Jets
of the NAHL).
The 2011-2012 season is the franchise's 14th season in Bismarck. They are the second-oldest franchise in the NAHL behind the Springfield Jr. Blues
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the North American Hockey League's
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
Central Division, and play out of Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, in the V.F.W. Sports Center
V.F.W. Sports Center
The V.F.W. Sports Center is a multi purpose ice arena and recreational facility located in Bismarck, North Dakota. The ice arena serves as the home to the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Hockey League The facility is also home to several local high school ice hockey teams, local figure...
. Originally a part of the America West Hockey League, the Bobcats joined the NAHL in a merger of the two leagues in 2003. In 2005, the Bobcats hosted the Robertson Cup tournament.
The Bobcats are the 2010 Robertson Cup Champions, winning the national championship with a 3-0 victory over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Fairbanks Ice Dogs
The Fairbanks Ice Dogs is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's West Division. The Ice Dogs play home games at the 2,200-seat Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks, Alaska...
on May 9, 2010. They are also the three-time defending NAHL Central Division champions.
In addition to the Robertson Cup, the Bobcats also won back-to-back Borne Cup titles as champions of the AWHL in 2002 and 2003. Their 2003 title was the last Borne Cup to be awarded prior to the NAHL-AWHL merger.
The Bismarck Bobcats came to Bismarck in 1997 and played their first season at the Bismarck Civic Center. They moved to the V.F.W. Sports Center the following year and have called it home ever since. The V.F.W. Sports Center was remodeled in the summer of 2008. The seating capacity 1,289 and with standing room is 1,450.
The Bobcats have had five head coaches in their tenure in Bismarck. Layne Sedevie is the current head coach, having been promoted from assistant coach following Byron Pool's decision to accept an associate head coach position with the Fargo Force
Fargo Force
The Fargo Force is a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team in the Western Conference of the United States Hockey League .-History:In early 2007, Fargo was granted a USHL team, intended as an anchor tenant for the then-under-construction Urban Plains Center, which is now called Scheels Arena...
of the USHL. Sedevie, a Bismarck native, was a goaltender at Bemidji State University
Bemidji State University
Bemidji State University is a public state university in Bemidji, Minnesota, USA, located on the shores of Lake Bemidji. It is a part of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities .-History:BSU was founded in 1919 as Bemidji State Normal School...
and played professionally in the CHL
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
before serving as assistant coach under Pool for the 2009-10 season. In his first season behind the bench he led the Bobcats to their third straight Central Division Playoff championship.
Pool, who served as head coach 2007-2010 was named the NAHL "Coach of the Year" in 2009. In addition to leading the team to its first-ever Robertson Cup title in 2010, he led the Bobcats to the most successful regular season in history in the 2008-2009 season. The Bobcats won 43 games and earned 88 points in the standings, which both set franchise records. The Bobcats won consecutive Central Division Playoff titles under Pool in 2009 and 2010.
Other former Bobcat coaches include; John Becanic (currently head coach of the Wenatchee Wild
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's West Division based in Wenatchee, Washington. The team joined the NAHL as an expansion team for the 2008-09 season, the team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center...
of the NAHL), Chad Johnson (currently head coach of the Lincoln Stars
Lincoln Stars
The Lincoln Stars are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team playing in the West Division of the United States Hockey League .The Stars' home ice is the Ice Box, on the Nebraska State Fair grounds and adjacent to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln....
of the USHL) and Dane Litke (currently the Head Coach with the Janesville Jets
Janesville Jets
The Janesville Jets are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, their home games are played at the Janesville Ice Arena.-History:...
of the NAHL).
The 2011-2012 season is the franchise's 14th season in Bismarck. They are the second-oldest franchise in the NAHL behind the Springfield Jr. Blues
Springfield Jr. Blues
The Springfield Jr. Blues are a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Mid-west Division. The team plays their home games at the Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. The Jr. Blues are coached by Head Coach Joe Dibble and Assistant Coach Jason...
.
Regular Season Records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
| 2004-2005 | 56 | 25 | 22 | 9 | 59 | 165 | 172 | 1,337 | 5th In West |
| 2005-2006 | 58 | 31 | 23 | 4 | 66 | 204 | 184 | 1,041 | 3rd In Central |
| 2006-2007 | 62 | 26 | 30 | 6 | 58 | 193 | 221 | 1,299 | 5th In Central |
| 2007-2008 | 58 | 20 | 32 | 6 | 46 | 148 | 215 | 1,217 | 6th In Central |
| 2008-2009 | 58 | 43 | 13 | 2 | 88 | 202 | 121 | 1,123 | Central Division Champs |
| 2009-2010 | 58 | 39 | 11 | 8 | 86 | 195 | 130 | 1,073 | Central Division Champs |
| 2010-2011 | 58 | 31 | 22 | 5 | 67 | 179 | 156 | 1,100 | 4th in Central |
Playoff records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | PIM | Finish |
| 2005 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
| 2006 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 93 | Lost in 1st Round |
| 2007 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
| 2008 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
| 2009 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 34 | 34 | 133 | Lost in Round Robin |
| 2010 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 19 | 174 | League Champions |
| 2011 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 36 | 130 | Lost in Play-In Series |