Bobcats captain, Caden Cabana, challenges Drumheller Dragons goaltender Jameson Kaine on Sunday afternoon at the Centennial Civic Centre to a crowd of roughly 580. The ‘Cats beat the Dragons 5-3 on Sunday, with two goals coming off the tape of Cabana. The ‘Cats are on the road this weekend but return to the Civic on Dec. 29 to host the Whitecourt Wolverines. The Drayton Valley Thunder will be in town the following night for the team’s last game of 2023. Photo by JD Photography
It’s been a heck of a December for the Lloydminster Bobcats with four wins in their last six games.
The boys currently sit ninth overall in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with an 18-18 record for 36 points.
At this stage in the season, it’s still anyone’s game with only two points between fifth and ninth place.
With the way the ‘Cats have been playing as of late, they’ll definitely be a team to watch in the new year.
December started with a tough 6-2 home-loss for the ‘Cats before a 2-1 home-win the following night.
The boys then started a three-game roadie that began with a 5-1 win over the Drayton Valley Thunder on Dec. 5 before a 3-2 win over the Wolverines in Whitecourt on Dec. 6.
The boys were in Bonnyville last Saturday to face the rival Pontiacs at the RJ Lalonde Arena, losing 5-3, but were able to redeem themselves at home on Sunday with a 5-3 win over the Drumheller Dragons.
Sunday’s win saw ‘Cats captain, Caden Cabana, strike early in the first frame with an assist from Alessio Nardelli.
The Dragons were able to equalize before taking the lead midway through the second, but Cabana would tie it up with a minute left in the period.
‘Cats defender Ryan Redekopp made it a 3-2 game with an assist from Cabana six minutes into the third period, which was quickly answered by the Dragons’ Jacob Goudreau.
Tied at three a piece, the ‘Cats dug deep in the third with Blake Setter getting the leading goal 1:30 after Goudreau tied it up. Assists for Setter’s goal came from Michael Carter and Dalton MacGillivray.
The nail in the coffin came off the tape of Ben Aucoin at 18:48 with an assist from Cabana to seal the deal.
The ‘Cats have a busy January with six road games and a five-game-home stretch.
The fun begins on Jan. 5 as the boys head to Okotoks to faceoff against the Oilers (21-11-1) before travelling to Canmore to face the Eagles (14-18-1) on Jan. 6 and the Calgary Canucks (18-14-1) on Jan. 7.
The ‘Cats will then host Calgary, the Brooks Bandits (31-4), the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (11-18-2, for two) and the Spruce Grove Saints (15-18-2 for five straight home games before heading to Drayton Valley on Jan. 26 to take on the Thunder (12-19-1).
The ‘Cats February starts with three straight home games against Olds, Canmore and Brooks before a four-game roadie with games against Camrose, Blackfalds, Olds and Sherwood Park.
The ‘Cats wrap February with back-to-back home games against the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Feb. 23 and 24.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. both nights.
