Bobcats forward Ben Aucoin. Source File Photo
The Lloydminster Bobcats are having a red-hot February.
The boys started the month on home ice beating the Olds Grizzlys 5-2 on Feb. 2 before defeating the Canmore Eagles 4-1 on Feb. 3.
The ‘Cats were back at the Civic Centre on Feb. 10, besting the Camrose Kodiaks 4-1 before suffering a 4-2 loss to the Wolverines in Whitecourt on Valentine’s Day.
The ‘Cats host the Drayton Valley Thunder tomorrow night at the Civic Centre after burying the Grizzlys 9-1 at the Olds Sportsplex on Feb. 17.
Last Saturday was a big night for a handful of Bobcats, mainly Ben Aucoin, who finally completed the elusive natural hat trick 1:22 inside the second period before scoring a fourth goal at 9:25 in the same frame.
Aucoin’s first goal, the team’s first of the night, came on the power play at 4:59 in the first with assists from Ryan Redekopp and Caden Steinke. Aucoin’s second goal came at 14:56 with assists from Michael Carter and Remy Spooner.
The Aucoin natty hatty, also a power-play goal, came at 1:22 in the second. Assists would again go to Redekopp and Steinke.
‘Cats assistant captain Kade Fendelet was quick to follow Aucoin’s third goal with a gino of his own at 3:49 in the second with assists from Luke Fritz and Redekopp.
Olds’ Devun Olfert was able to get the Grizzlys on the board at 6:33 in the second, but the ‘Cats kept going as Aucoin potted his fourth goal of the night, his 25th of the year, with assists from Alessio Nardelli and Jamie Weller, at 9:25 in the second.
Fritz would finish out the ‘Cats second-period scoring with a goal at 19:25. Fritz’ goal saw Ishan Mittoo get his first assist of the night and a fourth for Redekopp.
‘Cats captain, Caden Cabana, came out firing in the third with a short-handed goal at 0:48 into the frame with the assist going to Aucoin.
Cabana scored his second of the night a little over five minutes later with assists going to Teague McAllister and Aidan LaRose. The ‘Cats’ final goal of the night came off the tape of Mittoo on the powerplay at 14:28 in the third with the assist going to Blake Setter.
The ‘Cats are looking for redemption tomorrow night against the Thunder after losing 4-1 in Drayton Valley on Jan. 26, but after Saturday’s big win, the bench is in good spirits.
“The room’s great right now,” said Aucoin on Tuesday after practice, noting he hasn’t scored four goals in 60 minutes since Bantam.
“A win like (Saturday’s) really brings us together more, the vibes were good at practice today.”
The ‘Cats host the Thunder on Friday before heading to Camrose on Saturday for their final game of the month, and Aucoin and the boys are hoping to see a packed rink.
“We’re definitely going to take it to them on Friday,” said Aucoin.
“When we lost to Drayton, that was not our game, and we know we can be a lot better against them at home.”
From a coach’s perspective, there wasn’t much to dislike about last Saturday’s win, something bench boss Brad Rihela liked to see.
“The guys stuck to the plan and we found some early success with that, and with Aucoin breaking it open in the second, it made things a little easier,” said Rihela.
Despite the hoopla created by the win, Rihela explained it’s all about the next game.
“We’ve got a great group of kids who have really committed. The focus level is really good.”
Looking at the postseason, Aucoin said the team is embracing recent league changes and aiming for a long run.
“We’re excited for it, we think we can make it far,” he said.
“The Centennial Cup is our goal.”
For Rihela, the plan is to continue to instill habits that will be transferable to playoff hockey.
“We’ve got a lot of younger players who haven’t seen playoff hockey yet, and it’s definitely a jump,” he said.
“Your competitiveness and urgency have to be at an extremely high rate, and that’s something we’re focused on.”
This Friday is also Pink in the Rink night in support of Canadian Natural Resources Anti Bullying and the Lloydminster and District Co-op’s Kindness Wins campaign. Everyone in attendance is encouraged to wear pink, and anyone 18 and under wearing pink gets in for free.
The puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Civic.
