Bobcats Set to Host Sea Wolves for Veteran's Weekend

by Brett Wiseman

WYTHEVILLE, VA

The Blue Ridge Bobcats are set to host the Mississippi Sea Wolves this weekend on Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th for Veteran's Appreciation Weekend at the Apex Center. The Bobcats will be wearing special edition Veteran's Day jerseys for both games.

The meetings will be the third and fourth between the two clubs already this season, but this time around will be an intradivisional battle. 

Yesterday, the FPHL announced that the Bobcats have been realigned to the league's Continental Division, swapping spots with the Motor City Rockers, who are now in the Empire. The Sea Wolves (3-1-1, 9PTS) and Bobcats (1-4-1, 3PTS) now sit third and sixth respectively in the newly aligned Continental Division standings.

The Sea Wolves were the first ever opponent to enter the Apex Center on October 20th. Mississippi's Philip Wong scored the first goal in the arena's history. The Bobcats, however, cemented their mentality of resiliency and began a string of strong third periods, nearly coming all the way back from a 4-0 defecit. Brice French scored the first goal of that third period, and the first goal in Bobcats franchise history. Kyle Stevens and Cody Oakes followed to cut it to a 4-3 game, but the Sea Wolves escaped by a final of 5-3 thanks to a late empty net goal.

The Bobcats earned their first point in franchise history the next night. Blue Ridge battled back from another multi-goal third period deficit to force overtime, but ultimately fell in the extra frame.

The Bobcats will look to build off of strong performances last weekend against the Carolina Thunderbirds. Although Blue Ridge lost both games 4-1, they went toe to toe with one of the league's best teams, finding ways to create scoring chances and playing as a tight cohesive unit on all 200 feet of ice. 

Christian Pavlas had a strong five periods in goal last weekend, and Connor Green stopped all 9 shots he faced in relief of Pavlas in the third period of last Saturday night's contest.

Hunter Hall and Jakub Volf will look to continue pacing the Bobcats offense. Both are tied for the team lead in points with 6.

Blue Ridge will also look to stay hot on the penalty kill, currently sitting at 82%, good for fifth-highest in the FPHL.

Tickets are available for both games at blueridgebobcats.com/tickets.