Titan Cup 2014…
Though both the Aberdeen Wings and Bismarck Bobcats have clinched playoff spots, each year the points earned by both teams have meant something more. The Titan Cup, sponsored by Titan Machinery.
At the completion of each regular season, the team with the most points earned wins the Titan Cup. For the Aberdeen Wings, the cup is in sight. Currently, the Aberdeen Wings have a one-point lead over the Bismarck Bobcats, 11-10 for ownership of the Titan Cup.
This season, the Aberdeen Wings is 5-3-1 against the Bobcats. These games bring a higher intensity, especially into the Odde Ice Center. But scoring wise, the two teams are even. Both teams have scored 25 goals against each other. Wings forward #11 TJ Roo (F-Coon Rapids, MN) has had a great year against Bismarck scoring 5 goals and 6 assists, part of his 17 goals and 23 assists on the season.
The forwards for the Wings have scored 18 goals and 29 assists this season against Bismarck. #21 Bjorn Sigurdarson (F-Reykjavik, Iceland) has tallied two goals and five assists, while #16 Kyle Haak (F-Okemos, MI) has chipped in three goals and five assists. Future Bemidji State forward #15 Jordan Heller (F-Bemidji, MN) has scored 2 goals and 6 assists with future Air Force Academy forward #27 Erik Baskin (F-Minnetonka, MN) adding three goals.
The defensemen for the Wings, one of the best blue lines in the NAHL, have put up 7 goals and 16 assists against the Bobcats. Nearly all season long #4 Jake Horton (D-Plymouth, MN) has led all NAHL defensemen in goals scored with 18 goals. Against Bismarck, Horton has tallied 4 goals and two assists. #20 Dillon Eichstadt (D-Bemidji, MN) has put together two goals and 6 assists against the Bobcats, as #3 Daniel Billett (D-Highlands Ranch, CO) has three helpers.
#1 Chad Catt (G-Williamstown, MI) has a 4-1-1 record against Bismarck this season, stopping 251 of 265 shots on goal for a 95% save percentage.
Some hot players for Bismarck that the Wings will need to control will be #9 Huba Sekesi who has scored four goals against Aberdeen this season. Other top scorers for the Bobcats are #25 Cullen Willox and #19 Filip Starzynski who have scored three goals against the Wings. Joonas Huovinen also scored three goals against the Wings this season, but was traded in mid-January to the Twin City Steel of the NA3HL. #29 Aaron Nelson, who was featured at the Top Prospects Tournament this season, has a 4-2-2 record against Aberdeen this season, stopping 223 of 245 shots for a 91% save percentage.
The Wings will travel to Bismarck to take on the Bobcats this Friday. The Wings are 3-0-1 at the VFW Ice Center in Bismarck this season. Then the Wings will host the Bobcats at the Odde Ice Center on Saturday. General admission tickets are $10, reserved seating for $12. The final game of the Titan Cup Challenge will be next Wednesday, March 5th at Bismarck.