Six-Point Weekend Nets Jouppi Divisional Honors
FRISCO, TX — Thanks to a pair of shorthanded goals and four assists in a three-game weekend set against Minot, Bismarck Bobcats forward Austin Jouppi has been named Central Division Star of the Week by the North American Hockey League.
“Our line, with myself, Andy [Stoneman] and Bartek [Bison] was really clicking this weekend so you look at the numbers by my name and they’re thanks to the guys I was out on the ice with,” credited Jouppi, a first-year winger out of Duluth, Minn. “Between those two and our special teams units, it’s easy to look good when everyone is out there working hard together.”
The former Duluth East Greyhound had three points—including two shorthanded goals in a 43-second span—in Friday’s 5-4 victory, an assist in Saturday’s 4-2 road defeat and then assisted on both goals in a 2-1 home win on New Year’s Eve.
Since Thanksgiving, Jouppi has points in 11 straight games, comprising nine goals and 12 assists—giving him the second-longest active streak in the league (Jim Glynn, Jamestown, 12 games).
“Austin is one of the hardest working players that has worn a Bobcat jersey,” stated Bobcat head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie. “He is a true 200-foot player and that's the reason he has an 11-game point streak and 26 points in his last 15 games.”
Jouppi is the first Bobcat this season to earn the Central’s top weekly honor this season after being named Second Star of the Week twice prior.
Bobcat defenseman Willy Stauber picked up an honorable mention for the award, the third time he’s been honorable mention.
On the ice, Jouppi, Stauber and the rest of the Bobcats open 2019 with a 7:15pm puck drop on Friday in Aberdeen against the division-leading Wings before returning home for a Saturday rematch at 7:15pm at the VFW Sports Center.
Fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or by clicking “Shop Now” on the team Facebook page for Saturday’s home game.
Live coverage for both contests starts at 6:45pm on Super Talk 1270 AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and at HockeyTV.com, the official web television partner of the NAHL.
Pro-rated season tickets for the 2018-19 campaign are still available; lock in your seats for the remaining home schedule today: sign up at BismarckBobcats.com/seasontickets or call 222-3300 for more information!
