Bobcats, Machine strike 4-player deal
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The Bismarck Bobcats have traded twins Nick and Nate Taurence to the Motor City Marchine for Jordan Singer and Chris Slavik.
Last season, Nick Taurence, a forward, finished seventh in Bobcats scoring with seven goals for 19 points in 50 games. Nate Taurence was one of Bismarck’s top defensemen, netting 10 points in 55 games. The two are Michigan natives.
Slavik, a 6-foot, 180-pounder who played in 38 games for the Southern Minnesota Express (now the Machine) last season, finished the 2007-08 campaign with six points and 63 minutes in penalties.
Singer, a forward from Lino Lakes, Minn., finished his rookie NAHL season with 13 goals for 30 points in 57 games with the Express.
“Singer will be a good second-year player; he has good size and skill,” said Bobcats head coach Byron Pool. “Jordan is the kind of player who can make big improvements. On the other side, Slavik could be a good power-play guy, even though his numbers from last year might not show it.”
“Both of these players could be real nice additions to our club,” Pool added. “At the same time, we wish Nick and Nate the best of luck this season and in the future.”
The Bobcats also announced that they have used their final tender on defenseman Alex Gerke, who played last season with the Hurster Cup champion Dubuque Thunderbirds of the Central States League (CSHL).
In 46 games, the Tomah, Wis., native netted 45 points, 37 of which came on the power play. Gerkes’ impressive numbers with the man-advantage helped rank him fourth in scoring for the Thunderbirds in 2007-08.
“Alex has a tremendous amount of skill,” said Pool. “He was the quarterback of the power play, and he’ll probably fill that role in Bismarck. Alex will make our special teams better.”