Bobcats hire Alec Rauhauser as Assistant Coach

BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats hire Alec Rauhauser as their newest assistant coach, solidifying their 2024-25 staff.

Rauhauser started his hockey career in 2009 as part of the Bismarck Century High School hockey team as well as Team Sanford Power. While in high school Rauhauser tallied more than a point per game average over the course of three separate seasons. 

After graduating from Bismarck Century High School, he joined the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL where he played the entirety of his junior hockey career. He played 152 games for the Buccaneers before he started his college career with Bowling Green in the WCHA.

In his four years at Bowling Green, he became one of the top players in the country, leading the Bowling Green Falcons in scoring and was named All-American in his Sophomore year and was named Defenseman of the Year in the 2017-18 season. In his senior year, Rauhauser was named team captain, then went on to earn his second WCHA Defensive Player of the Year award. In 2021 Rauhauser was also honored with being named to the WCHA’s All-Decade Team for the 2010’s. 

After his college career, he signed a 1-year contract with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. But due to a delay for the start of the season due to the COVID Pandemic,  Rauhauser went to the Slovak league to play with DVTK Jegesmedvék where he played 22 games. After play resumed for the Minor Leagues Rauhauser playing a portion of the season with the Allen Americans of the ECHL, later promoted to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL before being released following the 2020-21 season. He signed with the LA Kings ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits playing 56 games before going back to Slovakia where he played the rest of his career with the HKM Zvolen.

Rauhauser now returns to his hometown of Bismarck-Mandan as an assistant coach to Garrett Roth.

“‘I’m excited about adding Alec to our staff and helping with the development of our players on and off the ice. The success Alec had as a player and the knowledge of what it takes to get to the highest levels will be a huge benefit to our players. ” – Garrett Roth (Head Coach)

Team owner Thom Brigl expressed his excitement about Rauhauser joining the team and coming home to Bismarck.

“I am really pleased with our staff’s search process and I am thrilled that a young man who grew up watching the Bobcats will now start his coaching career here in his home town” – Thom Brigl (Team Owner)

With the hiring of Rauhauser as their assistant coach, the Bismarck Bobcats have a complete coaching staff for the 2024-25 season.

Garrett Roth – Head Coach

Alec Rauhauser – Assistant Coach

Niko Kapetanovic – General Manager

Layne Sedevie – Goalie Coach

Wade Chiodo – Director of Player Personnel

Mike Gibbons – Director of Player Development

General Manager Niko Kapetanovic was is optimistic in his outlook for assistant coach Alec Rauhauser 

“First off I would like to thank the many who reached out and inquired about the assistant coach position. We had some fantastic candidates and I think that speaks volumes of the organization as a whole. I thought it was extremely important that Roth led the charge on this to find his right hand man. Garrett did an exceptional job sorting through things and we are beyond lucky to have Alec. Alec has had a very successful hockey career from Juniors to Bowling Green to Pro. Having someone who is so familiar with Bismarck and who the Bobcats are is just the icing on the cake. Our team got better today with the addition of Alec!” – Niko Kapetanovic

The energy is high from the Bobcats front office, and on the ice. With excitement in the air, and just days to go, the Bobcats are set to hit the ice with Roth and Rauhauser behind the bench in Watford City against the Minot Minotauros on September 6 and 7 (More info here). A week after at Starion Sports Complex the Bobcats will play the CanAm Challenge against the Notre Dame Hounds on September 13 and 14. You can get your tickets to see the CanAm Challenge here! 

Don’t miss a single moment of what promises to be an electric season of Bobcat hockey! For season ticket information visit bismarckbobcats.com or call 390-7422 today!