LANSING – Former Electrician Matthew Bobo has committed to play for the Lansing area Capital Centre Pride for the 2001-2002 season. The Pride, based out of The Summitt in Diamondale, is a member of the North American Hockey League and is coming off of its inaugural season. In first round playoff action, the Pride took the leagues dominating Kewadin Casino of Sault Ste. Marie to the ropes, losing in the best of three series, 2-1.
Bobo, who was born in Lansing, received his first taste of hockey at Michigan State’s Munn Arena and played in the Greater Lansing Amateur Hockey Association.
In 1999, the amateur hockey governing body, USA Hockey, recognized Bobo’s abilities by naming him to Team Michigan as one of the top 16-year old defensemen in the state. Team Michigan participated in the national hockey festival in St. Cloud, MN, winning gold.
He joined the Electricians that year and has played for coach Jon Nebel for the past two seasons. Bobo concluded his Midget career as an alternate captain for the Electricians during the 2000-2001 season. He was presented with the team’s Most Valuable Defenseman Award.
Bobo played in 55 games for the Electricians, scoring 11 goals and totaling 36 points (11-25-36).
Bobo has been previously drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s Peterborough Pete’s and he has been protected from any other team in the United States Hockey League by Marquette’s parent team, the Waterloo Blackhawks.
After being courted by NAHL and AWHL teams, the 18-year old Bobo settled on the Capital Centre Pride, where he has been identified by head coach Jeff Blum as a solid, hard-nosed defenseman. “I expect Matt to step right in and add a presence on the blue-line.
“Matt poses the character and hard work ethic we are looking for in Lansing,” Blum said.