Bobcat Weekend Preview: Home Three-in-Three Highlighted by St. Baldrick’s Night
Matchups: Bismarck Bobcats (28-22-2, 3rd Central) vs. Aberdeen Wings (23-28-2, 4th Central); Fairbanks Ice Dogs (35-14-4, T-1st, Midwest)
Games: Thursday, March 12, 7:15pm; Friday, March 13, 7:15pm; Saturday, March 14, 7:15pm
Place: VFW Sports Center, Bismarck, N.D.
This Year: Bobcats lead Wings 7-2-2; Ice Dogs lead Bobcats 2-0-0
Radio: SuperTalk 1270 AM, 6:45pm all three nights
Internet TV: http://NAHL.FASTHockey.com, 6:45pm all three nights
BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats’ seven-game home stand will wrap up as the Cats host the Aberdeen Wings Thursday before the defending Robertson Cup champion Fairbanks Ice Dogs invade the VFW Sports Center Friday and Saturday.
Thursday will mark the Bobcats’ sixth-annual St. Baldrick’s Night, where the Cats will partner with Basin Electric Power Cooperative to raise money to help fight childhood cancer, including an auction and raffle of special edition game-worn jerseys.
As has been the case for the first five events, Bobcats coaches and staff will have their heads shaved during the game to help raise awareness for childhood cancer; for the first time ever, however, all 23 Bobcats will also be getting their heads shaved—blowing away the previous team high of seven in 2010.
Also for the first time, all funds raised Thursday will go to benefit area children who are fighting cancer.
“As an organization, we are so proud to be able to help these brave little warriors,” stated Bobcats owner and CEO Thom Brigl, “especially because now the money we raise will be helping local kids beat this horrible disease.”
Prior to the game, a number of local kids battling cancer will drop the opening puck along with Bismarck mayor Mike Seminary.
Coming into the weekend, the Cats sit three points away from clinching their seventh consecutive playoff appearance.
Offensively, the Bobcats have been led of late by deadline acquisition Willie Brown, who has a goal and five assists in six appearances since arriving on February 2 from the Topeka Roadrunners.
With only Thursday’s meeting with Aberdeen remaining in the 2014-15 season series, the Bobcats hold a 7-2-2 record against the Wings, good for a 16-9 edge in the Titan Machinery Dakota Cup.
Fresh off a strong February that saw him named runner-up for NAHL Forward of the Week, Wings captain Kyle Haak remains Aberdeen’s top dog offensively with 14 goals and 31 assists.
After slipping behind the Minnesota Wilderness in the Midwest Division standings in December, the Ice Dogs have gone on a 15-5-1 run since New Years to pull into a first-place tie with Minnesota.
Veteran forward Chandler Madry tops Fairbanks’ scoring list with 67 points (20g, 47a), including two goals against the Bobcats in October, which puts the MSU-Mankato recruit just six points off the NAHL lead (Sebastian Vidmar, Lone Star, 73 pts).
Tickets are now on sale for all three games: fans can buy and print tickets 24 hours a day at BismarckBobcats.com or charge by phone at 222-3300.
Live coverage of Thursday’s special contest will start at 6:45pm locally on SuperTalk 1270, KLXX-AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at NAHL.FASTHockey.com, the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League.
Though the 2014-15 season is entering its home stretch, pro-rated season tickets are still available for the last run of home games; fans who want to lock in their seats for the remainder of the campaign should call the Bobcat office at 222-3300 today!
