Bobcats Announce Showcase Schedule, Will Open Season against IceRays
FRISCO, TX – With just over a month left before the 2017-18 season begins, the Bismarck Bobcats now have unveiled the remainder of their upcoming regular season schedule with the announcement of their 2017 NAHL Showcase matchups.
The Cats will start their 21st season of junior hockey against an entirely unfamiliar foe in the Corpus Christi IceRays on Wednesday, September 20, at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. Despite the IceRays’ entry into the league in 2010, September marks the first meeting between the two clubs—in Blaine or elsewhere.
Corpus Christi is coming off their best NAHL season that saw the IceRays earn the #3 seed in the South Division playoffs and make it to Game Five of the Division Finals.
On Thursday, September 21, the Bobcats will square off with the Springfield Jr. Blues in the meeting of the two oldest junior franchises in the NAHL. The last time the league’s longest-standing teams met—at the 2014 Showcase—the Bobcats cruised to a 6-1 victory; overall, the Cats hold a 6-1-0 all-time record over Springfield dating back to the 2003-04 campaign.
Friday will feature a marquee matchup of two of the league’s strongest franchises over the past 10 years as the Cats square off against the Amarillo Bulls. The Bobcats have played the Bulls four times: twice each at the NAHL Showcase and the Robertson Cup Tournament. In their last meeting, the Bobcats stifled the Bulls at the 2013 Showcase en route to a 3-1 win.
Just as they did in 2015, the Black and Gold will close out their Showcase slate with a Saturday faceoff against a former Central Division foe in the Coulee Region Chill. In that 2015 matchup, the Cats fell 4-2 to their old rivals; all-time, the Cats are 10-6-0 against the Chill.
On April 25, 2011, the Bobcats earned one of their most dramatic playoff victories in the Layne Sedevie era against Coulee Region, coming from behind to become the only team ever to win consecutive Game Fives on the road with a 3-1 win at the Omni Center for the Cats’ third straight Central Cup.
Following the 2017 NAHL Showcase, the Bobcats return to the VFW Sports Center for Coors Light Opening Night against the Fairbanks Ice Dogs on Friday, September 29.
Next up for the Cats: the offseason officially ends on August 27 when players report back to the capital for 2017 Training Camp and the team’s world-famous “Hell Week” program.
Season tickets for the 2017-18 campaign are also now available for pre-order: fans can get more information or reserve their seats for all of next year now by calling 222-3300 or by texting TICKETS to 701-390-7422.