ABERDEEN, SD – The Bismarck Bobcats are taking their show on the road Thursday to play an exhibition contest against the rival North Iowa Outlaws at Odde Ice Arena in Aberdeen, SD.
It is the second straight year the Bobcats and Outlaws have played an exhibition game in eastern South Dakota.
“Aberdeen is a potential expansion city in the future of the NAHL,” said Bobcats team owner Thom Brigl, “and would provide a nice travel partner for the more northern Central Division franchises like the Bobcats and Alexandria. Last year we pulled about a thousand fans to the Aberdeen exhibition and our goal is to get even more this year in order to get the fans in South Dakota excited about the North American Hockey League.
“Not only that,” added Brigl, “but we want to get both our fans and the fans in Aberdeen excited for what could turn into a nice North Dakota-South Dakota rivalry in the Central in years to come.”
The Bobcats and Outlaws are long-time rivals in the Central, and some recent bad blood between the two teams may provide some extra fireworks for the fans that come out to see the game.
“We’re looking forward to a bit of a grudge match with North Iowa,” said Bobcats forward Dominic Panetta. “Our last trip to Iowa left a bad taste in our mouths and we’d definitely like to show the Aberdeen fans what a Central Division rivalry can look like—up close and personal.”
The Bobcats are 1-0-1 against the Outlaws in regular season play, but their last matchup—a 3-2 shootout loss in Mason City—saw two Bobcats players get injured and one ejected in a very physical contest on November 28th.
Thursday’s exhibition tilt precedes a two-game regular season home series for the Bobcats with the Outlaws at the VFW Sports Center in Bismarck, starting Friday at 7:15 PM.
Air Force recruit Jason Fabian continues to lead the charge for the Bobcats offensively with 31 points on 14 goals and 17 assists; Ryan Faragher (10-4-5) anchors the ‘Cats in net with a 2.14 GAA a .919 SV%.
For the Outlaws, captain Ryan Bohrer is tops offensively with 8 goals and 24 assists while Keegan Asmundson has returned to the North Iowa lineup in net, posting a 2-2-0 record with a 4.05 GAA since late November.
Friday’s game will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide at BismarckBobcats.com via B2 Networks. The pre-game show starts at 6:45 PM.
You won\’t want to miss any of the games this season, so order your Season Tickets, Family Packs and Group Nights today by calling the Bobcat Hockey Office at 701-222-3300 or by e-mailing the office for more information at gobobcathockey@aol.com.
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