Bobcats to Open 2017-18 at NAHL Showcase
WHO: Bismarck Bobcats (0-0-0) vs. Corpus Christi IceRays (1-1-0); Springfield Jr. Blues (0-1-0); Amarillo Bulls (1-0-0); Coulee Region Chill (0-0-0)
WHERE: Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, Minn.
WHEN: Wednesday, September 20, 2:30pm; Thursday, September 21, 4:00pm; Friday, September 22, 7:00pm; Saturday, September 23, 6:30pm
ALL-TIME: Bobcats tied 0-0-0 with IceRays; Bobcats lead Jr. Blues 6-1-0; Bobcats tied 1-1-0 with Bulls; Bobcats lead Chill 10-6-0
LIVE BROADCAST: All games will be carried on SuperTalk 1270 AM in Bismarck/Mandan and online at HockeyTV.com
BLAINE, MN – A new season begins for the Bismarck Bobcats Wednesday, as the Cats begin their twenty-first year of play when they face off with the Corpus Christi IceRays Wednesday at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.
Coming off a 1-1-0 preseason that saw them trade 4-1 home wins with Minot, the Bobcats enter the season with 12 league veterans on the roster—including nine players who finished the 2016-17 campaign with the Cats.
“Right now, we’ve got a good mix of returners and new players,” explained Bobcats head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, who enters eighth year as the Cats’ bench boss, “but early on we are expecting to lean on our experienced players, especially in our defensive corps, where we have four guys back and some really exciting young talent coming on board, too.”
Corpus Christi enters the week having already played a weekend of regular season—splitting a two-game set in Topeka against the Roadrunners.
The IceRays are coming off their best season since joining the NAHL, one that saw the league’s southernmost entry put up a 32-19-9 record and make a run deep into the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
“[IceRays head coach] Brad Flynn has done a terrific job turning Corpus into a contender, so we expect a really tough test to start the season,” added Sedevie, whose squad has never faced Corpus Christi.
Following their clash with Corpus Christi, the Bobcats continue Showcase play Thursday against Springfield, Friday against Amarillo and wrapping up the week Saturday against Coulee Region.
All of the Bobcats’ Showcase contests will be aired locally on SuperTalk 1270 AM, the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, and worldwide online at HockeyTV.com—the official web television partner of the North American Hockey League. Pre-game coverage for each game will begin a half hour before puck drop.
Season tickets and individual game tickets are now on sale for the 2017-18 season are now on sale: fans can lock in their seats online at any time at BismarckBobcats.com.