BISMARCK, ND – The Bismarck Bobcats will open their home schedule on Friday with Coors Light Opening Night as the Bobcats host the Alaska Avalanche for a 7:15 PM contest at the VFW Sports Center.
“Our organization is excited to get back out there on the ice and give the hockey fans of Bismarck more thrilling Bobcat Hockey,” said Bobcats team owner Thom Brigl. “The fans are one of the biggest reasons we had our record-breaking ’08-’09 year and we know they’ll be a big part of another big season in ’09-’10.”
Prior to Coors Light Opening Night, the team will host the “Bobcat Bash” in the parking lot of the VFW Sports Center starting at 5:30 PM.
At the Bobcat Bash, Cloverdale Meats will be passing out free samples of their famous Russell’s Reserve Ribs, 96.5 The Fox will be on hand for live music and a live remote broadcast and the team will have Coors Light drafts on special for $2.50.
During the celebration, team mascot SCRRRATCH will make a grand entrance with some special friends to thrill all of the early partygoers at the Bobcat Bash.
Closer to game time, the team will have their first starting lineup of the season set to a live light show from Nightlife Music.
On the ice, the Bobcats will be looking to bounce back from a tough start to the season following a 0-2-2 result at last week’s NAHL Sherwood Showcase in Blaine, Minn., and standing in their way will be an Avalanche squad that has won five of its first seven games.
“We haven’t started the year quite the way we wanted to,” says Bobcats head coach Byron Pool, “but now we have a chance to bounce back in front of the home crowd here at the VFW [Sports Center] on Friday, which would be great.
“There were a lot of positives from the Showcase but also a lot of things we’re going to need to improve. It all starts with effort, though, so I’m expecting to see a renewed effort from all of our guys this weekend.”
Air Force recruit Jason Fabian leads the Bobcats in scoring with four assists in four games; in net, Ryan Massa has rolled up a solid 2.57 GAA and a .905 SV% in three games played this season.
On special teams, the Bobcats’ penalty kill unit is at a league-best 100%, having successfully killed off all 26 opposition power plays to open the season.
For Alaska, Zach Smith leads the charge offensively with three goals and four assists while goalie Kale Robertson has leads the league with both his 0.50 GAA and his .987 SV%.
Friday’s Coors Light Opening Night is part of a two-game series at the VFW Sports Center between the Bobcats and Avalanche; game two is Saturday at 7:15 PM. Saturday’s contest is sponsored by Cloverdale Meats.
Both Friday and Saturday’s games will be broadcast locally on the radio home of Bobcat Hockey, Super Talk 1270, KLXX-AM, and worldwide online at BismarckBobcats.com via B2 Networks. The pre-game show will begin both nights 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 Night’s 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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