The Greatest Show on Ice will be taking place once again September 23rd to September 26th at the NSC Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota.
The NAHL Showcase will be in its 23rd year of existence and is the only opportunity aside from the Robertson Cup Semi-Finals & Finals where the Bismarck Bobcats will take on out of division opponents.
Wednesday, September 23rd, 4:30 P.M. vs. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
The Bismarck Bobcats first matchup at the Showcase is a rematch of the 2010 Robertson Cup Final where the Bobcats were victorious over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Last time these two teams met was back in 2022 at the NAHL Showcase as the Ice Dogs skated away with the 3-2 win.
Excluding the 2004-05 season, the Bismarck Bobcats have an all-time record of 9-17-2 against the Ice Dogs.
Last season both teams finished 2nd in their respective divisions in the regular season. The Bobcats had a 39-15-5 record for 83 total points. The Ice Dogs finished with a 35-21-3 record for 73 total points. Both teams exited the 1st round of the Robertson Cup Playoffs with a game 5 loss.
Friday, September 25th, 3:00 P.M. vs. New Mexico Ice Wolves
Next up for the Bobcats at the NAHL Showcase are the New Mexico Ice Wolves. The Ice Wolves, representing the South Division, have been in the North American Hockey League since the 2019-20 season.
This will be just the 2nd all-time meeting between these two teams. The first since the debut year of the Ice Wolves in 2019 where the Bobcats were victorious 5-1.
The Ice Wolves finished in 2nd place in the South Division during the regular season last year, earning an automatic BYE into the South Division Semi-Finals where they were swept by the South Division runners-up, the El Paso Rhinos.
Saturday, September 26th, 3:15 P.M. vs. Anchorage Wolverines
Closing out the NAHL Showcase for the Bobcats, they take on the Anchorage Wolverines who play in the Midwest Division along with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The Wolverines began play in the NAHL in the 2021-22 season and have had great success each year, including making it to the Robertson Cup Finals in their first season where they fell to the New Jersey Titans.
This is the first ever meeting between these two teams.
The Anchorage Wolverines snuck their way into the playoffs as the #4 seed last season, barely beating out the Springfield Jr. Blues for the last playoff spot by just 3 points. They would run into the Minnesota Wilderness, the eventual Robertson Cup runners-up, in the 1st round. Despite defeating the Wilderness in game 1, the Wolverines would drop the next 3 games and exit the playoffs.
All of the Bismarck Bobcats games for the NAHL Showcase will be broadcast live on NAHLTV and Super Talk 1270 with the Voice of the Bobcats, Brandon Luisi