Monday, December 5, 2011

Press Release

Bismarck/Mandan sports community remain locked on the Bismarck Bobcats’ December 21 showdown with the Red Stars, an all-star team comprised of the top 20 year-old players from Russia’s MHL—the junior component of the world-famous KHL, Russia’s answer to the NHL.

“While ticket sales have really started to pick up as the game nears as many companies have bought up blocks of seats, there a few hundred seats available for the Russia game,” noted Bobcats team owner Thom Brigl. “We hope every Bismarck/Mandan and western North Dakota sports fan takes advantage of this great opportunity to see a rare international showdown when our boys square off with an international all-star team with NHL and KHL prospects.”

The Bobcats, currently sitting alone atop the Central with a 19-5-0 record, have been eagerly anticipating the Red Stars matchup since it was announced in August.

Even the Bobcat players, who have turned in top ten league-wide efforts on both sides of the puck through the first half of the season, admit that December 21 has been circled on their calendars.

“We’ve been excited about playing the Russians for a couple of months now,” conceded Bobcats team captain Bryce Schmitt, who is in his third year as a Bobcat—a tour of duty that comprises trips to Washington, Alaska, British Columbia and Kansas, two divisional titles and the 2010 Robertson Cup championship. “We play a lot of great teams from all over our league every year, but it’s a really unique opportunity to play all-stars not only from another league but from another country… another side of the world.”

Head coach and general manager Layne Sedevie, a Bismarck native, brought it back to the community that supports the Bobcats.

“Our fans have been awesome every time we’ve stepped on the ice,” added Sedevie, who played his high school hockey at Bismarck High, “so we view it not only as a great chance for our players and organization to match up with an international team, but a really cool reward for the best fans in the NAHL to have a chance to see such a once-in-a-lifetime event.”

Tickets are available right now by calling the box office at 222-3300 or fans can buy and print online at http://www.bismarckbobcats.com/.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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