South Dakota readies for NAHL exhibition

The Bismarck Bobcats are taking their show on the road tonight (Thursday) to play an exhibition contest against the rival North Iowa Outlaws at Odde Ice Arena in Aberdeen, S.D.
 
It’s 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 and would provide a nice travel partner for the more northern Central Division franchises like the Bobcats and Alexandria,” said Bobcats owner Thom Brigl.  “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 longtime 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.”