The Aberdeen Wings(20-22-11) will look to get their first win of the season vs. the Bismarck Bobcats(32-16-3) tonight at the Odde Ice Center. Aberdeen is 0-8-3 vs the Bobcats this season, with 3 of the games being decided in overtime and 3 more being decided by 2 goals or less. Bismarck is currently tied atop the division with Minot at 67 points each. Aberdeen currently holds the final playoff spot with 51 points, 4 points in front of the Minnesota Magicians and 6 points in front of Brookings. Austin is currently alone in 3rd place with 56 points. Aberdeen will look to put even more distance between them and the final 2 contenders as the Magicians will play a pair in Minot. The Minotaurs are currently in the middle of an 8 game home stand in which they are 3-0. Brookings will be on the road Friday in Austin then back at the Larson Saturday to host Bismarck.
Both Aberdeen and Bismarck rested their usual starting goaltenders this past Tuesday when the two met in Bismarck, but we would assume both will be back between the pipes tonight as these two face off for the final time in the 15-16 regular season. Hunter Shepard has played in 43 games this year for the Bobcats and is 29-10-1 with a 1.95 GAA and .925 save %. On the other end Peter Thome has been the primary man in net for the Wings with 40 games played, a 15-16-6 record a 2.37 GAA and a .930 save %. Offense has been a struggle for the Wings vs. the Bobcats this season in the 11 games played against each other the Wings have managed just 12 goals. Leading the way for Aberdeen is Jackson Graalum who sat out the first half of the season with an injury. Graalum has 1 goal and 3 assists in 7 games played vs. the Bobcats this year. Austin Heakins and Kevin Fitzgerald follow Pulver with 2 goals and an assists each. After them Bossert, Payne, Cook, Durgan, and Okeson each have a goal and 2 assists vs. Bismarck.
Tonight is College night at the Odde, All college students with valid ID get into the game for just $6 at the door! Make sure you get there early to see the screening of Sandlot Hockey, a documentary filmed here in Aberdeen and featuring some current and former Wings players. MZB Tech Wheat Growers are tonight’s corporate sponsor. Doors open at 5:30, Puck drops at 7:15 & Happy hour runs from 5:30-6:30!