Bismarck, North Dakota. After two steps backward and forward in the Blaine, Minnesota showcase, the Cats were back in a familiar place. What we saw on Friday and Saturday looked like their former America West counterparts, the Billings Bulls. Keep in mind that the man behind the bench of the Bobcats used to wear horns himself. First, it was time to barbecue some Wings. There were three things that caught my eye; the play of Shasta, Minnesota native number 31, Tommy Burke, newcomer number 20 Shane Omdahl, and number 4, John Furgele. Furgele, who appears small off ice, apparently knows how to take the body on the ice. Last night, it was time to welcome a villain back to the VFW Sports Center. He used to wear number 22 for the Bobcats, Jeff Crouse. This was a rematch of a series that ended Crouse’s dream of taking away the Bobcats’ kingdom in the Central Division. We also saw two of the dirtiest teams in the league over the weekend, and the Bobcats were able to rise above all of the chippy play and come up with a 4-2 record, burning the Wings 3-1 and giving the Alexandria Blizzaed a shot in the mouth and to the heart with a final score, Bismarck 9, not so fierce Alexandria Blizzard 3.

Bismarck, North Dakota. Ladies and gentlemen, after looking so promising to begin the season, with two straight wins, the Bobcats took two embarrassing steps backward, and now find themselves even at 2-2. Yes, Bobcat Nation, I know it’s early in the season, but the black and gold are shooting themselves in the foot with inability to clear the puck out of the zone. You do that in the Central Division, and you are going to find yourselves staring last place right in the face. There are too many talent laden-rosters in the division to get away with some of the inexcusable mistakes we were hearing in Blaine, Minnesota. In this league, you’ve got to have talent, and be smart with the puck, and finally keep your buns out of the penalty box. The Bobcats failed to do that in their two losses, which is why they are where thet are right now. Up next for the Cats is a pair of match ups that will tell us a lot about the Central Division in 2011-12. First, former Bobcat and current Aberdeen Wings assistant coach Garret Roth comes calling on Friday night. And then Saturday, the villain comes back, former Bobcat Jeff Crouse and the Alexandria Snow Flurries. This season will be filled with drama and passion, and on this website, there will be no favoritism. If I see kids making plays they should not be making, they will be called on the carpet. You will find out if the Bobcats will be contenders or pretenders early in the season.