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Bloomington Bison defenseman Reilly Webb (44) and Indy Fuel forward Sam Ruffin (29) follow the puck during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) fights with Indy Fuel forward Nathan Noel (10) on Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
When the Bloomington Bison drop the puck in their preseason matchup Saturday, it will represent potentially best chance for sustained professional hockey in the Twin Cities.
BLOOMINGTON — A new era of professional hockey in the Twin Cities began with the spirited debut of the Bloomington Bison in their first home game Saturday night at downtown’s Grossinger Motors Arena.
The Indy Fuel defeated the Bison 4-2 in what was the lone preseason game for both ECHL teams, which share an ownership group in Hallett Sports and Entertainment.
The first goal in Bison history came in the second period from forward Chongmin Lee, with an assist by defenseman Josh Martin. Later in the period, defenseman Mitchell Smith scored the second goal with help from forwards Gavin Gould and Connor Lockhart.
Players for the Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel scrapped twice during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena. Shown in the video are Bison forward Jamie Engelbert (11) and Fuel forward Colin Bilek (6), and Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) and Fuel forward Nathan Noel (10).
Scoring for the Fuel were forwards Andrew Bellant, Cam Hausinger, Bryan Lemos and Jordan Martin.
The Bison will get another shot at the Fuel next month when the latter team is set to return to Bloomington for a game at 8 p.m. Nov. 22.
Next weekend marks the opening of the Bison’s first regular season. They are set to face the Toledo Walleye at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at Grossinger Motors Arena. Tickets are available at bloomingtonbisonhockey.com or ticketmaster.com, or by calling 309-965-HERD.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel goalie Ben Gaudreau (31) guards the net behind Bloomington Bison forward Gavin Gould (91) and Fuel defenseman Luc Salem (4) during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Jordan Martin (28), Bloomington Bison goalie Mark Sinclair (29) and defenseman Mitchell Smith (26) are shown during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Brandon Saigeon (17) and Bloomington Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) skate near the glass Saturday at the Bison’s first home game in Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Jamie Engelbert (11) tussles with Indy Fuel forward Colin Bilek (6) during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel and Bloomington Bison players tangle for the puck during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Brandon Saigeon (17) and Bloomington Bison forward Jamie Engelbert (11) face off during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Connor Lockhart (73) skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Connor Lockhart skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel players cheer as officials break up a fight betweenBison forward Jamie Engelbert (11) and Fuel forward Colin Bilek (6) during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Jordan Martin and Bloomington Bison defenseman Mitchell Smith (26) skate during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Reilly Webb (44) and Indy Fuel forward Sam Ruffin (29) follow the puck during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Reilly Webb (44) skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Reilly Webb (44) skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Kevin Lombardi (23) controls the puck while pursued by Bloomington Bison players, including forward Connor Lockhart (73), during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel skate during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Dante Fantauzzi (25) and forward Linus Hemstrom (9), and Indy Fuel forward Ethan Manderville (14) skate during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Ethan Manderville (14) and Bloomington Bison forward Linus Hemstrom (9) look for control of the puck Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Dante Fantauzzi (25) skates ahead of Indy Fuel forward Ethan Manderville (14) during the Bison’s first home game Saturday in Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison goalie Mark Sinclair (29) and defensemen Thomas Stewart (22) and Brendan Pepe (74) skate during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
A Bloomington Bison staff member offers a hand to one of the participants in an on-ice tricycle race played between periods Saturday at the Bison’s first home game in Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) wrestles with Indy Fuel forward Nathan Noel (10) on Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) fights with Indy Fuel forward Nathan Noel (10) on Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Linesmen Will Glick (40) and Aaron McCrary (50) confer on the ice during the Bloomington Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel prepare to restart play during the Bison’s first game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel prepare to restart play during the Bison’s first game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Linus Hemstrom waits for play to begin again during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forwards Dalton Duhart (19), Gavin Gould (91) and Connor Lockhart (73) confer on the ice during a break in play Saturday at the team’s first home game in Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Connor Lockhart prepares for play to restart during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison leave the ice during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Josh Martin (24) tangles with Indy Fuel forward Nathan Noel (10) during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Matthew Cassidy (20) skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison forward Matthew Phillip (18) skates during the team’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel mingle on the ice during a break in play at the Bison’s first home game Saturday.
Linesman Aaron McCrary (50) motions to a player during the Bloomington Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison and Indy Fuel prepare to restart play Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Indy Fuel forward Jordan Martin (28) and Bloomington Bison forward Linus Hemstrom (9) prepare to restart play Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Players for the Bloomington Bison line up to thank goalie Mark Sinclair (29) after the team’s first-ever home game Saturday in Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison goalie Hugo Ollas (30) guards the net during the Bloomington Bison’s first game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Branding for the Bloomington Bison is shown Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
The Bloomington Bison open regular season play at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, against the Toledo Walleye, and also play the Walleye at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20.
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The Bloomington Bison made their debut at Grossinger Motors Arena on Saturday, falling to the Indy Fuel 4-2 in the lone preseason game for bot…
The Bison are an affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Reilly Webb (44) and Indy Fuel forward Sam Ruffin (29) follow the puck during the Bison’s first home game Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena.
Bloomington Bison defenseman Thomas Stewart (22) fights with Indy Fuel forward Nathan Noel (10) on Saturday during the Bison’s first home game at Grossinger Motors Arena.
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