Posted: January 20, 2010 10:14AM; Updated: January 20, 2010 3:21PM

Colorado Springs, CO – The Fort Collins Catz head south this Friday night, January 22, to take on the conference leading, Colorado Springs Thunder as the start of PIHA’s “second season” begins. Tour Arena will be sold out as the Catz come into hostile territory to face not only a very good Thunder team but also the Thunder faithful. “It was a huge deal for us to get home floor throughout the playoffs. We have not been playing our best and with a few of the guys banged up we will need all the help we can get,” said head coach Dave Needham.

The Catz are coming into the playoffs on a fairly high note after playing well late in the season and splitting the last two series with the Thunder. Fort Collins is getting plenty of help from the entire roster as they spread out their scoring and play great defense in front of one of the best goalies in the league in Nolan Frasier. Jesse Beers has also done a tremendous job adding to the offense while earning Defensive Player of the Month honors for December.   

While the Thunder have not been clicking on all cylinders, this team is still where they’ve been for over two years, on top! Colorado Springs has turned into a roller hockey town and the fans will pack the Thunderdome to help seal their home teams way to the PIHA Finals. The usual names are leading not only the team but also the league as Brian Yingling (31-26-57) and CJ Yoder (18-30-48) lead both respectively. But even they have not been playing the way they would like. “We just have not buried the puck the way we need to. We will need everyone to step up and play well for us to even think we have a chance to win this series,” said Thunder captain, CJ Yoder.