BRANDON – The Brandon University Bobcats are on the road again in rural Manitoba for four intrasquad games.
 
Killarney, MacGregor, Neepawa and Shoal Lake will host the Bobcats as the BU basketball and volleyball teams prepare for the 2018-19 U SPORTS regular season.
 

• September 18, Men's Volleyball at Shoal Lake at 6 p.m.
• September 19, Women's Basketball at Killarney at 6 p.m.
• September 26, Men's Basketball at Neepawa at 6 p.m.
• October 3, Women's Volleyball at MacGregor at 7 p.m.

 
"This is our fourth year touring Westman and we are always welcomed with open arms," said BU Athletic Director Russ Paddock. "These intrasquad games have proven to be a great opportunity in helping us reach our fans outside of Brandon."
 
The Bobcats' first stop is Shoal Lake on Tuesday, September 18 when the men's volleyball team gets back into the swing of things.
 
Long-time volleyball enthusiast Mark Geekie is in his first year as principal of Shoal Lake School. Geekie helped the Bobcats to a national silver medal in 2011 as an assistant coach.
 
"The Bobcats have done an excellent job promoting their teams throughout the rural area and this is another example of that," said Geekie. "We hope that many people from our community and surrounding area will come to watch and take advantage of the fact that university level volleyball is coming to Shoal Lake School."
 
The following night, the women's basketball team plays a tune-up match at Killarney School.
 
"The connections and role modeling made possible by this outreach program are tremendous," said Killarney principal Terry Beazley. "Our students will get a chance to see the skill level, tenacity and communication required to play at the university level."
 
Meanwhile, the Bobcats are headed to Neepawa for a second straight season where the men's basketball team will be hitting the court.
 
The popularity of basketball has skyrocketed in Neepawa's Filipino community. An adult men's league has over 300 players, while a youth program has been firmly established.
 
"Over the years we have been lucky to have many great coaches and teams in our school and with the increase in Filipino students, we have seen the number of students interested in basketball grow by leaps and bounds," said Neepawa principal Kelvin Hollier. "The Bobcats playing in our gym will only add to the momentum we have seen in growing the game in our town."
 
The BU women's volleyball team will close out the tour on October 3 at MacGregor Collegiate Institute.
 
The Bobcats' match kicks off a big season for MacGregor, with the school hosting the 'AA' provincial girls' volleyball championship in November.
 
MacGregor's gymnasium also received a major makeover with the floor refinished and a new scoreboard installed over the summer.
 
"This is an opportunity we immediately jumped at because it provides our students a chance to interact with Bobcat student-athletes at the top of their game," said MacGregor principal Kyle McKinstry..
 
Over the past three seasons the Bobcats intrasquad game initiative has seen BU teams travel to Boissevain, Carberry, Carman, CFB Shilo, Dauphin, Deloraine, Gladstone, Glenboro, Hamiota, Melita, Souris and Virden.