Cats will host Rochester in home opener

The Thunder Bay Border Cats will face the Northwoods League’s most decorated team in their ninth home opener on June 6.

The Cats, who unveiled their full 2011 schedule on Monday, will open with a three-game stand against the five-time champion Rochester Honkers, who lost to Eau Claire in the 2010 NWL final, denied a second-straight title.

The Cats will play two more, against the Brainerd Area Lunkers, before hitting the road again.

Once again Thunder Bay will play its entire 70-game schedule against North Division teams. They open on the road on June 1 against Willmar.

Highlights of the schedule include the annual Canada Day matinee, slotted for 1:35 p.m. against Mankato.

The team has also arranged its schedule to limit the number of weekend home games, acknowledging the short summer and Thunder Bay’s affinity to pack up and head off to camp as often as possible during the warm weather season.