PLYMOUTH, Mich. – One of the reasons teams in the North American Tier 3 Hockey League reach the top level is because of the top-tier players who don their uniforms each night. North Iowa will have five of its top players on the ice at the end of the month for the NA3HL’s Top Prospects showcase, scheduled for Feb. 27 and 28 at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
Head coach Todd Sanden has also been selected to participate in the Top Prospects showcase, co-coaching the Blue squad, which will consist of the top players from the Central and Coastal Divisions. Joining Sanden on the bench will be Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques coach Cam Robichaud.
Here are the Bulls players selected to this year’s Top Prospects showcase, starting with the three on Sanden’s Blue squad:
Tyler Bump, a second-year Bulls forward from Prior Lake, Minnesota. Bump is the team’s top scorer this season, tallying 71 points in 36 games, including 24 goals. His 47 assists is far and away the top mark on the team, and ranks second in the entire NA3HL.
Jake Joyaux, a second-year North Iowa defenseman from Bloomingdale, Illinois. Joyaux has the most goals among defensemen on the Bulls roster (8), and the most points of any defenseman on the roster without an NCAA commitment in hand for next year.
Colin Cain, the Bulls’ first-year starting goaltender from Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. Cain has 21 wins this season, the third-most in a single season in franchise history. He’s tallied five shutouts over the last two months, and has tallied a paltry 1.76 goals-against average.
And now, for the Bulls’ two players on the White U18 Selects team, coached by Jon Vaillancourt of the La Crosse Freeze:
Cameron Fagerlee, a first-year forward from St. Anthony, Minnesota. The Totino-Grace alumnus started his junior career with a bang, rolling up points in his first 18 games for North Iowa, the third-longest point streak in franchise history. He’ll enter the weekend with 59 points, tied for second on the team.
Jarod Blackowiak, an Eden Prairie, Minnesota standout and former Austin Bruin. He’s since committed to the NAHL’s Minnesota Magicians, signing a tender with the club last month. Among his 27 points this season are a dozen goals, including three game-winners.
Each team will play two games on Tuesday, February 27th and one game on Wednesday, February 28th. Games will consist of three 17-minute periods, with a single ice cut in the middle of the 2nd period. All games will be streamed live on HockeyTV.