From Head Coach/GM Todd Sanden:
The North Iowa Bulls are coming off their 4th exhibition game in two weekends. To open the exhibition season the Bulls travelled to Janesville Wisconsin to take on the NAHL Janesville Jets. Janesville head coach Joe Dibble extended the invitation that could not be passed up. "Janesville is one of those teams that is in our window of opportunity to send players to. Being just 5 hours from Mason City, we can have a player there in one day if needed." In games where both teams are evaluating their rosters the Jet's took the pair, 3-1 Friday and 7-1Saturday. Both games gave their respective coaches opportunities to see just what they have in this early season. "I was very impressed with our young group on the weekend." With 7 returners the Bulls will be looking for some rookies to make an immediate impact in all areas of the line up. On September 5th and 6th the Bulls travelled to Landon Arena to face the Topeka Capitals. "We have had the opportunity to play the Topeka family of teams the last three years and look to continue that trend next year when we will host the Capitals." It was a great weekend of hockey in Topeka. We had the opportunity to play the Capitals and then watch the Aberdeen Wings take on the Roadrunners in a pair of exhibition games. This week the trend continues for the Bulls as they take the ice against the Austin Bruins on Wednesday September 10th at 2:15pm at Riverside arena in Austin. This is something the Bulls and Bruins have done for a couple years. "It's great to play them, they are 90 minutes up the road and have been one of the top NAHL teams in recent years." "Our goal in exhibition games is to put our players under pressure to see how they react. So far I am very impressed with our group." "I would like to personally thank Joe Dibble, Anthony Bohn, and Chris Tok and their entire organizations for allowing us the opportunity to get these quality games in before our regular season starts." The support we receive from the NAHL teams at this time of season adds legitimacy to the idea that we are under one umbrella and the NAHL/NA3HL are leagues that work together.