MOORHEAD, Minn. – Three members of the North Iowa Bulls’ national championship roster from 2016 are on this season’s Concordia Cobbers roster in Moorhead. One imagines that got Bulls captain Shane Bernhardson thinking about bringing more of North Iowa’s winning tradition to the Fargo area with him after his junior days end this spring.
Bernhardson announced his commitment to the Cobbers on Friday. The third-year defenseman’s career has already gone down as one of the more memorable in Bulls history, even if the words “brash” and “flash” won’t be found in a description of that career. The Apple Valley, Minnesota native crossed the 100-game threshold with the Bulls in October, and is approaching the 50-point mark in his junior career as well. His 12 assists in the opening 16 games of this season ranks fourth on the North Iowa roster.
Bernhardson has been a consistent presence on the Bulls’ blue line for back-to-back Central Division championships, winning the division’s Defenseman of the Year award last season after finishing with a +38 plus-minus rating. A return to the Fraser Cup tournament this March would make three in a row for him individually, and a sixth in a row for the North Iowa organization.
Also on the Cobbers’ roster this season are former North Iowa Bulls teammates Joe Burgmeier, Quinn Fuchs and Marshall Barnes. Concordia forward Mario Bianchi also made a brief stop in Mason City, playing two games for the Bulls during the 2014-15 season. More than 30 former Bulls are currently active in the NCAA ranks, including three who are on Division I rosters.
The Bulls congratulate Shane Bernhardson on taking this important next step in his hockey career, and wish the Cobbers the best as their 2017-18 season continues.