Week 1 Training Camp Update

Sep 8, 2015

    The North Iowa Bulls opened up their first week of training camp with a pair of high tempo practices and a trio of scrimmages. Getting on the ice on Tuesday September 1st was a long awaited return for coach Sanden and the 6 returning players from the 2015 National Championship team. It was also the first look at the many new faces that will make up the roster of the 2015-16 North Iowa squad. What is consistent with past teams is the speed of the Bulls, "We really got up and down the rink in those first two practices. I was impressed by the opening pace of our team." On Thursday the Bulls were on the ice with the Austin Bruins of the NAHL in a controlled scrimmage. "We didn't carry much of the zone possession in this scrimmage but we did capitalize on a couple scoring opportunities on the power play. Riley Meyer and newly named captain Adam Orn connected for the Bulls on those power play chances. The final was 4-2 in favor of the Bruins. "This was a great opportunity for our team to get a feel for what the pace and physicality of an NAHL game is like. I thought we competed well throughout and am satisfied with our teams effort." "We appreciate and thank the Austin Bruins for the opportunity of playing them."
    On Friday September 4th the Bulls loaded up the bus and headed to St. Louis, MO for a pair of exhibition games against the NA3HL Junior Blues. The Bulls dropped the opening game of the weekend 6-2 to the Junior Blues. The Bulls got the start to the game they were looking for when Kadin Machusak slipped the puck by the St. Louis netminder on a low angle shot. Daylon DeSouza and Tom Lindgren assisted the Machusak tally. St. Louis scored a pair of goals to go up by one before the North Iowa side knotted the score at 2 with a Tommy Stang power play marker assisted by Jack Stang and Shane Bernhardson. That was it for Bulls scoring as the Junior Blues tallied 4 straight goals to cruise to the victory. Tommi Ahlgren and Zack St. John shared the loss in goal. "I thought our energy was great throughout the game. It was our decision making that cost us opportunities and lead to St. Louis scoring chances." On Saturday the 5th the Bulls looked to regroup and tidy some system play up while keeping the same energy level from the night before. The Bulls again scored the games first goal when Marshall Barnes buried a nice pass from below the goal line from Jack Stang. Tommy Stang also had an assist on the Barnes goal. The Junior Blues answered with a goal of their own to tie the score at 1's. That score held until the third period when Joe Guimont notched the game winner assisted by Alec Nichols. Adam Orn added a power play goal with just under 4 minutes left in the game to give the Bulls some breathing room. Jacob Cox assisted Orn on the power play goal. David Johnson went the distance in this game giving the team it's first chance at a victory this season. "The difference between Saturdays game and Friday's was poise and decision making. We were in much better position on Saturday which allowed us to defend more effectively and created scoring chances too."
This week the Bulls are scheduled to play the NAHL's Janesville Jets on Friday and Saturday September 11-12 in Janesville, WI. The games are not being broadcast on FastHockey so get to Janesville if you want to catch the Bulls weekends games. Both games are scheduled for 7pm starts.