THIS WEEKEND’S GAMES:
FRIDAY – North Iowa @ Breezy Point, 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY – North Iowa @ Breezy Point, 7:30 p.m.
NORTH IOWA BULLS, 12-5-0-0 (ROSTER, STATS)
@ BREEZY POINT NORTH STARS, 3-13-2-0 (ROSTER, STATS)
COVERAGE: HockeyTV (video/$)
BULLS VS. BREEZY POINT ALL-TIME: 31-1-0
NEXT HOME GAME: Next weekend is Black Friday at the North Iowa Ice Arena, featuring merchandise and concessions specials. The Bulls will also celebrate our Military Appreciation Night, as we give thanks to those who protect our country and our freedoms. For a schedule of upcoming promotions, click the “Game Day Fun” link at NorthIowaBulls.com.
BLACKOWIAK WHIPS WILLMAR, WOWS WEST: North Iowa has its second straight Bauer Hockey NA3HL West Division Star of the Week after Jarod Blackowiak’s ridiculous weekend against the Willmar WarHawks. The second-year Bulls forward notched four goals on Friday night before adding three more goals and an assist on Saturday. Those eight points gave him the team’s third divisional Star of the Week award this season, after Brendan Studioso’s honor in late September and Peter Verstegen’s selection last week. Blackowiak also had a shorthanded tally in each game last weekend, and his second goal in Friday’s game was also the game-winner.
CLOSING EARLY: It’s rare when the Bulls close out their season series against a divisional opponent this early in the season. Two years ago, North Iowa finished its season series against the Chicago Bulldogs by Halloween, by far the earliest end to a season series in franchise history. Two other season series against divisional teams have ended in December – one was last year against Rochester (Dec. 31), and another one was the Bulls’ series against Breezy Point during the 2014-15 season (Dec. 13). This is the first year since 2014-15 that the Bulls and the North Stars have been in the same division.
SPECIAL TEAMS SNIPPETS: Two major special-teams streaks did come to an end with North Iowa’s win over Willmar on Saturday. The Bulls had killed 20 straight opposing power plays until allowing Holt’s power-play tally in the second period. The Bulls were not able to save their own power play scoring streak, though – North Iowa went 0-for-3 against the WarHawks with the extra man on Saturday, snapping a run of eight straight games with power-play goals. The last time Breezy Point and North Iowa met, the Bulls finished the night a perfect 5-for-5 on the power play.
MEDIA NOTES: