MASON CITY, Iowa – The North Iowa Bulls’ schedule has been hard to pin down since its last official home game on November 21 against the New Ulm Steel. Exhibition games against the Carshield Under-18 team from St. Louis and the Rochester Grizzlies filled the bill this past weekend, and as the 2020 home schedule winds down, the Bulls are ramping up the action at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena.
The Bulls are excited to announce their Holiday Classic showcase event, scheduled for this Thursday through Sunday, featuring two non-divisional opponents who are both contenders in their own regions. The Central Division’s St. Louis Jr. Blues and the Frontier Division’s Sheridan Hawks will make their ways to Mason City for four games this weekend, joining the host Bulls, with each team playing each other team twice over the weekend.
The Jr. Blues are a perennial favorite in the North American Tier 3 Hockey League’s Central Division, and sit in fourth place in a stiff divisional battle. The Hawks held their main tryout camp in Mason City in August in conjunction with North Iowa’s camp, and hold the best winning percentage in the North American Tier 3 Hockey League’s West Division. Sheridan also enters the weekend on a 10-game winning streak.
The Bulls host Sheridan on Thursday and Saturday night, and host the Jr. Blues on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. North Iowa’s first three games of the weekend all begin at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday’s game set to get underway at 12:00 p.m. Sheridan and St. Louis will play each other on Friday and Saturday, with both games beginning at noon.
North Iowa is offering discounted admission for every game on this week’s schedule – admission to Friday and Saturday’s games is just $8 for adults and $5 for children, with admission to Thursday and Sunday’s North Iowa Bulls games set at just $5 for all tickets. The Hockey Holidaze ticket package will cover admission to all four North Iowa games for just $25 per person. Tickets will be available at the door for all games, and all six games are included in Bulls season ticket packages. Season tickets are valid for the latest seating arrangement released prior to Thanksgiving, and can be picked up at will call prior to any of the six games.
Each of North Iowa’s games on the weekend will have its own theme, offering fans additional incentive to head out and take in some hockey. The weekend opens with “Timeout Thursday,” a chance to take time out from your busy work week with $2 draws in addition to $5 tickets.
Friday’s game is the Bulls’ annual “Naughty and Nice” Night, with an ugly sweater contest and appearances from some of your favorite Christmas characters. Saturday’s game sees an additional appearance from the cast of Christmas characters, and features the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss to benefit the Salvation Army as part of the team’s “Bears and Bells” night. Fans are welcome to come out in their pajamas for the finale on “Santa Sunday,” with an appearance by jolly old St. Nick himself.
The North Iowa Bulls are also proud to have Coca-Cola and Atlantic Bottling Company back on board for this weekend’s Holiday Classic. Atlantic Bottling and Coca-Cola were proud sponsors of the Bulls’ Main Tryout Camp in August. Atlantic Bottling Company has seven distribution centers across the state, including one in Mason City, and is a privately owned, independent bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola products for Iowa, parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri.
All six games will be streamed live on HockeyTV, with audio streaming of all four North Iowa Bulls games also available for free on Mixlr. Updated news and information on the North Iowa Bulls’ 10th Anniversary season in Mason City are always available at www.northiowabulls.com, and by following the team’s social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
BULLS HOLIDAY CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Thursday, Dec. 10 – 7:30 p.m. – Sheridan vs. North Iowa
Friday, Dec. 11 – 12:00 p.m. – Sheridan vs. St. Louis
Friday, Dec. 11 – 7:30 p.m. – St. Louis vs. North Iowa
Saturday, Dec. 12 – 12:00 p.m. – Sheridan vs. St. Louis
Saturday, Dec. 12 – 7:30 p.m. – Sheridan vs. North Iowa
Sunday, Dec. 13 – 12:00 p.m. – St. Louis vs. North Iowa