Bulls Face Wings, Look To Fly Into Central Division Contention

IN A NUTSHELL:

North Iowa winds down another season series as crunch time continues in the Central Division.

THIS WEEKEND’S PROMOTIONS:­

The Bulls welcome the Aberdeen Wings Friday for the team’s Hometown Heroes night, presented by T-Mobile of Mason City – all veterans and active military members receive free admission to the game. Saturday is the Bulls’ “Goal, Goal, Goal and a Bottle of Rum” promotion – all Cutwater rum drinks are marked down to just $3, and the first 100 kids in the door will receive a free eye patch. Doubloons worth $1 off any beer at the beer stand will also be tossed into the crowd throughout the game.

ONE OUTTA TWO AIN’T BAD:

Though the Wings have won eight out of 10 against North Iowa this season, the Bulls have been in just about every meeting with Aberdeen this season. Of their six overtime and shootout losses this year, four have come against Aberdeen, including three shootout losses – it’s the first time in a decade that North Iowa has played the same team to a shootout three times in one year. The Wings have gotten quite comfortable in the extra session this season, with 11 games going beyond the regulation 60 minutes. Only Odessa, the Minnesota Magicians, Maryland and Jamestown, with a dozen apiece, and Lone Star – with a whopping 17 games – have played more bonus hockey than the Wings have.

“C” FOR CAPTAIN, “C” FOR CENTURY MARK:

Friday, North Iowa captain Sean Vlasich is set to become the latest Bulls player to reach the century mark with his 100^th career North American Hockey League contest – he is the fifth North Iowa player this season to reach the century mark, after Greg Japchen made his 100^th appearance at Springfield in late February and Jack Mesic and Casey Roepke got to 100 before the new calendar year. Sota Isogai reached the 100 mark in his first NAHL game prior to Thanksgiving, while Jake LaRusso played in his 100^th NAHL game while still with the New Jersey Titans.

HOMESTYLE HOCKEY:

The home stretch truly picks up steam tonight, as the Bulls hit the home ice for eight of their last 10 games after playing 14 of their last 19 on the road. Both remaining road games will be played as part of home-and-home weekends against St. Cloud, after the Bulls went 8-10 on their nine overnight road trips this season. Last year was a reversal of the typical schedule, with the Bulls finishing their regular season on the road for seven of their final 10 contests.

FLYING HIGH AGAINST THE WINGS:

No Bulls player has scored more against Aberdeen this season than Michael Mesic, especially in recent meetings – the future Northern Michigan Wildcat has posted nine points over his last five games against the Wings, including a three-goal, two-assist weekend in South Dakota January 28 and 29.

CAMPING OUT IN THE SCORING COLUMN:

Forward Jack Campion comes into the weekend with 14 points since joining the NAHL roster on December 10, but half of those have come in just six appearances against the Wings. Among those seven points against Aberdeen was his 100^th junior point, which came in an overtime loss on February 11.