Bulls Preview: Game 15 vs. Alexandria

Oct 31, 2019

THIS WEEKEND’S GAME:

SATURDAY – Alexandria @ North Iowa, 7:30 p.m

ALEXANDRIA BLIZZARD, 5-5-0-0 (ROSTER, STATS)
@ NORTH IOWA BULLS, 11-2-1-0 (ROSTERSTATS)

 

COVERAGE: HockeyTV (video/$), Mixlr (audio/free)

BULLS vs. ALEXANDRIA ALL-TIME: 28-6-2

THIS WEEK’S PROMOTIONS: The Bulls celebrate their “5 For Fighting” promotion with specials on tickets (Buy One, Get One For $5), merchandise (select items for $5) and beer (two for $5). For a schedule of upcoming promotions, click here.

IN THE HISTORY BOOKS: Saturday’s game marks the rematch of a historic series for the Alexandria Blizzard. Last year’s West Division finals featured Alexandria for the first time ever, thanks to a comeback in the division semifinals. Granite City whipped the Blizzard 6-1 in the opening game of the series in Sauk Rapids, but Alexandria earned a 4-3 overtime win in Game 2 and held off the ‘Jacks again in Game 3 to make it to their first-ever Division Finals.  

BLIZZARD BARTER: Each team has a veteran on its roster who has made his name in his current uniform, but got his start in the opposing team’s sweater. In Alexandria’s case, Ike Tarazewski is set to reach a milestone this weekend with 50 combined regular-season and playoff games at the junior level. Tarazewski made his junior debut last season with the Bulls, but became a member of the Blizzard at the start of December. That swap marked exactly a year after the deal that brought Matt Dahlseide to Mason City. He played in his 100th regular-season junior hockey game last weekend at New Ulm, including five with the NAHL’s Brookings Blizzard during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.

FROM ST. CLOUD TO CERRO GORDO: The Bulls are welcoming a new player this weekend, himself a former Blizzard forward in the North American Hockey League. Jackson Vercellono began the season with St. Cloud, playing two games for the “Blizz” before joining the Bulls this week. Vercellono was one of 15 players drafted by the Bulls this past spring, after leading Northstar Christian Academy in Alexandria to more than 40 wins during the 2017-18 season.

FROM CERRO GORDO TO THE SOUTH: As one standout in the sport puts on the Bulls sweater for the first time, a North Iowa standout is moving up by heading south. Zachary Simon is set to join the North American Hockey League’s Lone Star Brahmas on Sunday, and is expected to see his first Tier II action next weekend. Simon made his junior debut last year for the Bulls with four points in 14 games, and has had a whale of a start to this year with a dozen points in 13 games. His efforts during the 2017-18 season helped Orono High School win its first state title, and last year’s Spartans reached the section finals.

MEDIA NOTES: