Mason City, IA- 2024 started off on a great note for the North Iowa Bulls. Against the Aberdeen Wings, the Bulls rode a brilliant performance by Dylan Johnson in net and a pair of goals to a calendar opening 2-1 overtime victory.
Eli Miller played the night’s hero role, punching home a rebound off the post from a JT Veney shot to land the overtime winner 2:37 into the extra session. The goal was his second of the season and snapped a nine game losing skid.
Blake Ulve recorded the Bulls’ only regulation goal, pinballing a puck through Wings goalie Adam Dybal 46 seconds into the second period for his 4th goal of the season. The Ostrava, Czechia, native stopped 21 of 23 shots on Aberdeen’s net while future American International College Yellow Jacket Nikolai Tishkevich recorded the lone Wings goal on the night 6:25 into the overtime, notching his 11th on the season.
The star of the net was Bulls goaltender Dylan Johnson. The Dallas, Texas, native recorded 40 saves in a wild night to secure his first win since arriving in Mason City.
North Iowa and Aberdeen face each other again on Saturday night, as the Bulls eye a weekend sweep at the Mason City Arena. Puck drops at 7:10 PM. The game will be broadcast on NAHL TV and on the North Iowa Bulls’ Mixlr Feed.