MASON CITY, Iowa – The North Iowa Bulls and Mason City Toros each begin their 2022-23 regular-season schedules in mid-September, but both groups will enjoy some preseason tune-up time before hitting the ice with standings points on the line. Each team will get an unofficial chance to hit the ice once in front of the home fans, with the announcement of the Bulls’ and Toros’ preseason schedules Thursday.
North Iowa will host its preseason home contest on Wednesday, September 7 against the North American Hockey League’s Corpus Christi IceRays, the first time that the two teams have ever met in preseason or regular-season competition. The IceRays are completing their preseason training camp in the Midwest ahead of the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, and their 56-game South Division schedule. The IceRays are coming off of a seventh-place finish in the South Division standings last season, as part of a 25-win season. That game is slated to get underway at 7 p.m. at the Mason City Arena. The Bulls will also play two preseason games on the road, visiting the Aberdeen Wings on Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10. Tickets for those games are available through the Wings front office.
The Toros will host a preseason contest of their own on Sunday, September 11 against the Frisk Asker U20 team from Frisk, Norway. The team is a junior team that operates as part of the Frisk Asker organization, which fields a professional team in the Fjordkraftligaen, Norway’s highest professional hockey league. The team is no stranger to the Upper Midwest, playing contests in recent years against Augsburg College, the Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep team in Faribault, Minnesota, and the North American 3 Hockey League’s Rochester Grizzlies. Last year, Frisk Asker U20 finished 15-20, including a 3-2 record in overtime contests, finishing in seventh place in their league. That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
Admission for the Bulls’ and Toros’ home preseason games is just $5 for adults and $3 for kids under the age of 13 – Mason City Youth Hockey players will be admitted free when they attend the game wearing their youth hockey jersey. Starting September 1, fans can also purchase combo tickets good for admission to both games for just $8. Both games will include a postgame meet-and-greet skate with the team, giving fans a chance to meet new players and catch up with returning players. As in previous years, season ticket holders are admitted free to preseason home games.
Single-game ticket sales will also begin on September 1 for all regular-season games played at the Mason City Arena. North Iowa will enjoy a 28-game home schedule beginning October 1 against the Austin Bruins, while the Toros begin their 22-game home slate the following Friday against Rochester.
2022-23 season tickets also remain on sale, with tickets available by phone at 641-423-4625 or online at www.northiowabulls.com and www.masoncitytoros.com. For updated news and information on North Iowa Bulls and Mason City Toros hockey, visit the Bulls’ and Toros’ websites or follow the teams’ social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.