Post Game Report 12-2
MASON CITY, Iowa – The North Iowa Bulls defended home ice yet again Friday night in a 7-4 win over the New Ulm Steel, but they finished Friday night’s game with more important concerns on their minds. Forward Sean Mallonee (Kennewick, Wash./North Iowa Bulls) was taken off the ice early in the third period and transported to a local hospital after suffering a severe laceration to the neck while on the ice. Mallonee underwent non-emergency surgery late Friday, avoiding serious injury after a scary moment for all in the arena. He hopes to be released prior to the end of the weekend.
“It’s one of those plays that’s so unfortunate,” says Zach Hayes (Bartlett, Ill./Team Illinois), who left the bench to help Mallonee off the ice. “That might have the worst shift of my hockey career, having to jump on [the ice] and not knowing what’s going on. My head was still on the bench 100 percent.”
The Bulls jumped ahead with two quick goals in the first period, including a rip from Mallonee at the right faceoff circle less than six minutes into the game that led to a tidal wave of thrown toys on North Iowa’s Teddy Bear Toss night. A long pass from Steven Mordini (Baraboo, Wis./Team Wisconsin) led Hayes into the New Ulm zone and he put one away just 32 seconds later to double the lead.
Within the first 3:05 of the second period, the Bulls had doubled the lead again, thanks to goals from Mitch Dolter (Faribault, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary’s) and Josh Arnold (Roseville, Minn./Bismarck Bobcats). Only Jared Erickson’s goal at 9:36 and Vincent Billing’s tally against his former team at 13:33 slowed what turned out to be a five-goal and 14-shot barrage in the second period.
Billing tallied again at the 1:55 mark of the third period and Jacob Padley added a late goal to cut the lead to 7-4, but North Iowa walked away with its 20th straight home win.
Jon Albers took the loss for the Steel, leaving the game after Arnold’s goal three minutes into the second period. Nathan Siclovan was tagged with the loss after giving up the final three goals, including Mallonee’s eventual game-winner with 7:53 left in the second period. Brady Meyers (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall H.S.) bumped his record to 8-2-0 with the victory, stopping 18 of New Ulm’s 22 shots in the Bulls’ final game before the holiday break.
North Iowa and New Ulm switch spots Saturday night as the Steel host their first game against the Bulls since their move south during the offseason. Saturday’s game is set for a 7:10 p.m. opening faceoff. All Bulls games, home and away, are streamed live on HockeyTV – all Bulls home games and select road games, including Saturday’s game, are also audio-streamed live on Mixlr.