RICHFIELD, Minn. – In his first season of junior hockey, Carter Eha made three stops but found a true home for the second half of the season. After playing five games in the North American Hockey League, Eha is hoping to stick around a bit longer in year two, signing a tender with the Minnesota Magicians.
Eha made his junior debut in Manitoba, before landing in the NAHL with the Jamestown Rebels at the end of October. After tallying his first junior goal and two assists in the month of November, the Bloomington, Minnesota native headed west at Thanksgiving as Lucas Wahlin moved east on a call-up to the Rebels.
He immediately made an impact for the Bulls, tallying points in six of his first eight games at the Tier III level, including an assist in a win over Alexandria on December 7, in the team’s final game at the former North Iowa Ice Arena. Just four weeks later, he helped to christen the team’s new Mason City Multipurpose Arena with two goals and two assists in a win over the Breezy Point North Stars.
Eha finished his half-season with the Bulls with 10 goals and 13 assists in just 22 games. Three of his goals in the home stretch of the season were game-winners, and his four game-winning goals for the season tied for the team’s top mark.
“Carter came to our team at a time when we really needed to add a physical presence to our lineup,” said North Iowa head coach Todd Sanden. “He immediately interjected himself into that physical role and was difficult to play against every night. He opened up time and space for not only himself, but his linemates as well. That extra physicality also led to more offense in our lineup.”
Eha is one of five North Iowa Bulls players to sign an NAHL tender this season, with a burst of tender signings at the end of the season. Four Bulls players signed tenders with NAHL teams in the month of March alone. Almost 50 North Iowa Bulls players have appeared for NAHL teams after suiting up for the Bulls, including eight who have reached the NCAA Division I level.
The former Bloomington Jefferson High School standout’s NAHL playing rights now belong to the Minnesota Magicians, and he is no longer eligible to be selected in the league’s annual draft on June 2.
The North Iowa Bulls congratulate Carter Eha on his tender signing with the Minnesota Magicians, and wish him the best in his upcoming return to the North American Hockey League.