MASON CITY, Iowa – The North Iowa Bulls wrapped up the 2017-18 season with the North American Tier 3 Hockey League’s second-best regular season record, with 39 wins and 82 points in the final standings. North Iowa was handsomely rewarded late this week, with the announcement of the league’s awards. Here’s who was handed the hardware:
TYLER BUMP: The second-year Bulls forward was named the Central Division’s Forward of the Year and was one of the three forwards selected to the league’s Second Team. He also earned a place on the league’s All-Central Division team and Central Division Most Valuable Player after posting a team-best 85 points during the regular season, including 29 goals. His 56 assists was fourth in the league, and those 85 points tied for a top-seven spot.
SHANE BERNHARDSON: The third-year North Iowa defenseman landed a defensive spot on the league’s Second Team, and was chosen to the All-Central Division team as the division’s Defenseman of the Year. The captain of this year’s squad finished a record-breaking career with 46 points, the most of any defenseman on the team. His longevity as a North Iowa Bull, and his productivity this year, helped him snag the team’s single-season record for assists, and career records for assists and plus-minus, by a defenseman.
COLIN CAIN: North Iowa’s rookie netminder earned the goaltender’s spot on the All-Central Division team, and was chosen as the division’s Goaltender of the Year. Like his counterparts, Cain’s honors were very well-earned, with a franchise-record 27 wins this regular season. His 1.78 goals-against average and .935 save percentage during the regular season also rank among the best marks in North Iowa history.
TODD SANDEN: The Bulls’ bench boss was not to be forgotten either, landing the NA3HL’s Coach of the Year award. Sanden led the team to yet another 41-win season (including the team’s first-round playoff sweep of the Wausau RiverWolves), and marked a milestone in December with his 300th win as North Iowa’s head coach. The Bulls capped off their season with a sixth straight regular-season division title and saw 11 players on the year-end roster commit to college programs, or sign North American Hockey League tenders.
The week also ended on the right note for the Bulls organization, landing the league’s Organization of the Year award for its ongoing work in the community and its seventh straight NA3HL attendance title. Former Bulls goaltender Drew Scites earned some big-time hardware after moving on to the Great Falls Americans in the league’s Frontier Division, earning the league’s Goaltender of the Year award with a 20-0-0-0 record in 21 appearances, and leading the league with a .949 save percentage.
In September, the three-time national champion North Iowa Bulls begin their eighth season as a member club in the NA3HL. Season tickets are on sale now, with a 10-percent discount available for season ticket accounts that are paid in full by the end of April. For more information, click here. For team news and updates throughout the offseason, visit NorthIowaBulls.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.