April 10, 2021 – 7:30 p.m.
Municipal Athletic Complex – St. Cloud, Minn.
NORTH IOWA BULLS (27-11-1-0)
@ WILLMAR WARHAWKS (22-18-0-0)
ROSTER: NORTH IOWA // WILLMAR
STATISTICS: NORTH IOWA // WILLMAR
ATTENDING THE GAME: MAP TO ARENA // PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE
COVERAGE: HockeyTV (video/$/Willmar audio), Mixlr (audio/free/North Iowa audio)
LIVE STATS: CLICK HERE
BULLS vs. WILLMAR ALL-TIME: 23-2-2
NEXT HOME GAME: Should Willmar win this game, the teams return to Mason City for a decisive Game 3 Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m. For a schedule of upcoming promotions, click here.
STRETCH ARMSTRONG: Garrett Freeman has been as steady as ever during the stretch run, posting points in six of the team’s last nine regular-season contests, including the game-winner in a pivotal March 19 win over Granite City. He has notched a point in every postseason game, with goals in the first two games against Alexandria. Max Savaloja has been a breakout star in the postseason as well, notching four goals and an assist in his last three games after closing the regular season with just one assist over his final 13 appearances.
FINISH HIM: The Bulls are in a familiar position after winning Game 1 on Friday, with a chance to close out the series tonight – North Iowa is 9-3 all-time in a Game 2 elimination game after winning the opening game of a series. Two of those losses came on the road at Granite City in the 2014 and ’15 West Division Finals, after earning wins at home, and the other came two years ago in a West Division Semifinal set against the Rochester Grizzlies. Thanks to home- ice advantage, the Bulls have only played Game 2 on home ice once, the West Division Semis against the Twin City Steel in 2012, when North Iowa hosted all games. (North Iowa also swept Minnesota in 2013 in a one-round, best-of-5 divisional playoff format.)
HOME AWAY FROM HOME: Tonight’s game is a home game for the Willmar WarHawks, but even the home team will be making a short road trip to host this contest. The extension of the season and the WarHawks’ upset of Granite City in the opening round forced a scheduling conflict with the Home & Outdoor Living Expo at the Willmar Civic Center, forcing the teams to relocate to the MAC in St. Cloud for this game. The WarHawks’ sister team in the NAHL, the St. Cloud Norsemen, call the MAC home, and moved their game to 4 p.m. to accommodate tonight’s West Division Final matchup.
MEDIA NOTES (click the arrow to expand):