March 17, 2021 – 7:00 p.m.
J.P. Parise Arena – Faribault, Minn.
NORTH IOWA BULLS (25-9-1-1)
@ SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S SABRES (21-4-2)
ROSTER: NORTH IOWA // SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S
STATISTICS: NORTH IOWA // SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S
ATTENDING THE GAME: MAP TO ARENA
COVERAGE: HockeyTV (video/$)
LIVE STATS: None
BULLS vs. SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S ALL-TIME: 4-8-0
NEXT HOME GAME: North Iowa returns to home ice on Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20 for their Autism Speaks jersey auction weekend against Granite City – the Bulls will wear special jerseys to be auctioned online the week of the game through DASH Auction. For a schedule of upcoming promotions, click here.
A BUSINESS TRIP: There aren’t a ton of “firsts” left for North Iowa to chase, but in this contest, the Bulls will be hunting for their first-ever win on the Sabres’ home ice, making their sixth trip all-time to the J.P. Parise Arena. Last year’s meeting in Faribault saw a close call for the visitors, falling 7-5 despite erasing an early three-goal deficit. The Bulls tied the game twice, but the Sabres went 3-for-4 on the power play, and North Dakota commit Scott Morrow notched a hat trick. Future UND teammate Jackson Kunz notched two of his own. This matchup comes after a 4-3 North Iowa victory in January in the teams’ first-ever meeting at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena – in that contest, Carson Jones notched two goals, with Caleb Huffman burying a goal and an assist of his own. Caleb Mayer made an incredible 47 saves for the unofficial win.
NOT AFRAID OF COMMITMENT: When the teams last met, North Iowa’s college commitment list for this season was empty, but three Bulls players have populated that list since then. Cal Nauss, Evan Babekuhl and Jac Triemert all chose Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference destinations in a three-week span in late February and early March. Shattuck-St. Mary’s already has four players committed to Division I programs, including Morrow, who will head directly to North Dakota next season. Charlie Lurie and Connor Schneider will become Nebraska-Omaha teammates in 2022-23, while Ethan Begg is set to head to Vermont in the 2023-24 season.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Both teams have some impressive family connections in the sport – for North Iowa, that list includes defenseman Jase Sofo, whose brother Joe had previously played at Alaska-Anchorage. The most familiar family connection in the sport for the Sabres belongs to Jordan Brisson, whose older brother Brendan earned a World Junior gold medal back in January, and was drafted by Vegas in the first round of last year’s NHL Draft.
FEELING AT HOME: Shattuck-St. Mary’s is only 7-4 away from Faribault this season, but it’s been hard to knock off the Sabres on their home ice. Shattuck-St. Mary’s has not been beaten in 16 games at home, tying only twice in Elite League competition. S-SM is enjoying a 23-game home unbeaten streak, last losing on home ice to Chicago Mission in November 2019 by a 8-5 count. Last year’s Sabre squad finished 17-1-1 in Faribault.
MEDIA NOTES (click the arrow to expand):