Gameday Central: October 30 at Willmar

Oct 29, 2020

October 30, 2020 – 7:10 p.m.
Willmar Civic Center – Willmar, Minn.

NORTH IOWA BULLS (5-2-0-0)
@ WILLMAR WARHAWKS (2-5-0-0)

 

ROSTER: NORTH IOWA // WILLMAR
STATISTICS:
NORTH IOWA // WILLMAR

 

ATTENDING THE GAME: MAP TO ARENA // PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE // SEATING CHART

COVERAGE: HockeyTV (video/$)

LIVE STATS: CLICK HERE

BULLS vs. WILLMAR ALL-TIME: 16-0-1

NEXT HOME GAME: North Iowa celebrates Halloween at home against the Willmar WarHawks on October 31, with “Boos and Brews Night” – fans of the appropriate age will receive a free koozie with each purchase of two beers, and kids of all ages can enjoy trick-or-treating on the concourse during the first intermission. For a schedule of upcoming promotions, click here.

 

U KNOW IT: The Bulls have landed back-to-back Bauer Hockey West Division Star of the Week awards – one week after Garrett Freeman’s honor from the North American Tier 3 Hockey League, the hardware went to Brayden Uttech this time for his work in last week’s games against Willmar and Alexandria. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native notched four points on the weekend, including three in Friday’s win over the WarHawks. His two goals on Friday night were the Bulls’ final two goals of the game, with his first goal at the 14:38 mark going as the game-winner. Uttech would score again on the penalty kill, putting one into the empty net with 56 seconds remaining.

ON SECOND THOUGHT: The second period has annually been the strongest stanza for North Iowa, but the middle 20 minutes were costly in last week’s games – Willmar took a 2-1 lead after Austin Jozwick’s back-to-back goals in the second period, and the Blizzard’s three second-period goals turned the tide in Saturday’s game at Alexandria. The Bulls have scored eight goals and allowed seven in the second period, while at eight goals scored and 10 allowed, the second period has been the WarHawks’ strongest thus far.

I GET THE POINT: In this game, North Iowa looks to extend its longest active winning streak against a single opponent – the Bulls have won 14 straight against the WarHawks, and have earned a point in every one of the teams’ 17 meetings since the Minnesota Flying Aces moved to Willmar in 2016 to become the WarHawks. That winning streak almost came to an abrupt end last Friday night, with the WarHawks taking a 2-1 lead into the third period before the Bulls made their move.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Willmar snapped a lengthy power-play drought in last Saturday’s game against New Ulm, ending a run of 41 straight misses on the man-advantage since February 22. The WarHawks are still looking to ramp up the penalty kill as the first month of the season starts to wind down – their 10 power-play goals allowed is the highest such mark in the NA3HL. Alexandria’s power-play goal in the second period last Saturday was the Bulls’ second allowed this year.

MEDIA NOTES (click the arrow to expand):