March 6, 2021 – 8:10 p.m.
Willmar Civic Center – Willmar, Minn.
NORTH IOWA BULLS (22-8-1-0)
@ WILLMAR WARHAWKS (16-15-0-0)
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: 21-1-2
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.
WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN: The Bulls are beginning a series of “lasts” this weekend, following the breaking news on Friday of North Iowa’s elevation to the North American Hockey League for the 2021-22 season. This weekend marks the final time the Bulls and WarHawks will see each other, barring a meeting in the Fraser Cup West Division playoffs next month. North Iowa will make its final trip to New Ulm next weekend. The NAHL returns to Mason City for the first time since 2010, when the North Iowa Outlaws left for La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Bulls would take up the junior hockey torch in the River City the following year.
RIGHT THE SHIP: North Iowa finds itself on a rare skid, with losses in four of their last five outings and no regulation wins since sewing up a playoff spot on February 20. It’s the first run of four losses in five games for the Bulls since snapping a four-game losing skid with a win at Willmar on February 8, 2019.
SOME REALLY ‘KUHL COMMITMENT NEWS: North Iowa’s newest college commitment was just made this past week, with the formal announcement coming this past Thursday – goaltender Evan Babekuhl has announced he will head to Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota to continue his career next season. The veteran North Iowa netminder has posted 35 wins in his career, second in Bulls history to only Matthew Bartels with 41. He is the sixth Bull all-time to make a commitment to the Cobbers, with two players currently on the Concordia roster. Chris Howe’s squad lost its first game of the season back on February 6, a 3-1 defeat against St. Mary’s University, but the Cobbers have been riddled with postponements and cancellations since.
CARSON JONES: CRUSHING IT: It’s been a headline week for Bulls forward Carson Jones, hauling in a West Division Star of the Week award early in the week and an NA3HL Forward of the Month honor early Thursday morning. Jones wrapped up February with a six-point weekend, including two goals and an assist in last Sunday’s 6-5 loss at New Ulm, and earned the monthly hardware thanks to a 12-goal, seven-assist month. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native buried at least one goal in nine of his 12 games in the shortest month on the calendar, and wrapped up February on a seven-game point streak. That run came to an end in Thursday’s loss to the WarHawks.
MEDIA NOTES (click the arrow to expand):