BULLS ALL-TIME ADVANCEMENT LIST
ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – North Iowa defenseman Jack Kubitz was high on the list of the Bulls’ best and brightest for the 2019-20 season. He proved his “best” on the Bulls’ blue line in his first full season of junior hockey, helping to lead the Bulls to their seventh division title in nine years. As for his “brightest,” he proved that in the classroom, boasting a grade-point average of more than 4.0 and an ACT score of 32, among the top three-percent of students in the nation.
It’s a full package that he’ll bring to Bethel University this coming season, with his commitment to the Royals. He becomes the 12th player from this year’s team to make a college commitment, and the 10th to choose an NCAA program as his home for 2020-21. Bethel University is an NCAA Division III institution and a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). More than 140 North Iowa Bulls players have moved on to play college hockey, including more than 70 who made their commitments while on the North Iowa roster.
“I really like the school and the facilities they have to offer, and I think playing for Coach [Chris] McKelvie will be a great fit,” said Kubitz. “It’s a place where I see myself making a positive impact on the hockey program and in the classroom in the next four years.”
Kubitz is one of several top prospects to come to the Bulls out of Orono High School in the Twin Cities over the last couple of seasons. After contributing five points in the Spartans’ Minnesota state high school tournament run last year, a run that saw them come out as state champions, he served as the team’s captain last year and added 19 more points in his final season of prep hockey.
His junior opener for the Bulls was a dandy, with a power play goal in the final minutes of a March 2019 win over the Peoria Mustangs. He added an assist in five postseason appearances, as the Bulls worked their way to the Fraser Cup semifinals. This year, Kubitz kicked off the season with points in his first four games on the way to a 22-point performance in his first full season with the Bulls. His lone goal of the season was a late tally to put an exclamation mark on an early-season victory over the Granite City Lumberjacks. He turned that strong effort into a spot in the league’s Top Prospects event in February, and also earned the West Division’s Academic Achievement Award for the season.
“We are very excited to add Jack to the Bethel Hockey family,” said McKelvie. “We have watched Jack for a couple of years now, and believe he has a very high upside and will continue to improve and be great for us at Bethel. We look forward to working with him this coming fall.”
Kubitz and fellow Bull Carter Wagner will be key pieces to the puzzle as McKelvie looks to continue his Royal rebuild – Bethel finished 7-14-4 in his second season as head coach, posting its highest win total since the 2011-12 campaign. All 11 of the Bulls’ 1999-born players from the past season, including Wagner, have also announced college commitments for next season after exhausting their junior eligibility.
The North Iowa Bulls congratulate Jack Kubitz on his commitment to Bethel University, and wish him all the best as he continues his academic and athletic careers.