Main Camp, Schedule Deadline Signal Approaching Season

MASON CITY, Iowa – The phrase “these uncertain times” has become all too familiar in recent months, in hockey circles and beyond. Two signs of hope have emerged for North Iowa Bulls fans, though, including the Bulls’ Main Tryout Camp later this month at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena. The camp, scheduled for Friday, August 21 to Sunday, August 23, is to be the team’s first tryout camp ever held on Mason City ice. Previously, summer commitments at the North Iowa Events Center forced the team to hold its tryout camps outside of the area.

The camp will be held in a showcase format, with six other teams also participating. The NA3HL’s Sheridan Hawks will participate, as will the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League. The Bulls and Hawks will each field two teams, while each of the NAHL teams will field one squad. The final team will come from Bowman Hockey, an advising and training program based in Minnesota that has placed more than 200 players into junior, college and professional hockey programs.

Spectators are welcome, with a $5 single-day admission cost for adults and $3 for kids under the age of 16. Weekend passes are also available for $10, and just $5 for kids. Admission for ages 4 and under is free on all three days.

Several health-related restrictions will be in place for the Bulls’ Main Tryout Camp. Socially-distanced seating availability will be in place, with the exact seating availability to be worked out in the weeks leading up to the camp, and everyone in the arena will undergo a temperature check prior to entering the facility. The City of Mason City also has a mandatory mask policy in effect for all buildings owned and leased by the city, meaning face coverings will be required while inside the arena.

This follows the league’s announcement earlier this week that the 2020-21 season has been scheduled for an October 2 start, with a schedule to be released by September 1. The league remains committed to playing a full 2020-21 season, and all three of the league’s major events will be held as scheduled, starting with the NA3HL Showcase from December 20-22 at the Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. The NA3HL Top Prospects event will be held February 8-9, 2021 at the New England Sports Village in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The Fraser Cup tournament will be held March 31-April 4, 2020 at a Chicago-area facility to be announced.

“We are excited to be moving forward with a return to play date. Our number one priority remains returning to the ice this fall in the safest manner possible for everyone in our hockey community and we believe that October 2^nd is a realistic date to achieve that goal,” said NA3HL Commissioner Blake Macnicol. “We will be closely following and monitoring the situation with the NAHL and with our hockey partners to develop the most current return to play guidelines as possible.”

The upcoming campaign is set to be the Bulls’ first full season at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena, and the team will also celebrate its #DecadeOfDominance with its 10th Anniversary season in 2020-21. Season tickets are now on sale, and details on single-game ticket availability will be announced following the league’s schedule release.

For more information on 2020-21 season tickets, or to purchase season tickets, call 641-423-4625. Updated news and information on North Iowa Bulls hockey are always available at www.northiowabulls.com, and by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

BULLS MAIN TRYOUT CAMP SCHEDULE