MASON CITY, Iowa – When a Bulls player makes his college decision, it often represents a weight that is lifted off of his shoulders. North Iowa Bulls forward Jimmy McDermott played with an extra spring in his step this past week, earning the NA3HL Bauer Hockey West Division Star of the Week award.
Just days after announcing his commitment to St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, McDermott closed his final regular season of junior hockey in style, lifting North Iowa to a second-place finish in the West, four points clear of the Rochester Grizzlies. The Dubuque, Iowa native racked up four goals on the weekend against the Peoria Mustangs, including a hat trick in Friday’s 4-3 win. He added the first North Iowa goal the following night in an 8-2 victory to close the regular season.
McDermott ended his 2018-19 regular season as one of four North Iowa Bulls players to reach the 50-point mark. His 22 goals ranked third on the team for this season. Brendan Studioso was the last Bulls player to earn a Star of the Week award, after a couple of big wins over St. Louis in February. Overall, it’s the sixth time this season that a North Iowa player has been named the West Division Star of the Week.
He and the rest of the Bulls open the West Division playoffs against the Rochester Grizzlies on Friday night, with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop at the North Iowa Ice Arena. This weekend’s series is a best-of-three affair, with all games streaming live on HockeyTV and audio-streaming for free on Mixlr. To purchase advance tickets to Friday’s game or any future Bulls home game, click here.