MASON CITY, Iowa – Some new teams and the earliest home start in North Iowa Bulls history are on tap for the 2016-17 season, with the release of the NA3HL schedule this past week. 44 of the Bulls' 47 games have been announced, with the other three to be played at the NA3HL Showcase at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn. from Dec. 16 to 18. Those games will be announced at a later date.
Among the headlines on North Iowa's schedule for this season:
– A team from North Iowa's championship past will host the Bulls for their first games of 2016-17 – the Peoria Mustangs will face the Bulls in central Illinois in a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader on Sept. 10 and 11. The teams have not met since North Iowa routed the Mustangs 11-0 to win their first Silver Cup title in 2013. Peoria will visit "The Barn" on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 10 and 11 for the final weekend of the season. The St. Louis Jr. Blues also return to North Iowa's schedule, hosting the Bulls in Affton, Mo. on Sept. 23 and 24.
– After two weeks of out-of-division play, the Bulls welcome the Chicago Bulldogs to "The Barn" for three nights, starting on Friday, Sept. 30 in the team's first-ever September home game. Last year, the Bulls went on the road for the first 10 games of their season before opening the home season on Oct. 30, their latest home opener to date.
– Two former West Division rivals return to the schedule in new forms – the Minnesota Flying Aces have moved to Willmar, Minn. and been renamed the WarHawks. The Twin City Steel are still the Steel, but are now in New Ulm, Minn., having moved in the offseason as well. The Bulls played the Steel once in New Ulm last season, and once at their regular home in White Bear Lake.
– This season's schedule features seven weekend home-and-home affairs, with one team hosting on the first night of play, and the two teams switching sites to play each other the following night. One of those will take place against New Ulm on Dec. 2 and 3, with the first of those two games marking the end of North Iowa's home schedule for the calendar year.
– The final five games of the regular season will be played at home, with the last scheduled home game set for Sunday, Mar. 12 against the La Crosse Freeze. That also ends a 24-game divisional schedule for the Bulls, with six games against each of North Iowa's four Central Division foes.
Here is the full schedule for the 2016-17 season:
Sat. 10 Sep. – 6:45 PM, North Iowa at Peoria
Sun. 11 Sep. – 1:15 PM, North Iowa at Peoria
Fri. 23 Sep. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at St. Louis
Sat. 24 Sep. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at St. Louis
Fri. 30 Sep. – 7:30 PM, Chicago at North Iowa
Sat. 1 Oct. – 7:30 PM Chicago at North Iowa
Sun. 2 Oct. – 3:00 PM, Chicago at North Iowa
Fri. 7 Oct. – 7:30 PM, Wisconsin at North Iowa
Sat. 8 Oct. – 7:30 PM, Wisconsin at North Iowa
Fri. 14 Oct. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at La Crosse
Sat. 15 Oct. – 7:30 PM, La Crosse at North Iowa
Fri. 21 Oct. – 8:00 PM, North Iowa at Chicago
Sat. 22 Oct. – 5:30 PM, North Iowa at Chicago
Sun. 23 Oct. – 12:00 PM, North Iowa at Chicago
Fri. 28 Oct. – 7:30 PM, Rochester at North Iowa
Sat. 29 Oct. – 7:05 PM, North Iowa at Rochester
Fri. 4 Nov. – 7:30 PM, Willmar at North Iowa
Sat. 5 Nov. – 7:30 PM, Willmar at North Iowa
Fri. 18 Nov. – 7:30 PM, North Iowa at Granite City
Sat. 19 Nov. – 7:30 PM, North Iowa at Granite City
Sat. 26 Nov. – 7:30 PM, La Crosse at North Iowa
Sun. 27 Nov. – 3:00 PM, North Iowa at La Crosse
Fri. 2 Dec. – 7:30 PM, New Ulm at North Iowa
Sat. 3 Dec. – 7:10 PM, North Iowa at New Ulm
Sat. 10 Dec. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at Wisconsin
Fri. 16 Dec. TO Sun. 18 Dec. – NA3HL Showcase (Games TBA)
Fri. 30 Dec. – 7:30 PM, Rochester at North Iowa
Sat. 31 Dec. – 7:05 PM, North Iowa at Rochester
Sat. 7 Jan. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at La Crosse
Sat. 14 Jan. – 7:30 PM, Wisconsin at North Iowa
Fri. 27 Jan. – 7:30 PM, New Ulm at North Iowa
Sat. 28 Jan. – 7:10 PM, North Iowa at New Ulm
Fri. 3 Feb. – 7:30 PM, Granite City at North Iowa
Sat. 4 Feb. – 7:30 PM, Granite City at North Iowa
Fri. 10 Feb. – 7:30 PM, Rochester at North Iowa
Sat. 11 Feb. – 7:05 PM, North Iowa at Rochester
Fri. 17 Feb. – 7:10 PM, North Iowa at Willmar
Sat. 18 Feb. – 7:10 PM, North Iowa at Willmar
Thu. 23 Feb. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at Wisconsin
Fri. 24 Feb. – 7:00 PM, North Iowa at Wisconsin
Fri. 3 Mar. – 7:30 PM, St. Louis at North Iowa
Sat. 4 Mar. – 7:30 PM, St. Louis at North Iowa
Fri. 10 Mar. – 7:30 PM, Peoria at North Iowa
Sat. 11 Mar. – 7:30 PM, Peoria at North Iowa
Sun. 12 Mar. – 5:00 PM, La Crosse at North Iowa