North Iowa Knocks Out Twin City

Dec 10, 2012

Jake Johnson tried dropping the gloves.

That didn’t go very far — the refs stopped that before it got started — so he opted to drop the puck into the net instead. The North Iowa Bulls did a lot of that Saturday night. Johnson, though, still found time to get into a scuffle as the Bulls knocked out yet another opponent.

Johnson assisted on the goal that put North Iowa ahead Saturday, added two goals in the second period, Eric Behrend scored a hat trick and North Iowa won its sixth straight in dominating fashion with a 10-3 triumph over Twin City.

“If teams want to play hardball we’re down,” Johnson said.

At this point, this team can do just about anything.

Behrend spearheaded North Iowa’s sixth straight win by at least three goals.

So is it to the point where it’s just a matter of by how many goals the Bulls will win by?

“I’m scared to answer that question,” Behrend laughed.

But that’s been the case every time North Iowa has played a team not named Granite City.

Against every team in the league besides the defending champion Lumberjacks, the Bulls are 17-0-0-0.

It’s been perfection as North Iowa has established itself as one of the league’s elite. Saturday’s performance was just the latest despite trailing 1-0 in the first period.

After Twin City scored midway through the first, North Iowa reeled off five straight goals and scored five times in the second period as a close game turned into a blowout in minutes. The onslaught continued in the third as Twin City wanted to drop the gloves. North Iowa had no problem doing that — there were three game misconducts (two on Twin City) the first five minutes of the third — and North Iowa scored four times in a five-minute stretch in the final period as the lead ballooned to 10-2.

Things were so chippy in the third period that Twin City’s goalie even received a game misconduct for fighting.

That didn’t take away from another dominating performance from North Iowa.

“It’s a great effort,” North Iowa coach Todd Sanden said. “The kids are buying in, being honest with their abilities and continuing to work hard. We’re fortunate to have this group of kids.”

North Iowa finished with five power play goals and fired 49 shots on goal.

“We knew it was going to be ugly,” Johnson said. “It was a fun game.

“We are clicking pretty well. It’s pretty fun playing.” 

-Courtesy of Globe Gazette