Saltness Lands NAHL Call-Up With Bobcats

Sep 18, 2019

BLAINE, Minn. – North Iowa Bulls forward Dalton Saltness has been on North American Hockey League radars for a long time. The Forest Lake, Minnesota native was tendered by the NAHL’s Minnesota Wilderness over the Christmas break last season, but earned his first junior ice time this past weekend with the Bulls.

He’s set to earn his first NAHL ice time this weekend at the league’s Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, after earning a call-up this week from the Bismarck Bobcats. He would become one of more than 30 Bulls players to appear in an NAHL game after appearing in a North Iowa uniform. Three of those players are currently on NCAA Division I rosters, and several others are in professional hockey leagues across the globe.

All it took was the opportunity to prove himself in a junior game, and Saltness took care of that opportunity quickly. He scored a goal in each of the Bulls’ games this past weekend against the Breezy Point North Stars, totaling five points for the series. He highlighted Friday’s game with back-to-back assists on the same shift at the end of the first period, and followed that up by getting the Bulls on the board in the second period of Saturday’s 4-3 come-from-behind win.

The former Forest Lake High School standout wrapped up his prep career with a big season last year, posting 52 points in just 23 games. He was one of only 19 high school players from across the state of Minnesota to post 30 or more goals. Now, he’ll get a chance to contribute for a Bobcats team that narrowly missed home-ice advantage in the first round of last year’s Robertson Cup Central Division playoffs.

Also of note is an addition to this week’s roster from Bismarck, as Jack Kubitz rejoins the Bulls. Kubitz signed a tender with the Bobcats last March, posting a pair of points over six regular-season and playoff games.

The North Iowa Bulls congratulate Dalton Saltness on an outstanding start to his junior debut, and wish him all success in this upcoming opportunity with the Bismarck Bobcats.