MASON CITY, Iowa – Sean Vlasich just keeps on winning.
On Friday night, the North Iowa Bulls captain ripped a game-winning goal with 16.5 seconds left in the second period and less than a second left on a North Iowa power play. Saturday night, he tacked on another goal, jousting the puck into the net with less than six minutes left in the third to give his team the lead for good.
Now, the veteran blueliner has won the latest hardware from the North American Hockey League. Vlasich was named the league’s Bauer Hockey Central Division Star of the Week for his efforts in the Bulls’ 3-1 and 5-3 wins over the Springfield Jr. Blues, who are in the hunt for the Midwest Division regular-season championship. The weekend sweep was the first for North Iowa since November 12 and 13 against the Austin Bruins, and first on the road since an early October visit to the Minot Minotauros.
“Sean has been a consistent positive for us on the blue line and a regular contributor,” said Bulls head coach Todd Sanden.
In fact, the Upper Saddle River, New Jersey native has been one of the most regular contributors among NAHL defensemen, picking up seven goals and 25 assists on the year in 46 appearances. Those 32 points rank third among all NAHL defensemen, just three points out of the league lead.
The Army recruit becomes the third North Iowa player to earn the Central Division’s Star of the Week award, with the last coming in that sweep against Austin. Hunter Garvey made 64 saves in two wins that week to earn the honors, and also picked up the Star of the Week kudos in the October sweep at Minot. Carter Rapalje is the other Bull to earn a Star of the Week award this season, with five goals and an assist in an early-November sweep of the Bismarck Bobcats.
The Bulls make their final trip to Bismarck this regular season when they head to the VFW Sports Center for a pair of get-togethers against the Bobcats on Friday and Saturday. Both games are slated to get underway at 7:15 p.m., with live streaming coverage on HockeyTV Sponsored by Dakota Fix Shelter Insurance and Mixlr.
The Bulls return to home ice with a battle against the Austin Bruins on March 11 on North Iowa’s “Reading Stampede Night” – to purchase advance tickets to that game, or any upcoming North Iowa home game, call the Bulls Ticket Line at 641-450-0914 or click here. Updated news and information on North Iowa Bulls hockey are always available at www.northiowabulls.com, and by following the team’s social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.