North Iowa Bulls
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox ice hockey team
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0A6623 5px solid; border-bottom:#010139 5px solid;
| text_color = #000000
| team = North Iowa Bulls
| logo = North Iowa Bulls logo.png
| logosize = 220px
| city = Mason City, Iowa
| league = North American Hockey League
| division = Central
| founded = 2008
| arena = Mason City Arena
| colors = Green, blue, white
{{color box|#0A6623}} {{color box|#010139}} {{color box|white}}
| owner = Alberto Fernandez, F&S Management
| coach = Nick Bruneteau (2024-25)
| GM = Devon Buckland (2024-25)
| website = {{URL|http://www.northiowabulls.com/}}
| affiliates = Mason City Toros
| name1 = Albert Lea Thunder
| dates1 = 2008–2010
| name2 = Amarillo Bulls
| dates2 = 2010–2021
| name3 = North Iowa Bulls
| dates3 = 2021–present
}}
The North Iowa Bulls are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). They play their home games at the Mason City Multipurpose Arena in Mason City, Iowa. The organization also operates a Tier III junior team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) that was known as the North Iowa Bulls from 2011 to 2021 before the club relocated from Amarillo, Texas. The Bulls are coached by Todd Sanden, who has been with the North Iowa team since its inception in 2011.
History
In 2019, owners of the North Iowa Bulls, F&S Management Company LLC, acquired the Amarillo Bulls of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and the North Iowa Bulls gained a Tier II affiliation.{{cite web |url=https://www.newschannel10.com/2019/09/27/amarillo-bulls-announce-new-ownership-ahead-th-anniversary-season/ |title=Amarillo Bulls announce new ownership ahead of 10th anniversary season |publisher=KFDA-TV |date=September 27, 2019}} On March 5, 2021, it was announced that the Amarillo team would relocate to Mason City starting in the 2021–22 season as the North Iowa Bulls.{{cite web |title=A Letter to Amarillo Bulls Fans |url=https://www.amarillobulls.com/a-letter-to-amarillo-bulls-fans/ |publisher=Amarillo Bulls |language=english |date=March 5, 2021 |access-date=March 5, 2021}} Todd Sanden remained the head coach and general manager of the North Iowa Bulls after joining the NAHL.{{cite web |url=https://www.northiowabulls.com/bulls-take-11-in-na3hl-draft |title=Bulls Take 11 in NA3HL Draft |publisher=North Iowa Bulls |date=April 28, 2021}}
Season-by-season records
{{clear}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||||||||
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 60 | 22 | 28 | 10 | 2 | 54 | 194 | 234 | 857 | 6th of 6, Central 25th of 29, NAHL | Did not qualify |
| bgcolor=e0e0e0
| 2022–23 | 60 | 29 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 62 | 167 | 179 | 647 | 6th of 6, Central 23rd of 29, NAHL | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 59 | 11 | 46 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 108 | 259 | 1403 | 6th of 6, Central 32nd of 32, NAHL | Did not qualify |
| bgcolor=e0e0e0
| 2024–25 | 59 | 19 | 34 | 4 | 2 | 44 | 159 | 212 | 973 | 7th of 8, Central 32nd of 35, NAHL | Did not qualify |
Alumni
The Bulls have advanced a number of players on to higher levels of junior hockey including the North American Hockey League, as well as NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III and ACHA college programs.
= Division I =
- Adam Carlson (2012–13); Mercyhurst University{{Cite web|title=Chill goalie Carlson makes NCAA DI commitment|url=http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=13184|publisher=North American Hockey League (NAHL)|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}
- Aaron Davis (2012–13); Lake Superior State University{{cite web |url=http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=91649 |title=Aaron Davis' Elite Prospects Profile |publisher=Elite Prospects |accessdate=September 11, 2017}}
- Dominik Florian (2013–14); American International College{{cite web |url=http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=18129 |title=Coulee Region forward Florian makes NCAA DI commitment |publisher=North American Hockey League |date=May 18, 2016}}
- Greg Ogard (2011–12); University of Denver{{cite web |url=https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/western-college-hockey-recruiting-ncaa/2013/7/11/4516572/nchc-recruiting-denver-pioneers-greg-ogard-bay-state-breakers-ejhl-wisconsin-jim-montgomery |title=Bay State Breakers '92 goalie Greg Ogard commits to Denver |publisher=SB Nation |date=July 11, 2013}}
- Kohei Sato (2014–16); University of New Hampshire{{cite web |url=http://www.northiowabulls.com/former-bulls-star-sato-announces-commitment-to-new-hampshire |title=Former Bulls Star Sato Speeds off to New Hampshire |publisher=North Iowa Bulls |date=April 5, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/04/05_New-Hampshire-Receives-Commitment.php |title=New Hampshire Receives Commitment From Japanese Player |work=College Hockey News |date=April 5, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=20847 |title=Northeast forward Sato makes NCAA DI commitment |publisher=North American Hockey League |date=April 5, 2017}}
- Jeff Solow (2015–16); Merrimack College{{cite web |url=http://www.northiowabulls.com/go-east-young-man-solow-commits-to-merrimack-hockey-east |title=Go East, Young Man: Solow Commits to Merrimack, Hockey East |publisher=North Iowa Bulls |date=January 18, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.themackreport.com/news/nahl-defenseman-jeff-solow-will-join-merrimack-for-second-half/ |title=NAHL Defenseman Jeff Solow Will Join Merrimack For Second Half |work=The Mack Report |date=January 17, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=19973 |title=Amarillo defenseman Solow makes NCAA DI commitment |publisher=North American Hockey League |date=January 18, 2017}}
- Josh Benson (2016–17); Sacred Heart University{{Cite web|title=Fairbanks goaltender Benson makes NCAA DI commitment|url=http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=23688|publisher=North American Hockey League (NAHL)|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}
- Seth Eisele (2016–17); Lake Superior State University{{Cite web|title=Lone Star goalie Eisele makes NCAA DI commitment|url=http://nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=26138|publisher=North American Hockey League (NAHL)|language=en|access-date=2020-05-27}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.northiowabulls.com}}
{{NAHL}}
{{Iowa Sports}}
Category:Ice hockey teams in Iowa
Category:North American Hockey League teams
Category:2021 establishments in Iowa