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NAHL North Iowa Bulls

Bulls Roar Early, But Aberdeen Flies Back for 3-2 Win at North Iowa

September 25, 2021 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Bulls News Release


MASON CITY, Iowa - The North Iowa Bulls' home debut as a North American Hockey League team could not have started any better. Chris Carroll opened up the party just 49 seconds in against the Aberdeen Wings on Friday, bringing a barely-settled crowd of 920 right back to its feet.

The Wings gathered themselves and climbed back from an eventual two-goal lead, though, snaring a 3-2 win over the Bulls at the Mason City Arena, spoiling the finish for the home team in the first NAHL game played in Mason City since March 25, 2010.

Carroll's goal was a backhand shovel toward the net, giving North Iowa the opening goal for the fourth time in five contests this season. The Bulls stretched the lead to two at the 6:34 mark, when Michael Mesic snuck one in over the right shoulder of Kyle Kozma, off of a perfectly-placed pass from Ryan Coughlin.

Kozma was not beaten again - the Wings were able to turn the tide just 15 seconds later, when Luke Amell snapped the puck past Cullen DeYoung off of a setup pass from Anthony Messuri. Aberdeen would tie it at 13:25 of the first period - DeYoung looked to have the puck trapped on a shot from Owen DuBois, but Yee was able to find just enough space to put the puck into the net to tie the game.

The offenses reigned in the opening 20 minutes, but defense was the name of the game after that - the Bulls rode a 20-9 shots-on-goal advantage through the game, and would finish the night with a 35-26 margin in their favor. However, the only goal the rest of the way went to Devon Carlstrom, who snuck the puck in under DeYoung with 7:17 remaining in the second period.

After the initial hiccups, Kozma befuddled the North Iowa offense the rest of the way, making 33 saves for his second win of the season. DeYoung stopped 23 shots, suffering his first loss after picking up two wins at last week's NAHL Showcase. The penalty-killing units were outstanding on the night, holding the power-play groups off the board entirely in 12 combined chances.

The win puts Aberdeen in front of North Iowa for second place in the Central Division, but the advantage may be short-lived, with the two teams set to get together again Saturday night. The opening puck drop in Mason City is slated for 7:30 p.m.

PHOTO CAPTION: North Iowa's Chris Carroll spots a teammate just before taking a faceoff in the Bulls' 3-2 loss at home against the Aberdeen Wings Friday night. (Photo credit: North Iowa Bulls/Alissha Ames)

Aberdeen 2 1 0 - 3

North Iowa 2 0 0 - 2

1st Period-1, North Iowa, Carroll 1 (Dombrowsky, Boxer), 0:49. 2, North Iowa, Mesic 2 (Coughlin, Scott), 6:34. 3, Aberdeen, Amell 1 (Messuri, Davis), 6:49. 4, Aberdeen, Yee 2 (DuBois, Brimanis), 13:25. Penalties-Galante Nio (holding-minor), 4:20; Galante Nio (head contact-minor), 15:10; Allais Abd (hooking-minor), 15:31.

2nd Period-5, Aberdeen, Carlstrom 1 (Mann, Campbell), 12:43. Penalties-Yee Abd (kneeing-minor), 7:15; Mesic Nio (tripping-minor), 7:27; Scott Nio (cross checking-minor), 8:54; Campbell Abd (interference-minor), 10:17; Messuri Abd (cross checking-minor), 13:36.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Carlstrom Abd (hooking-minor), 3:12; Carroll Nio (tripping-minor), 5:21; Campbell Abd (roughing-minor), 7:15; Coughlin Nio (roughing-minor), 7:15; Mesic Nio (slashing-minor), 7:15; Gilson Abd (cross checking-minor), 13:00.

Shots on Goal-Aberdeen 9-6-11-26. North Iowa 20-5-10-35.

Power Play Opportunities-Aberdeen 0 / 6; North Iowa 0 / 6.

Goalies-Aberdeen, Kozma 2-1-0-0 (35 shots-33 saves). North Iowa, DeYoung 2-1-0-0 (26 shots-23 saves).

A-920

Referees-Christopher Leary.

Linesmen-Ethan Fox, Reilly Hickey.

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