NAHL North Iowa Bulls

Red Lights on Pink Night: Bulls Win 4-2 in Austin

February 6, 2022 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Bulls News Release


North Iowa Bulls forward Jake LaRusso
North Iowa Bulls forward Jake LaRusso
(North Iowa Bulls, Credit: Alissha Ames)

AUSTIN, Minn. - Two quick strikes in the first period and the first North Iowa power play goal of the season against Austin powered the Bulls to a 4-2 win over the Bruins Saturday night, evening up a heated head-to-head series between the teams in an ever-tightening North American Hockey League Central Division race. The win saw North Iowa overcome a hostile environment in a sold-out Riverside Arena, on a pink ice rink specially-marked for the Bruins' annual "Paint The Rink Pink" game.

One night after posting a single shot on goal in the first period, the Bulls fired off 11 of them in the opening 20 minutes on Saturday, but it was the Bruins who scored first, with Anthony Menghini banging in a one-timer out front from Ocean Wallace just 2:50 into the contest.

After that, the Bulls took command, flipping the one-goal deficit into a one-goal lead on goals from Brett Morich at 15:38 and Hunter Bulger at 15:44.

North Iowa came up empty on its first two power plays of the night in the first period, but a kneeing call against Matys Brassard with 58 seconds remaining in the first period gave the Bulls one final chance before the end of the stanza. They finally connected, nearly sneaking one past Klayton Knapp just seconds later before Jake LaRusso jammed the puck into the net with 18 seconds remaining in the period to send the Bulls to the locker room up 3-1.

Austin would pull ahead in the shot count with a 13-6 gap in the second period, but North Iowa stretched the lead to 4-1 with 5:03 left in the period when Justin Mexico rattled in a shot just under the crossbar.

The final goal of the night came in the moments following a North Iowa penalty, with Casey Roepke serving a cross-checking infraction late in the second period. With 3:30 left on the clock, Walter Zacher's left-wing shot slid between the pads of Kyle Kozma, trimming the deficit to 4-2.

The Bruins got no closer in a third period highlighted by a brief scrape between LaRusso and John Larkin at neutral ice, that saw Larkin pick up a double-minor for roughing and an extra misconduct with just 13 seconds remaining.

Kozma made 25 saves for North Iowa, earning the win in his Bulls debut after splitting five wins this season between the Aberdeen Wings and Minnesota Magicians. Knapp took the loss, making 25 saves of his own against 29 North Iowa shots.

Each team claimed success on the power play, with Austin going 1-for-5 on the man-advantage and North Iowa going 1-for-4. The goal for the Bulls snapped a stretch of 32 unsuccessful power play chances against the Bruins to start the season.

LaRusso had the notable night for the Bulls' offense, racking up a goal and two assists, while Mexico closed the night with a goal and a helper of his own. Wallace had the only multi-goal game of the night for the Bruins, earning assists on both Austin tallies.

The win keeps North Iowa in a tie for third place in the Central Division standings, though Aberdeen has the advantage with a game in hand on the Bulls. The win also equalized the head-to-head series between the Bulls and Bruins at five wins apiece, with each team taking a bonus point with a shootout loss on home ice early in the season.

North Iowa hits the road to Aberdeen, South Dakota next weekend for a Friday-Saturday set against the Wings, their final visit to the Hub City this season barring a Robertson Cup playoff meeting. The opening puck drop both nights at the Odde Ice Center is slated for 7:15 p.m.

North Iowa 3 1 0 - 4

Austin 1 1 0 - 2

1st Period-1, Austin, Menghini 9 (Wallace, Richards), 2:51. 2, North Iowa, Morich 5 (Hartley, Mesic), 15:38. 3, North Iowa, Bulger 11 (Mexico, LaRusso), 15:46. 4, North Iowa, LaRusso 7 (Gajewski, Campion), 19:43 (PP). Penalties-Brassard Aus (roughing-minor), 12:31; Ryder Aus (holding-minor), 16:05; Brassard Aus (kneeing-minor), 19:02.

2nd Period-5, North Iowa, Mexico 5 (LaRusso), 14:57. 6, Austin, Zacher 6 (Larkin, Wallace), 16:30 (PP). Penalties-Morich Nio (elbowing-minor), 10:25; Roepke Nio (cross checking-minor), 15:46; Campion Nio (roughing-minor), 17:41; Richards Aus (roughing-minor), 17:41.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Campion Nio (high sticking-minor), 9:56; Mexico Nio (tripping-minor), 15:12; Knapp Aus (delay of game-minor), 17:28; Larkin Aus (roughing-double minor, unsportsmanlike conduct-10 minute misconduct), 19:47; Riddle Aus (unsportsmanlike conduct-minor), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-North Iowa 11-6-10-27. Austin 6-13-8-27.

Power Play Opportunities-North Iowa 1 / 5; Austin 1 / 4.

Goalies-North Iowa, Kozma 6-7-1-0 (27 shots-25 saves). Austin, Knapp 11-7-0-1 (27 shots-23 saves).

A-2,000

Referees-Tyler Hascall, Christopher Leary.

Linesmen-Dylan Sater, Tyler Willie.

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Images from this story

North Iowa Bulls forward Jake LaRusso
North Iowa Bulls forward Jake LaRusso
(Alissha Ames)		   



North American Hockey League Stories from February 6, 2022


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