NA3HL: Defending Tier-3 national champion North Iowa Bulls continue to dominate league

Every season is different, but in the NA3HL, there is one thing that has not changed – the outstanding playing of the North Iowa Bulls.

Last year was quite a season for the team, winning the Tier-3 Junior National Championship.While there have been changes to the team’s roster, they have 12 players who returned from last year’s team, including leading point scorer Brett Gravelle, a ’95 from Forest Lake, Minn.

The team has many players who can contribute, but Gravelle’s league-leading 60 points in only 25 games have been nothing short of impressive.

The Bulls have also acquired other players who were not on the roster last season that have made a major impact for the team.

Alec Nichols, a ’95 defenseman, has a league-leading plus minus of plus-42. Marshall Barnes, a ’97, has been more of an offensive prowess, providing a league-leading 35 assists. As of Jan. 15, the team had a record of 28-0-1.

Head coach Todd Sanden said there’s not much he has to do to get the players up for games.

“Playing at the next level is what keeps the players motivated,” he said. “The players are motivated to play in higher junior leagues, as well as the college level.”

Sanden also added that the team has taken pride in what they have accomplished as a team. The veteran leadership has been a major key for their tremendous record thus far.

The Bulls have thirteen ’95’s, providing the squad with experience as well as leaders to mentor the young players and demonstrate what it takes to succeed in junior hockey.

Although the Bulls have many uncontested victories, they also have played in four games that have been decided in overtime, showing that they can play well when their backs are against the wall, and not just when they are ahead by a substantial amount.

The sky is the limit for the Northern Iowa Bulls and don’t be surprised if you see them repeat as national champions in the spring.