Bulls win back-to-back Silver Cup Championships

March 30, 2014

North Iowa Bulls 3 vs. Flint Junior Generals 0 – The Junior Generals came out firing in the game, aiming to prove that Saturday night’s result was well behind them. Bulls goalie Chris Amsden was equal to the task, stopping several good scoring chances. As the period moved along, Flint goalie Anders Franke also made some good saves keeping the Bulls at bay for the remainder of the period as the 1st period finished in a scoreless tiewith each club registering seven shots on goal.

 

In the 2nd period, the Bulls got on the board first as a nice transition at the blueline from Joe Kleven got the puck to Tim Santopoalo in the high slot and Santopoalo ripped a shot low past the glove side of Franke for a 1-0 Bulls lead. Flint goalie Anders Franke did his best to keep his team in the game for the remainder of the period as the Bulls put relentless pressure on goal with 23 shots in the period, but Franke was steadfast and kept it a one-goal game after two periods of play. Shots through two periods favored the Bulls, 30-14.

 

The Bulls offense gave the team another spark early in the 3rd period as Rihards Marenis received a nice pass through the neutral zone, dangled his way through traffic in the high slot and ripped a wrist shot low glove side past Franke to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead. Assisting on the goal was Santopoalo and Matt Kroska. The Bulls continued the momentum five minutes later as a 2 on 1 led to a nice pass from Zach Jones to Wesley Iverson, who wired a shot over the should of Franke for a 3-0 lead. 

 

It would be all the goals the Bulls would need to capture their second consecutive NA3HL Silver Cup Championship. Amsden was perfect in the win for North Iowa, stopping all 21 shots that came his way and went without allowing a goal in the event. Franke was stellar in goal for the Junior Generals as he stopped 39 of the 42 North Iowa shots.

 

Both teams advance to the USA Hockey Tier III Junior Nationals in Simsbury, CT April 3-7. A complete schedule will be posted soon.

 

 

Forward: Rihards Marenis, North Iowa Bulls

Forward: Austin Fletcher, Flint Junior Generals

Forward: Matt Kroska, North Iowa Bulls

Defense: Ron Lindgren, North Iowa Bulls

Defense: Ryan Burr, Flint Junior Generals

Goaltender: Chris Amsden, North Iowa Bulls