North Iowa goalie Benson gets call up to the USHL

November 1, 2016

North Iowa Bulls and NA3HL goaltender Josh Benson is out on “special assignment” in the Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL), thanks to a call-up from the Waterloo Black Hawks.

 

The Hawks called up Benson to back up Finland native Severi Isokangas in their road trip to face the Dubuque Fighting Saints this past weekend. The Black Hawks won 5-4 in a shootout.

 

Benson, 18, a Bulls rookie from Stillwater, Minn., is 5-0 for the season with a 1.98 goals-against average, and has tallied up a .922 save percentage.

 

“It’s good to be in a market that is close to so many NAHL and USHL teams,” said Bulls head coach Todd Sanden.  It allows our players some great opportunities.”

 

Last year, former Bulls goaltender Zack St. John also got the call to assist the Black Hawks and head coach P.K. O’Handley, spending time on the practice rink during the team’s Christmas break. O’Handley himself is no stranger to the Mason City area, having served as the general manager and head coach of the USHL’s North Iowa Huskies from 1991-98. Benson will practice with Waterloo again this week and serve as a backup again on Friday night as the Black Hawks take on the Youngstown Phantoms at home.