Mason City Toros begin new era in the NA3HL

The North Iowa Bulls are proud to announce that, while the Bulls will elevate to the North American Hockey League (NAHL) starting next season, the rich tradition of Tier 3 junior hockey will continue with the addition of the Mason City Toros to the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) for the 2021-22 season.

The Toros and Bulls, both operating under the ownership of F&S Management, will play out of the Mason City Multipurpose Arena. The addition of the Toros next season will mark a milestone in local hockey history, as it will be the first time Mason City has fielded two junior hockey teams concurrently. The name Toros, another word for 'Bulls' was selected to reflect the Toros place as the sister franchise to the NAHL’s Bulls.

“We are excited for the additional team in town, and I know the community’s support for the North Iowa Bulls will extend to this new team as well,” said Bulls chief operating officer Kathee Corsello. “The overwhelming support of our fans and business partners in Mason City is one-of-a-kind, and we look forward to being able to engage both teams in many community activities and volunteer opportunities.”

The North Iowa Bulls announced on March 5 that they would begin play in the NAHL in 2021-22. The Toros’ replacement of the Bulls in the NA3HL is aimed at continuing the winning momentum set by the Bulls for at least another season in “the River City.”

The work toward building the Toros’ 2021-22 roster already began with the recent NA3HL draft. Members of the coaching and business staffs from the North Iowa Bulls will move up to the NAHL franchise, while additional staff will be hired to help operate the Toros at the NA3HL level. Bulls head coach and general manager Todd Sanden will continue to assist in building the NA3HL roster, while the announcement of the Toros’ coaching staff set for this week. In the near future, a team website, social media handles and other exciting team news will also be revealed for the Toros.

The arrival of ice hockey downtown has been a resounding success for the North Iowa Bulls over the past season-and-a-half, drawing 1,585 fans per night during the second half of the 2019-20 season and a league-best 794 fans per game during the COVID-restricted 2020-21 campaign. The opening of the arena in December 2019 was the first milestone in the ongoing River City Renaissance project in downtown Mason City. The addition of the NA3HL Toros playing out of the Mason City Multipurpose Arena will build upon the success of the Bulls.

Mason City Toros season tickets will go on sale shortly, with extra incentives for fans who purchase North Iowa Bulls season tickets for the 2021-22 NAHL season. For additional information, call 641-423-4625 or visit www.northiowabulls.com