North Iowa forward Blackowiak makes NCAA commitment

April 22, 2019

The North Iowa Bulls, proud members of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), are pleased to announce that forward Jarod Blackowiak has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for Augsburg University, a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).

 

Blackowiak is the sixth player on this year's team to make a commitment to an NCAA or ACHA college hockey program.

 

The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native began his junior career with three appearances for the Austin Bruins at last year's North American Hockey League showcase, and made another appearance with the Bruins last December. After tallying five assists in as many games for the Bulls, a power play goal against the Granite City Lumberjacks lit the scoring fuse on the way to a 36-point rookie season.

 

After posting better than a point-per-game average in last year's regular season and Central Division playoffs, Blackowiak stepped it up a notch this past year. In his second season in a North Iowa uniform, the second-year forward posted 24 goals and 24 assists, and nine more points during the postseason. He closed out his Bulls career with a flourish, with points in seven of his eight postseason appearances, including all five of North Iowa's games in the West Division playoffs.

 

He was also selected to the NA3HL's Top Prospects event in 2018, notching a goal and an assist in front of scouts from across the college landscape and the NAHL.

 

Blackowiak becomes the second North Iowa Bulls player to make a commitment to Augsburg, after goaltender Matthew Bartels's move to Minneapolis in 2013. More than 100 North Iowa Bulls players have moved on to play college hockey, including more than 70 who made their commitments while with the Bulls. Eight Bulls alumni have advanced to the NCAA Division I level, with two players active on Division I rosters this year and a third alumnus making his Division I commitment this year.

 

The Auggies finished with a 21-4-3 record this past season, including a four-overtime win over St. John's in the MIAC title game. Augsburg's NCAA tournament appearance was its sixth in school history, and its fourth in a row.