NAHL 2020-2021 Thread

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The Brown Bears do it again. Final Score = Kenai River Brown Bears 4 - Minnesota Magicians 1. Bears goalie Luke Pavicich recorded 39 saves to allow his team to focus on offense. Magicians netminder Andy Beran played an equally strong game - including a big save on a late penalty shot by Peter Morgan - keeping his team within reach of KR's lead. Lucas Wahlin notched the GWG, followed by insurance tallies in the closing minutes for Max Helgeson (a 2-on-1 shorty) and Laudon Poellinger (an empty netter).

Game #5 will be on Sunday night at the Richfield Ice Arena. It oughta be a dandy.

 

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And in case you didn't believe me ... Brown Bears win 4-1 on Saturday to force Game 5

 

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Minnesota Magicians take a 2-0 lead into the 1st intermission vs. the Kenai River Brown Bears. Winner moves on in this one.

 

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Magicians leading 3-1 over the Brown Bears starting the 3rd period of Game #5, to determine the final participant in the 2021 Robertson Cup championship.

 

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Final Score = Minnesota Magicians 3 - Kenai River Brown Bears 2. The Bears got within a goal eight minutes into the final period by Lindenwood-bound Max Helgeson, but we're not able to catch up even with an extra attacker in the final minute-plus. GWG recorded by MN's Trevor Kukkonen (Mich. Tech commit) back in the 2nd frame.

The Magician's play-by-play guy almost threw an embolism after the final horn, as there was apparently a physical altercation near center ice that the camera did not catch but players from both sides streamed to the vicinity. The handshake line was very civil, so the League will have to decide the fate of the principals involved in whatever transpired.

The Magicians will now represent the Midwest Division in the 2021 Robertson Cup Championships.

 

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NAHL.com: Magicians win Midwest to punch ticket to the Robertson Cup

 

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And the Robertson Cup schedule ...

 

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Teams practice Thursday @ Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, with best-of-3 Cup semifinals games starting Friday ... NAHL announces 2021 Robertson Cup Championship schedule

 

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2021 Robertson Cup preview, among other things ...

 

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Pucks drop today @ Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine, MN for the 2021 Robertson Cup Championships ...

• 4:30 PM Central Time - Minnesota Magicians (Midwest Division) vs. Aberdeen Wings (Central Division) (Media Kit)

• 7:30 PM Central Time - Maine Nordiques (East Division) vs. Shreveport Mudbugs (South Division) (Media Kit)

 

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Local media looks @ the Robertson Cup semifinals matchups ...

• Aberdeen News: Aberdeen Wings look to maintain their identity in upcoming Robertson Cup Finals series with Minnesota Magicians

• Sun Journal: Maine Nordiques and Shreveport Mudbugs each bring something different to the table

 

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First puck down for Aberdeen vs. Minnesota Game #1.

 

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Four minutes in, Wings take a 1-0 lead after a steal in the MN zone. D-man Christian Abrams with the goal on a wrister from the left point through a crowd to beat Andy Beran.

 

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End of one period, Wings 2 - Magicians 0. Kyle Gaffney scored the 2nd Wings goal with about 2 minutes left, after a pretty toe drag split the D and he had a clear path to the goal. Then Will Arquiett (U of Alaska-Fairbanks commit) added a late PP tally with the Wings Hunter Weiss (Notre Dame) in the box. MN goalie Jake Sibell stopped 8 of 11 Aberdeen shots, while Beran stopped all 5 Minnesota shots. Aberdeen took the first penalty, Thomas Manty (Brown U), but his teammates killed it off in the last quarter of the period.

Large group of Aberdeen fans in attendance & making themselves heard often. Long drive, lots of pent-up energy.

17 minute intermissions to save some time for prep before the second game of the day. Gotta eat my supper on the fly.

 

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About 7 minutes into the 2nd period, Magicians' Hunter Longhi (Harvard) gets his team on the board. This game has gotten more physical in this period, and Minnesota is using their speed more effectively.

 

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Wings' Natan Vertes (UA-Fairbanks) receives a pinpoint outlet feed at the MN blue line from Trevor Russell (Michigan Tech), to beat the D and regains the 3-goal lead @ 6 minutes left in the middle period.

 

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End of two periods, Wings 5 - Magicians 1. Vertes knocks in his own rebound in the closing minute to notch his 2nd goal & extend the Aberdeen lead. This after Wings netminder Jake Sibell (NAHL 2020-21 MVP) made back-to-back acrobatic saves in the 17th minute to keep the Magicians from regaining offensive momentum.

Minn. goalie Andy Beran starting to display his frustration on the ice, as well as Coach Stu Bickell clearly steamed during the post-period interview. They've got 17 minutes to calm down, and work on a plan to catch up.

 

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A very effective defensive tactic used all game long by the Wings: The Magicians have forechecked with two forwards regularly after dump-ins, so the two Aberdeen D-men scrum with them for the puck along the end boards while a Wings' forward comes in to dig out the puck & start an offensive rush the other way.

 

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Final Score = Aberdeen Wings 5 -Minnesota Magicians 1. Final SOGs 37-21 in favor of the winners. Wings take Game#1 of this best-of-3 semifinals series, with Game #2 scheduled for Saturday @ 4:15 p.m. Central.

 

[mk80]

The Wings are just such a strong team, it's going to be hard for anyone to dethrone the 2019 Robertson Cup Champs!

 

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The Wings are just such a strong team, it's going to be hard for anyone to dethrone the 2019 Robertson Cup Champs!

Having watched most of this year's NAHL playoffs, I'd agree that none of the remaining 3 Cup competitors stack up well against Aberdeen. These playoffs were a case where Minot had the best chance to oust the Wings in their 1st round divisional matchup. Once the Minotauros were eliminated, Aberdeen was rolling again.

 

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The ice is ready for Game 2 ...

 

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Puck down, we're underway with Shreveport vs. Maine.

Gotta get me one of those red ME Nordiques jerseys.

 

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The Nordiques take a 1-0 lead just 34 seconds in on a shot from the point that changed direction in front. Goal credited to James Philpott.

But Garrett Steele ties it at 1:56 into the opening period.