NAHL 2020-2021 Thread

[MDtoGF]

Read more on the Generals' 4-3 OTL to MD, including what to watch for tomorrow. The Northeast Generals Lose 4-3 in OT: What Comes Next?

 

[JMCx4]

From: The North American Hockey League > Top Stories > News

Saturday Scores: Sibell leads Wings to NAHL regular season title
April 25, 2021

Bismarck 0 @ Aberdeen 2 – The Wings complete a three-win week as they made some history on Saturday night in a 2-0 shutout of the Bobcats. With the win, the Wings won the NAHL’s regular season title for the 2020-21 season, and with the shutout Wings goalie Jake Sibell tied an NAHL single-(season) record with his 11th shutout of the season. Both Wings goals came in the 2nd period as Clayton Cosentino scored his 10th goal of the season and Payton Matsui added his 24th goal of the year. Sibell did the rest, making 22 saves for his league-leading 38th win of the year. Bobcats goalie Ian Shane made 31 saves in the loss. ...

 

[MDtoGF]

Read more on the Generals OT win yesterday, and more from their HC Bryan Erikson, along with some thoughts on the team itself going forward.
The Generals Overcome Adversity and Jake Dunlap makes team history: What comes next?

 

[JMCx4]

Three weeks to go in the NAHL ir-regular season. Here's a look at the standings & some Division notes ...

Central: The Aberdeen Wings clinched the Division almost 3 weeks ago (what took them so long?) and captured the League's season title on Saturday night. The rest of the Division teams remain close enough in total points that the other three first round playoff spots remain up for grabs. That's pretty much how the Central has gone the whole time.

East: The Johnstown Tomahawks sealed up 1st place on Saturday night, with a shutout over the 2nd place Maine Nordiques. Maine has secured a playoff entry and has a comfortable 10-point lead over the New Jersey Titans, whose only foreseeable competition for one of the last two spots will be the 3rd year Maryland Black Bears.

Midwest: This Division's GP stats suffered from an early pause in play in this pandemic-perturbed season, but they got restarted at the beginning of 2021 and 3 of 4 teams have recently clinched playoff spots (with the fourth entry all but sewn up). The Janesville Jets are in 1st place and in the middle of a 2-week/6-game swing through Alaska, following the recent repatriation of the 3rd place Fairbanks Ice Dogs & 4th place Kenai River Brown Bears to their home rinks after bunking in Minnesota since the beginning of this season. The 2nd place Minnesota Magicians still have a statistical shot to overtake the Jets, but I reckon today's standings are how the stack up will look come end-of-play on May 16th.

South: All four playoff spots have been claimed, so it's just a matter of which team ends up with which seed & ice advantage. The 1st place Shreveport Mudbugs & 2nd place Lone Star Brahmas have been seesawing for the top two rankings most of the season, while the lame duck Amarillo Bulls have been staying close & holding the 3rd slot for quite awhile. The only real surprise in this Division is the emergence of the first-year Wichita Falls Warriors, who are positioned for a run at Amarillo in the closing weeks of the season.

 

[MDtoGF]

Read a recap from the Gens perspective with head coach thoughts on some key players.

Perseverance and persistence: How the Generals earned a 4-3 OT win

 

[MDtoGF]

Read some more on the 4-2 loss from the Gens perspective tonight. The Northeast Generals lose 4-2: What comes next?

 

[JMCx4]

Just one more week left in the NAHL 2020-21 season, and only the Central Division has work left to do to determine the Top 4 seeds. The top seedings are set in each division (Aberdeen, Johnstown, Janesville & Shreveport); Bismarck, Maine & the LS Brahmas have locked up 2nd seeds in their respective divisions. Below that the last week of play will determine the first-round match-ups for the playoffs, which will begin on May 18th with best-of-5 Division Semi-Final series.

 

[mk80]

A couple of new league records set tonight. And sure you could argue they wouldn't have been if the league didn't extend their regular season, but still very impressive nonetheless!

 

[JMCx4]

A couple of new league records set tonight. And sure you could argue they wouldn't have been if the league didn't extend their regular season, but still very impressive nonetheless! ...

This season's Wings would've been a juggernaut in any situation. I just worry for them that they will take their collective foot off that gas against some low seeded opponent in the playoffs (like they've apparently done in their few reg season losses), and spoil an historic season with a loud "Thud!" as they get bounced from the Robertson Cup tourney. Their team maturity will be on trial in the coming weeks.

 

[JMCx4]

The 2020-21 NAHL regular season has ended. Final standings are as follows.

The Minnesota Wilderness of the Central Division were the last team out of the top 16 to settle in to a spot in the rankings, securing 3rd place over the Minot Minotauros by virtue of recording 2 more wins on the season. That puts Minot in the unenviable position of facing the League's regular season champion & powerhouse Aberdeen Wings in the first round of the Robertson Cup playoffs. The South Division also had to use wins to determine their 3rd & 4th place rankings, with the first year Wichita Falls Warriors earning one more win than the relocating Amarillo Bulls.

Divisional Semifinals will run from May 20th to May 31st in home arenas (best of 5 games), followed by the Divisional Finals match-ups from June 3rd to June 13th also in home arenas (best of 5). Then the four Divisional winners will compete in the Robertson Cup National Championship tournament at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota, from June 18th to 22nd, with seedings based on the teams' final regular season rankings. The #1 Seed will face the #4 seed and the #2 seed will play the #3 seed, each a best-of-3 series. The two RC Semis series winners will advance to a one-game championship to determine the NAHL's Robertson Cup National Champion. Got all that?

ETA: Despite the obvious turmoil introduced by the pandemic, stick taps to the NAHL member teams for completing their 2020-21 regular season with a largely balanced number of games played in each Division. All Central & South Division teams managed to play 56 games each, while in the Midwest Division (handicapped by a late start & a mid-season interruption plus the two Alaska teams playing most of their "home games" in Minnesota) all five teams who chose play over pause managed to record 48 GP each. Even the East Division did an admirable job of juggling COVID restrictions in their region & collection of home states, with 3 of the top 4 playoff seeds completing 54 games while the Maine Nordiques squeezed in 56 games. Overall, an amazing accomplishment by the NAHL this crazy season.

 

[JMCx4]

Based on the popular theory that teams "on a roll" when entering a sport's post-season play have a distinct advantage (no strong argument from me), here are the NAHL playoff-bound teams who are rolling ...

• In the "No Surprise" category, the Central Division's #1 seed Aberdeen Wings have won the last 10 games of their historic 51 win season.
• In the East Division, the #1 Johnstown Tomahawks notched victories in their final 6 regular season games (3 of their last 4) & are 8-2-0-0 in their last 10. The #2 team in the East are the Maine Nordiques, who finished their season on a 7-2-1-0 run.
• Down in the South Division, the top two seeded Shreveport Mudbugs & Lone Star Brahmas each went 7-2-1-0 in their last ten ir-regular season matches.

 

[mk80]

I agree a very big round of applause is deserved for the NAHL and the NA3HL for that matter in their efforts and great adaptability to complete their regular seasons, and in the 3HL's case complete the season and award the Fraser Cup

 

[JMCx4]

Just two days to go, and finally the official version ...

NAHL announces 2021 Robertson Cup Playoff schedule, format

MAY 18, 2021

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the schedule and format for the 2021 Robertson Cup Playoffs and Championship. The four divisional playoff champions will advance to play at the 2021 Robertson Cup Championship in Blaine, Minnesota from June 18-22. The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the NAHL.

Visit the Robertson Cup Playoff Hub

All 2021 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoff games can be viewed live on HockeyTV.


Division Semi-Finals (Best of 5)

The Club seeded first in each division will compete in a best-of-five series with the fourth seeded Club in the same division. The Club seeded second in each division will compete in a best-of-five-series against the Club seeded third in the same division. The Division Semi-Finals may begin no earlier than Thursday, May 20, 2021 and must conclude no later than Monday, May 31, 2021. The Club seeded higher in each division semifinal series has the right to host up to three games and the Club seeded lower in each division semifinal series must be able to host at least two games.


Central Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)

#1 Aberdeen Wings vs. #4 Minot Minotauros
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
Game 3: Thursday, May 27 @ Minot, 7:05pm
Game 4: Friday, May 28 @ Minot, 7:05pm*
Game 5: Sunday, May 30 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm*

#2 Bismarck Bobcats vs. #3 Minnesota Wilderness
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Bismarck, 7:15pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Bismarck, 7:15pm
Game 3: Tuesday, May 25 @ Minnesota, 7:15pm
Game 4: Wednesday, May 26 @ Minnesota, 7:15pm*
Game 5: Saturday, May 29 @ Bismarck, 7:15pm*


East Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)

#1 Johnstown Tomahawks vs. #4 Maryland Black Bears
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Johnstown, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Johnstown, 7:00pm
Game 3: Wednesday, May 26 @ Maryland, 6:30pm
Game 4: Thursday, May 27 @ Maryland, 6:30pm*
Game 5: Saturday, May 29 @ Johnstown, 7:00pm*

#2 Maine Nordiques vs. #3 New Jersey Titans
Game 1: Thursday, May 20 @ Maine, 7:00pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 21 @ Maine, 7:00pm
Game 3: Thursday, May 27 @ New Jersey, 7:00pm
Game 4: Friday, May 28 @ New Jersey, 7:00pm*
Game 5: Sunday, May 30 @ Maine, 7:00pm*


Midwest Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)

#1 Janesville Jets vs. #4 Kenai River Brown Bears
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Janesville, 7:05pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Janesville, 7:05pm
Game 3: Friday, May 28 @ Kenai River, 7:00pm (Super Rink, Blaine, MN)
Game 4: Saturday, May 29 @ Kenai River, 7:00pm* (Super Rink, Blaine, MN)
Game 5: Monday, May 31 @ Janesville, 5:00pm*

#2 Fairbanks Ice Dogs vs. #3 Minnesota Magicians
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Fairbanks, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Fairbanks, 7:30pm
Game 3: If Fairbanks is up 2-0, Saturday, May 29 @ Minnesota, 7:00pm
Game 3: If series is tied 1-1 or if Magicians are up 2-0, Sunday, May 23 @ Fairbanks, 5:00pm
Game 4: Sunday, May 30 @ Minnesota, 7,00pm*
Game 5: Monday, May 31 @ Minnesota, 6:00pm*


South Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)

#1 Shreveport Mudbugs vs. #4 Amarillo Bulls
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 3: Thursday, May 27 @ Amarillo, 7:05pm
Game 4: Friday, May 28 @ Amarillo, 7:05pm*
Game 5: Sunday, May 30 @Shreveport, 7:11pm*

#2 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Wichita Falls Warriors
Game 1: Friday, May 21 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
Game 3: Saturday, May 29 @ Wichita Falls, 4:05pm
Game 4: Sunday, May 30 @ Wichita Falls, 4:05pm*
Game 5: Monday, May 31 @ Lone Star, 7:00pm*


*if necessary


Playoff Overtime Procedure: During the all Robertson Cup playoff games, if the score is tied after three periods of play the following overtime procedure shall take place. Teams shall return to their dressing room and the ice shall be resurfaced. A fifteen-minute intermission shall take place. A twenty-minute, sudden death, overtime period shall be played with five skaters a side. The game shall terminate upon a goal being scored and the Club scoring declared the winner. If no goal is scored, the same procedure as above shall be repeated until a winner has been determined.

Division Finals (Best of 5)
The two Clubs in each division that won a division semifinal series shall compete in a best-of-five series against each other. The division finals may begin no earlier than Thursday, June 3, 2021 and conclude no later than Sunday, June 13, 2021. Clubs shall cooperate to schedule division final series competition. The higher seeded Club will have the right to host up to three games. The lower seeded Club must be able to host a minimum of two games.

NAHL Robertson Cup Championship
The four divisional playoff champions will advance to the Robertson Cup Championship, which will be held at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota. Clubs will be seeded 1-4 based upon their finish in the NAHL regular-season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy adopted in the NAHL Rules and Regulations will be applied to determine the final seeding. The game schedule will be as follows: The #1 Seed will face the #4 seed in a best of three series. The #2 seed will face the #3 seed in a best of three series. The two series winners will advance on to a one-game championship to determine the Robertson Cup Champion. The event will begin on Friday, June 18th and conclude on Tuesday, June 22nd.

 

[JMCx4]

The Robertson Cup playoffs kick off tonight in Maine. Live action available via HockeyTV or the LiveBarn streaming service ...

Weekend preview: 5/20 – 5/21; Titans begin Divisional Semi-Final series on the road against Nordiques

May 20, 2021

The first round of the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup playoffs begins this weekend with the divisional semi-final series pitting the number two seed Maine Nordiques against the number three seed New Jersey Titans. It will be a best of five series with the first two games being played at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee (starting) tonight and tomorrow night. ...

Nordiques vs. Titans Overview
During the regular season, the Nordiques won six of the ten games between the teams with two victories being in a shootout. However, each team scored 31 goals. The last time they met was back on April 9 and 10 with the Titans sweeping the two-game series in Maine by a combined score of 12 – 4. The Titans have won four of the last six contests between the teams.

Stefan Owens led the Nordiques with eleven total points (six goals and five assists) against the Titans as well as goals (six). Maine was only 3 for 40 (8%) on the powerplay against New Jersey, although they did allow two shorthanded goals. The Nordiques goaltenders had a combined 3.05 goals against average and .911 save percentage with one shutout (Tyriq Outen).

Jake LaRusso led the Titans with nine total points (6 goals and 3 assists) and goals (six) against the Nordiques. The Titans were 6 for 33 (18%) on the powerplay against the Nordiques and they gave up one shorthanded goal. New Jersey’s netminders had a combined 2.85 goals against average and .925 save percentage with no shutouts. ...

Read more at: Weekend preview: 5/20 – 5/21; Titans begin Divisional Semi-Final series on the road against Nordiques

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

apparently, the Kansas City Blades are being sold to a group in Amarillo...... sources including KC Mavericks owner Lamar Hunt, Jr. has informed the fanbase after the attempt to resurrect the famed name that was relocated from Topeka

 

[JMCx4]

First 2021 Robertson Cup playoff game is in the books. Final Score = Maine Nordiques 1 - New Jersey Titans 0. GWG scored by the Nordiques forward Stefan Owens, after he batted the puck out of the air at the edge of the Titans crease & tapped it in past NJ goalie Christian Stoever with under 3-1/2 minutes left in the third period. The goal was initially waved off by the referee down low, but the on-ice officials discussed it briefly (no replay in the NAHL) and the goal was upheld. Assists awarded to NJT D-man Matt Connor & forward Isaiah Fox. The Titans got a late man-advantage & pulled Stoever with one minute remaining, but they could not get the puck through the Nordiques defenders to challenge winning goalie Tyriq Outen.

This game was 60 minutes of speedy north-south hockey, with a minimum of stoppages. SOG Totals were even @ 39 each. Both goalies played solid games, though Stoever did start to give up dangerous rebounds in the last half of the 3rd period. At the other end Outen played an excellent game, very relaxed with great poise & friendly chatter with the opposing shooters after many of his stops. This 20 year-old Tampa native is a treat to watch.

Game #2 in Maine on Friday night @ 7:00 PM EST. I'd expect similar energy & grittiness from both sides, as many of the players on these two teams clearly are NOT on friendly terms.

 

[JMCx4]

apparently, the Kansas City Blades are being sold to a group in Amarillo...... sources including KC Mavericks owner Lamar Hunt, Jr. has informed the fanbase after the attempt to resurrect the famed name that was relocated from Topeka

That would be the Kansas City SCOUTS, HUTCH, not the Blades. Cain't har'ly wait to see a link to this news.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

That would be the Kansas City SCOUTS, HUTCH, not the Blades. Cain't har'ly wait to see a link to this news.

IT'S BEEN widely discussed because Lamar Hunt owns both franchises, or is in the process of decoupling both franchises, JM.... from those who follow the KC Mavericks and their fanbase was told that the Topeka to KC move was done when it was originally announced mid-pandemic....

ownership usually tells the fans the truth because it's under the same banner, much as the "rumor" surrounding the Blues ever aligning themselves with the Mavericks which got little to no traction once the Mavericks declined that offer.

 

[JMCx4]

... ownership usually tells the fans the truth ...

What hockey puck are you living under?

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

What hockey puck are you living under?

nobody expected the Scouts to co-exist with the Mavericks in a pandemic era, JM, is the consensus that the Maverick fanbase was discussing since that transfer from Topeka, if this had not been an odd circumstances, would they have co-existed successfully.... we might never really know the answer....

this is like Brampton in a way, they held on when nobody gave them a realistic chance as long as they did before the reality set in that it simply wasn't feasible to continue...

it's the KC Market, too, remember that, as well, and that checkered history and the why the Mavericks likely aren't in the metro KC Market, but Independence.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

it's official:

the Topeka Road Runners which briefly became the Kansas City Scouts.... have been approved to relocate to Amarillo, Texas by the NAHL

 

[JMCx4]

it's official ...

Congratulations on your promotion to NAHL Commissioner. I always knew you'd make something of yourself, some day.

 

[JMCx4]

Back to 2020-21 NAHL hockey ... Thursday night's GWG @ Androscoggin ...

 

[Captain Crash]

IT'S BEEN

one week since you looked at me
Cocked your head to the side and said, "I'm angry"

 

[JMCx4]

Two upsets in Round 1 Game #1 in the South Division tonight. The lame duck Amarillo Bulls defeated the 1st place Shreveport Mudbugs in Louisiana by a 4-1 score. And over in Texas, the first season Wichita Falls Warriors took a 3-1 lead early in the 2nd period & held on to down the 2nd place Lone Star Brahmas in North Richland Hills with a final score of 5-3 courtesy of a late ENG.