NAHL Weekend Preview

September 26, 2014

Coming off another incredible and record-breaking NAHL Showcase, the NAHL resumes the regular season this weekend with many clubs hosting their home openers. 23 of the 24 teams are in action this weekend. The Austin Bruins and Topeka RoadRunners remain the lone undefeated teams in the league

 

Watch all games live on FASTHockey

 

 

Bismarck @ Aberdeen (Fri) – The Wings are coming off a successful 3-1 record at the Showcase, while the Bobcats went 2-2. Wings forwards Kyle Haak and Ronnie Hein lead the club in points with five, while Bismarck is lead by Cullen Willox with six points.

 

Austin @ Minot (Fri) – The Bruins return to the scene of their Central Semi-Final win last season as they visit Minot for the Minotauros home opener. The Bruins won the NAHL Showcase, outscoring the opposition 26-8. The Minotauros went 2-2 at the Showcase and are led by six points from Christian Mohs.

 

Austin @ Bismarck (Sat) – Two Central Division powers square off on Saturday in Bismarck’s home opener. The series between the two clubs was very even last season with Austin holding a 5-4-1 record, while Bismarck was 5-5-0.

 

Aberdeen @ Brookings (Sat) – Brookings has their home opener as they host the Wings on Saturday. The Blizzard are lead by forward Beau Michaud, who had nine points at the NAHL Showcase as the Blizzard posted a 2-2 record.

 

Fairbanks @ MN Wilderness – Fairbanks travels to Cloquet for a pair of games this weekend. The defending champs are off to a slow start, going just 2-3-1 in their first six games. They have allowed 28 goals in those six games. Meanwhile, the Wilderness appear to have their patented defense back as they went 3-1 at the Showcase, allowing just six goals.

 

Kenai River @ MN Magicians – Like Fairbanks, Kenai River stays in the Minnesota for a pair of games, but this time against the Magicians, who host their home opener. The Magicians went 3-1 at the NAHL Showcase and are led by goalie Vaughan Ahrens, who went 2-0 in his first two NAHL games. The Brown Bears are off to a 2-4 start.

 

 

Johnstown @ Michigan – The Warriors host the Tomahawks for two games still looking for their first win of the season. The Tomahawks went 2-2 at the Showcase and sit at 2-3 overall. Defenseman Ryan Burr leads the Warriors in points, while the Tomahawks are lead by Joe Drabin and Tanner Barnes, who each have five points.

 

Keystone @ Soo – The Eagles are coming off a 3-1 record at the Showcase and lead the North Division with a 4-2 record. The Eagles have done it with defense and the goaltending of Jack Berry, who was named the North Star of the Week last week. The Ice Miners are led by Jake Coleman, who has four points.

 

Springfield @ Janesville – The Jr. Blues visit the Jets for Janesville’s home opener. Janesville is off to a 3-3 start and in 2nd place in the North, while the Jr. Blues went 1-3 at the Showcase. Matt Jurusik has played in goal in all six games for the Jets, while Max Kalter and Josh Lammon lead the Jr. Blues, each with four points.

 

Keystone @ Michigan (Sun) – It is the lone NAHL game on Sunday and the third game in three days for both teams. Last season, the Warriors held an 8-3-1 record in the series between the two organizations when Keystone was then Port Huron.

 

Topeka @ Wichita Falls – The RoadRunners are off to a 6-0 start and have outscored their opponents 27-8. Both goalies, Drew Vogler and Matej Tomek have played well for the RoadRunners and Jasen Fernsler leads the offense with nine points. The Wildcats are off to a 3-2 start and have been boosted by young goaltender Austin Shaw, who picked up two wins at the Showcase, allowing just two goals.

 

Rio Grande Valley @ Amarillo – The Bulls take to the ice in their home opener coming off a 2-1-1 record at the Showcase. The Killer Bees meanwhile, went 1-3 at the Showcase and allowed 19 goals in four games. Dan Kuverovy had three goals for the Killer Bees, while Charlie Combs has three goals for the Bulls.

 

Odessa @ Wenatchee – The Jackalopes make their first and only trip to Wenatchee this season paced by the top two scorers in the league in Kenny Hausinger and Derek Brown, who both have 11 points. The Wild went 1-2-1 at the Showcase and are led by Jake Ahlgren’s four points.

 

Lone Star @ Corpus Christi (Sat) – Both teams are out of the gate with .500 records.  At 2-2-2, the IceRays are in a tie for 2nd place in the South and defenseman Anthony Cortese leads the club with six points in six games. The Brahmas are 2-2 and are lead by two players with four points in forward Cody Wickline and defenseman Caleb Thompson.