NAHL Weekend Preview

January 10, 2020

It is a big weekend in the NAHL as 26 games are on the schedule from Friday through Sunday.

Now past the halfway point in the season, wins and points are at a premium in January for a variety of reasons including the upcoming standings freeze for spots in the 2020 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament in addition to the upcoming trade deadline and roster freeze in early February.

The NCAA commitments continued this past week and the NAHL currently has 163 NCAA commitments to date for the 2019-20 season.

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In the Central Division, 1st and 2nd place clash this weekend as the Aberdeen Wings and Bismarck Bobcats battle in a home-and-home series. The Wings are 14-0-1 in their last 15 games, while Bismarck is on a three-game skid. The Austin Bruins are fresh off a 5-1 win on Thursday night over the Blizzard, and will battle St. Cloud again in home-and-home games on Friday and Saturday, with the Bruins riding an eight-game point streak. The Minnesota Wilderness are in Minot for two games against the Minotauros with both teams looking to get back to the winning side.

In the East Division, the top four teams look to continue their separation from the pack and continue their winning ways as the 1st place New Jersey Titans are in Maine to face the Nordiques. The 2nd place Johnstown Tomahawks, who have won four in a row, are on the road to face the Jamestown Rebels, who are trying to snap a seven-game losing streak. 3rd place is on the line in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the 4th place Knights host the 3rd place Maryland Black Bears, with the Black Bears holding a two-point edge in the standings. The Northeast Generals look to climb the standings with a home series against the Midwest Division-leading Fairbanks Ice Dogs, who are 5-0-1 in their last six games.

In the Midwest Division, with 1st place Fairbanks in Northeast, the 2nd place Kenai River Brown Bears are also on the road again this weekend as they stay in the South to face the New Mexico Ice Wolves for two games. 3rd and 4th place in the division clash this weekend as the Chippewa Steel and Janesville Jets continue their battle of Wisconsin in a home-and-home series. Finally, it may be getting down to must-win territory for both Springfield and Minnesota Magicians, who both need points to get back into playoff position with a two-game set in Springfield.

In the South Division, two new coaches will make their debut this weekend as the Corpus Christi IceRays and interim head coach Nate Weosnner will try and snap a six-game losing streak with a three-game home series against the Shreveport Mudbugs. The Odessa Jackalopes and interim head coach Adam Phillips will try and snap a 13-game losing streak with three games in Amarillo against the Bulls. The Lone Star Brahmas and Topeka Pilots are idle.

FRI, JANUARY 10

New Jersey at Maine - 7:00 PM EST

Fairbanks at Northeast - 7:00 PM EST

Maryland at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:00 PM EST

Johnstown at Jamestown - 7:05 PM EST

Odessa at Amarillo - 7:05 PM CST

St. Cloud at Austin - 7:05 PM CST

Shreveport at Corpus Christi - 7:05 PM CST

MN Magicians at Springfield - 7:05 PM CST

Janesville at Chippewa - 7:10 PM CST

Bismarck at Aberdeen - 7:15 PM CST

MN Wilderness at Minot - 8:05 PM CST