NAHL announces 2021 Robertson Cup and Top Prospects Tournament

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced the dates and location for the 2021 Robertson Cup Playoffs and Championship, along with the 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.

The 2021 Robertson Cup National Championship will be played at the Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota, from June 18-22, 2021. This marks the third season that the Robertson Cup Championship will be held at Fogerty Arena. The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the NAHL.

The 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, will be held in cooperation with the Robertson Cup and will take place from June 19-20, 2021 at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.  The NAHL Top Prospects Tournament is one of the most highly scouted events of its kind. The event continues to provide the hundreds of NHL and NCAA scouts in attendance with a look at the best uncommitted players the NAHL has to offer, as well as some potential NHL Draft picks.

“This has been a very unique and rewarding season. The owners in the NAHL have done everything to keep the players on the ice to compete, develop, and continue a high level of exposure to NCAA scouts and because of that, we have continued to see record-breaking NCAA advancement this season, which is remarkable,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “Bringing the Robertson Cup Championship, along with the Top Prospects Tournament together during the same weekend and in the same location will be very important for uncommitted players to get that opportunity to showcase their skills one last time in pursuit of their NCAA hockey dreams."

NAHL Divisional Playoffs (Best of 5)

Division Semi-Finals (May 18-31): 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.

Division Finals: (June 3-14): 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.

Robertson Cup National Championship

The four NAHL divisional playoff champions will advance to the Robertson Cup Championship. Once the four NAHL Divisional Playoff Champions are determined, clubs will be seeded 1-4 based upon their finish in the NAHL regular-season standings. 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 onto a one-game championship to determine the Robertson Cup National Champion. Players competing in the Robertson Cup Championship are not eligible to play in the 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.

NAHL Top Prospects Tournament

The 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament will feature a total of 88 players from the NAHL, who will be spread amongst four teams that will play in two games each during the event.  The event will feature teams that represent the four divisions in the NAHL: Central, East, Midwest and South. Only those NAHL players without an NCAA commitment are eligible to participate in the 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament, with the exception of those who have been identified by NHL Central Scouting as potential prospects for the 2021 NHL Draft. Players competing in the Robertson Cup Championship are not eligible to play in the 2021 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. Each of the teams will consist of a 22-man roster (13 forwards, 7 defensemen, 2 goaltenders).