NAHL Weekend Preview

May 7, 2021

Just two weekends remain before the end of the 2020-21 NAHL regular season. There will be high drama this weekend as the final playoff spots in the Central and East Division’s still need to be decided in addition to the South Division regular season champion.

13 of the 16 available playoff spots have been clinched to date.

The 2021 Robertson Cup Playoffs begin the third week in May and the top four teams in each division will qualify for the post-season. The Division Semi-Finals will be a best of 5 series.

The four eventual divisional playoff winners will meet for the 2021 Robertson Cup Championship, which is scheduled to be held at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, MN, from June 18-22.

Several more players announced NCAA Division commitments this past week. That brings bringing the current season total to 299 players (including a new record of 270 Division I commitments) who are playing in the league and are committed to playing NCAA hockey in 2020-21.

In the Central Division this weekend, it is crunch time for the Austin Bruins and St. Cloud Norsemen. The Norsemen are five points pack of the final playoff spot with five games to play and have three games this weekend, including two against the Bruins and one against the Minnesota Magicians. The Bruins are also in an almost must-win situation as they are four points back with four games to play. The Minnesota Wilderness, who are hanging onto the fourth and final playoff spot, began their weekend with a 2-1 with over the Magicians on Thursday. Now they face the task of trying to take down the Aberdeen Wings. The Minot Minotauros will try and lock in their playoff spot as they host the Bismarck Bobcats for two games in a potential first round playoff match-up.

In the East Division, the Maryland Black Bears look to lock in the fourth and final playoff spot with a single game in Johnstown on Saturday. In other action, Danbury faces a must-win situation with two games in Maine, while the Northeast Generals will host the New Jersey Titans during the NAHL Combine in Attleboro, MA.

In the Midwest, the four playoff teams are set and the division champion Janesville Jets got off to a good start this weekend with a 3-0 win in Chippewa on Thursday with two more games remaining in the series. The battle of Alaska resumes this weekend as Fairbanks hosts Kenai River for two games. The Minnesota Magicians play their second game of the week on Saturday as they are in St. Cloud.

In the South Division, all eyes are in Shreveport as the Mudbugs need just one more win to secure the South Division’s regular season title as they host the Amarillo Bulls. The Bulls are engaged in a tight race with Wichita Falls for 3^rd place, with the Warriors just one point back entering the weekend. The Warriors host the Odessa Jackalopes for two games. The other series has the Lone Star Brahmas traveling to New Mexico to take on the Ice Wolves.

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FRI, MAY 7

Danbury at Maine - 7:00 PM EDT

New Jersey at Northeast - 7:00 PM EDT

St. Cloud at Austin - 7:05 PM CDT

Odessa at Wichita Falls - 7:05 PM CDT

Janesville at Chippewa - 7:10 PM CDT

Amarillo at Shreveport - 7:11 PM CDT

Aberdeen at MN Wilderness - 7:15 PM CDT

Bismarck at Minot - 7:35 PM CDT