NAHL Weekend Preview

January 27, 2023

The NAHL is back in action this weekend with a jam-packed schedule of 29 games from Friday-Sunday as January comes to a close.

There are many key dates coming up including the 2023 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament and the USA Hockey Trading deadline.

The 2023 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament is just over a week away and will be held on February 6-7, 2023 at the UPMC Lemieux Center in suburban Pittsburgh, PA. The NAHL will field four teams for the event, one for each division.

It was another good week for NCAA commitments as several more players made NCAA Division I commitments as the current season total is now up to 177 committed players.

In the Central Division, while things are tight in the pack, the division-leading Austin Bruins still maintain a 12-point lead atop of the division. The Bruins will be in Minot to take on the 3^rd place Minotauros. The suddenly hot Bismarck Bobcats, who are unbeaten in regulation in their last five games, will be on the road to face the Aberdeen Wings. Last weekend, the Bobcats took five of six points in three games against the Wings. The final series has St. Cloud and North Iowa battling in three games, which includes the only NAHL game on Sunday.

In the East, the 1^st place Maryland Black Bears have a big series as they host the 3^rd place Northeast Generals. The 5^th place Johnstown Tomahawks have a chance to gain ground on a playoff post as they travel to Danbury to face a Jr. Hat Tricks team who has lost 24 straight games. The final series has the 2^nd place New Jersey Titans and Philadelphia Rebels tangling in a home-and-home series.

In the Midwest, the hottest team in the NAHL, the Wisconsin Windigo find themselves in 3^rd place thanks to a seven-game winning streak as they continue their roadtrip in Alaska with a series in Kenai River as the Brown Bears look to snap a four-game slide. The 1^st place Fairbanks Ice Dogs are on a three-game skid and face a tough task as they travel South to take on their rival Anchorage Wolverines. Janesville is currently holding down the 4^th and final playoff spot as they play host to in-state rival Chippewa with the Steel looking to snap a three-game skid. The final series has the 2^nd place Minnesota Wilderness on the road to face the Springfield Jr. Blues.

In the South Division, thanks to a six-game winning streak by the Oklahoma Warriors, the lead in the South is down to just a single point. The Warriors look to keep their winning streak going as they host the Corpus Christi IceRays. The 1^st place Lone Star Brahmas, who were swept last weekend in Corpus Christi, continue their road trip with a series in Shreveport against the Mudbugs, who have lost four in a row. Odessa and Amarillo are on the outside looking in the playoff picture and face big tests this weekend as the Jackalopes hosts the 3^rd place New Mexico Ice Wolves and the Wranglers face the El Paso Rhinos.

Watch all the action on HockeyTV

Click here for updated scores

Download the all new NAHL App today! (iOS - Google Play)

Friday, January 27

Johnstown at Danbury - 7:00 PM EST

Northeast at Maryland - 7:30 PM EST

Chippewa at Janesville - 7:00 PM CST

New Jersey at Philadelphia - 8:00 PM EST

North Iowa at St. Cloud - 7:00 PM CST

MN Wilderness at Springfield - 7:05 PM CST

Lone Star at Shreveport - 7:11 PM CST

Bismarck at Aberdeen - 7:15 PM CST