NAHL Weekend Preview
Less than a handful of games and just two weekends of games remain in the 2022-23 NAHL regular season.
In less than two weeks, the 2023 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs will begin and there are still half of the playoff spots available heading into the final four games.
It was another good week for NCAA commitments as four more players made their plans known. So far, a total of 233 players who are playing in the NAHL or are NAHL alumni are committed to play NCAA hockey. That number includes 12 players who recently played in the 2023 NAHL Top Prospects Tournament.
The NAHL has announced the format for the 2023 Robertson Cup Playoffs. The Robertson Cup National Championship will be played from May 19-23 at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, MN. The format and details can be viewed on the Robertson Cup page.
In the Central this weekend, there isn’t much at stake for the Austin Bruins, who have clinched the regular season title. They are on the road to face the Minot Minotauros, who as of this weekend are clinging on to the 4th and final playoff spot. Minot is tied with Aberdeen in points but have the wins tie-breaker as of right now. The Wings face a tough task as they face the 2nd place St. Cloud Norsemen, with the Norsemen just a win away from clinching a playoff berth. It is must-win time for Bismarck, who needs two wins in North Iowa to keep their playoff hopes alive.
In the East, the division-leading Black Bears are off. If 2nd place New Jersey wants any chance of catching them, they must win in Maine against the Nordiques this weekend. Maine has lost five straight and is now tied for 3rd with the Northeast Generals. The Generals are in Danbury this weekend. Johnstown is in 5th place and with just four games left they have to have wins in Philadelphia as they are four points out of the playoffs with four games to play.
In the Midwest Division, the Wisconsin Windigo won the division with a 1-0 win over the Wilderness on Thursday. The teams battle one more time on Friday. The big games come in Alaska this weekend. The Steel are in the driver’s seat for the next playoff spot, but play two games in Fairbanks against the Ice Dogs, who face a must-win situation in their final two games. In Anchorage, the Wolverines are also in must-win mode against the Brown Bears who are four points ahead for the 4th and final playoff spot. In Janesville, both the Jets and Jr. Blues are out of the playoff picture, but the excitement continues as Jets goalie Annelies Bergmann will become the first female to play in an NAHL game on Friday.
In the South, the big battle is for the 4th and final spot as New Mexico is two points ahead of Amarillo. The Ice Wolves host the Jackalopes, who are also mathematically still in the race, while the Wranglers host the Brahmas. In other action, Shreveport has their eyes on 2nd place as they host Corpus Christi, while El Paso is in Oklahoma who has already won the South and NAHL regular season crowns.
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Friday, April 7th
Northeast at Danbury - 3:30 PM EDT
New Jersey at Maine - 7:05 PM EDT
Springfield at Janesville - 7:00 PM CDT
Johnstown at Philadelphia - 8:00 PM EDT
Aberdeen at St. Cloud - 7:00 PM CDT
Bismarck at North Iowa - 7:10 PM CDT
Corpus Christi at Shreveport - 7:11 PM CDT
Lone Star at Amarillo - 7:15 PM CDT
Wisconsin at MN Wilderness - 7:15 PM CDT
El Paso at Oklahoma - 7:15 PM CDT
Odessa at New Mexico - 6:30 PM MDT
Austin at Minot - 7:35 PM CDT
Kenai River at Anchorage - 7:00 PM AKDT
Chippewa at Fairbanks - 7:30 PM AKDT
Saturday, April 8th
Northeast at Danbury - 3:00 PM EDT
Johnstown at Philadelphia - 3:00 PM EDT
New Jersey at Maine - 7:00 PM EDT
Springfield at Janesville - 7:00 PM CDT
Aberdeen at St. Cloud - 7:00 PM CDT
Bismarck at North Iowa - 7:10 PM CDT
Corpus Christi at Shreveport - 7:11 PM CDT
Lone Star at Amarillo - 7:15 PM CDT
El Paso at Oklahoma - 7:15 PM CDT
Odessa at New Mexico - 6:30 PM MDT
Austin at Minot - 7:35 PM CDT
Kenai River at Anchorage - 7:00 PM AKDT
Chippewa at Fairbanks - 7:30 PM AKDT
