NAHL Weekend Preview
The Robertson Cup Playoffs continue this weekend with the conclusion of the Division Semi-Finals.
After this weekend, just eight teams will remain as the focus will shift to the Division Finals, which begin on Friday, May 5th.
The four divisional playoff champions will advance to play at the 2023 Robertson Cup Championship in Blaine, Minnesota from May 19-23. The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the NAHL.
Seven more players made NCAA commitments this week bringing the yearly total to 251 players who have committed to play NCAA hockey in 2022-23.
Both series in the Central sit at 2-0 entering the Game 3’s on Friday. The St. Cloud Norsemen took both Games 1 and 2 from the Wings in Aberdeen and now just need a single win at home to advance. The top-seeded Austin Bruins had a couple of close wins last weekend and look to close out things in Minot this weekend.
In the East, the Division Finals are already set. The Maryland Black Bears swept the Northeast Generals thanks to a 3-1 win in Game 3 on Wednesday. On Thursday night, the Maine Nordiques completed a sweep of the New Jersey Titans thanks to a 5-1 home win in Game 3.
In the Midwest, the top-seeded Wisconsin Windigo took care of home ice as they travel to Chippewa Falls for Game 3 for that is sure to be a raucous environment as the Steel try and get back in the series. Meanwhile, the Wilderness are in Alaska to take on the Brown Bears. The remainder of the series will be in Kenai River with the Wilderness just need one more win to advance.
In the South, the Oklahoma Warriors were dominant at home in their two wins in Games 1 and 2 as the series shifts to Amarillo. Lone Star will head to Shreveport for Games 3 and 4 in the only series that is tied 1-1 after two games. Both games to date have gone to overtime.
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Division Semi-Finals (Best of 5)
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, April 20, 2023, and must conclude no later than Monday, May 1, 2023. 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.
Central Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Austin Bruins vs. #4 Minot Minotauros (Austin leads, 2-0)
Game 1: Minot 3 @ Austin 4 (OT)
Game 2: Minot 2 @ Austin 4
Game 3: Friday, April 28 @ Minot, 7:35pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 29 @ Minot, 7:35pm*
Game 5: Monday, May 1 @ Austin, 7:05pm*
#2 Aberdeen Wings vs. # St. Cloud Norsemen (St. Cloud leads, 2-0)
Game 1: St. Cloud 2 @ Aberdeen 1
Game 2: St. Cloud 2 @ Aberdeen 0
Game 3: Friday, April 28 @ St. Cloud, 7:15pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 29 @ St. Cloud, 7:00pm*
Game 5: Monday, May 1 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm*
East Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Maryland Black Bears vs. #4 Northeast Generals (Maryland wins series, 3-0)
Game 1: Northeast 2 @ Maryland 8
Game 2: Northeast 2 @ Maryland 3 (OT)
Game 3: Maryland 3 @ Northeast 1
#2 New Jersey Titans vs. #3 Maine Nordiques (Maine wins series, 3-0)
Game 1: Maine 3 @ New Jersey 0
Game 2: Maine 6 @ New Jersey 5 (OT)
Game 3: New Jersey 1 @ Maine 5
Midwest Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Wisconsin Windigo vs. #4 Chippewa Steel (Wisconsin leads, 2-0)
Game 1: Chippewa 1 @ Wisconsin 4
Game 2: Chippewa 1 @ Wisconsin 2 (OT)
Game 3: Friday, April 28 @ Chippewa, 7:00pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 29 @ Chippewa, 7:00pm*
Game 5: Sunday, April 30 @ Wisconsin, 6:00pm*
#2 Minnesota Wilderness vs, #3 Kenai River Brown Bears (Minnesota leads, 2-0)
Game 1: Kenai River 1 @ Minnesota 3
Game 2: Kenai River 1 @ Minnesota 2
Game 3: Friday, April 28 @ Kenai River, 7:30pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 29 @ Kenai River, 7:30pm*
Game 5: Sunday, April 30 @ Kenai River, 7:30pm*
South Division Semi-Finals (best of 5)
#1 Oklahoma Warriors vs. #4 Amarillo Wranglers (Oklahoma leads, 2-0)
Game 1: Amarillo 2 @ Oklahoma 5
Game 2: Amarillo 2 @ Oklahoma 6
Game 3: Friday, April 28 @ Amarillo, 7:15pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 29 @ Amarillo, 7:15pm
Game 5: Monday, May 1 @ Oklahoma, 7:15pm
#2 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Shreveport Mudbugs (Series tied, 1-1)
Game 1: Shreveport 1 @ Lone Star 2 (4OT)
Game 2: Shreveport 3 @ Lone Star 2 (OT)
Game 3: Friday, April 28 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 4: Saturday, April 29 @ Shreveport, 7:11pm
Game 5: Monday, May 1 @ Lone Star, 7:00pm*
*if necessary
Playoff Overtime Procedure: During all Robertson Cup playoff games, if the score is tied after three periods of play the following overtime procedure shall take place. Teams shall return to their dressing room and the ice shall be resurfaced. A fifteen-minute intermission shall take place. A twenty-minute, sudden death, overtime period shall be played with five skaters a side. The game shall terminate upon a goal being scored and the Club scoring declared the winner. If no goal is scored, the same procedure as above shall be repeated until a winner has been determined.
