Robertson Cup Championship just three weeks away
April 20, 2016
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) 2016 Robertson Cup Championship is just three weeks away and the quest for the cup is already well underway with the first weekend of playoff games in the books. After the divisional semi-finals and finals rounds are completed, the Championship will be played at Braemar Ice Arena in Edina, Minnesota, from May 12-15, 2016.
The Robertson Cup is awarded to the national playoff champion of the NAHL. The oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States, the Robertson Cup is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan. Chuck Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pools Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976-83.
The four NAHL divisional playoff champions will advance to the Robertson Cup Championship, which will be held at the Braemar Ice Arena in Edina, Minnesota. The event will be held in cooperation with the 2016 NAPHL Top Prospects Tournament and the fourth and final NAHL Future Prospects Combine.
For more information on the Robertson Cup, click here
After one weekend, here is a look at how each series stands:
Central Division Semi-Finals
#1 Bismarck Bobcats vs. #4 Brookings Blizzard (Bismarck leads series, 2-0)
Game 1: Brookings 2 @ Bismarck 5
Game 2: Brookings 3 @ Bismarck 5
Game 3: April 22, Bismarck at Brookings, 7:30 PM
Game 4: April 23, Bismarck at Brookings, 7:30 PM*
Game 5: April 25, Brookings at Bismarck, 7:15 PM*
*if necessary
#2 Minot Minotauros vs. #3 Austin Bruins (Series tied, 1-1)
Game 1: Austin 1 @ Minot 3
Game 2: Austin 4 @ Minot 1
Game 3: April 22, Minot at Austin, 7:05 PM
Game 4: April 23, Minot at Austin, 7:05 PM
Game 5: April 25, Austin at Minot, 7:05 PM*
*if necessary
East Division Semi-Finals
#1 Aston Rebels vs. #4 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights (Aston leads series, 2-0)
Game 1: WBS Knights 2 @ Aston 3
Game 2: WBS Knights 2 @ Aston 3
Game 3: April 22, Aston at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:00 PM
Game 4: April 23, Aston at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:00 PM*
Game 5: April 25, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Aston, 7:00 PM*
*if necessary
#2 New Jersey Titans vs. #3 Johnstown Tomahawks (Johnstown leads series, 2-0)
Game 1: Johnstown 5 @ New Jersey 3
Game 2: Johnstown 2 @ New Jersey 0
Game 3: April 22, New Jersey at Johnstown, 7:30 PM
Game 4: April 23, New Jersey at Johnstown, 7:30 PM*
Game 5: April 25, Johnstown at New Jersey, 7:45 PM*
*if necessary
Midwest Division Semi-Finals
#1 Fairbanks Ice Dogs vs. #4 Coulee Region Chill (Fairbanks leads series, 2-1)
Game 1: Coulee Region 6 @ Fairbanks 1
Game 2: Coulee Region 1 @ Fairbanks 6
Game 3: Coulee Region 0 @ Fairbanks 3
Game 4: April 22, Fairbanks at Coulee Region, 7:00 PM
Game 5: April 23, Fairbanks at Coulee Region, 7:00 PM*
*if necessary
#2 Janesville Jets vs. #3 Minnesota Wilderness (Series tied, 1-1)
Game 1: MN Wilderness 2 @ Janesville 5
Game 2: MN Wilderness 2 @ Janesville 1
Game 3: April 22, Janesville at MN Wilderness, 7:30 PM
Game 4: April 23, Janesville at MN Wilderness, 7:30 PM
Game 5: April 25, MN Wilderness at Janesville, 7:00 PM*
*if necessary
South Division Semi-Finals
#1 Wichita Falls Wildcats vs. #4 Odessa Jackalopes (Wichita Falls leads series, 2-0)
Game 1: Odessa 3 @ Wichita Falls 6
Game 2: Odessa 0 @ Wichita Falls 5
Game 3: April 22, Wichita Falls at Odessa, 7:05 PM
Game 4: April 23, Wichita Falls at Odessa, 7:05 PM*
Game 5: April 25, Odessa at Wichita Falls, 7:05 PM*
*if necessary
#2 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Topeka RoadRunners (Series tied, 1-1)
Game 1: Topeka 1 @ Lone Star 3
Game 2: Topeka 2 @ Lone Star 1 (OT)
Game 3: April 22, Lone Star at Topeka, 7:05 PM
Game 4: April 23, Lone Star at Topeka, 7:05 PM
Game 5: April 25, Topeka at Lone Star, 7:00 PM*
*if necessary
Once the four teams are determined, clubs will be seeded 1-4 based upon their finish in the NAHL regular-season standings. If necessary, the tie-breaking policy adopted in the NAHL Rules and Regulations will be applied to determine the final seeding. 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 on to a one-game playoff to determine the Robertson Cup Champion. The event will begin on Thursday, May 12th and conclude no later than Sunday, May 15th.
During the 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.
