NAHL Weekend Preview

November 23, 2018

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After a busy night before Thanksgiving, which saw this week’s schedule of games in the NAHL get started a little early, the weekend is full of 24 games as teams now make a push towards December and the midway point of the schedule.

Three more NAHL players made NCAA Division I commitments this week as the 2018-19 season total now stands at 114 NCAA commitments.

Almost everyone has reached the 20-game mark as the season is now a third of the way done. While the Johnstown Tomahawks and Minnesota Magicians have opened up considerable leads in the East and Midwest Divisions respectively, things are very tight in both the Central and South Divisions.

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In the Central Division this weekend, the 1st place Minot Minotauros will host the Aberdeen Wings, who are in 3rd place just four points back of the division leaders. The Austin Bruins, who are sandwiched in the middle in 2nd place three points back of Minot, have a home-and-home series out of the against the Chippewa Steel. Meanwhile, the race for the 4th and final playoff spot is deadlocked between the Bismarck Bobcats and Minnesota Wilderness at 23 point each. The Bobcats will host the Brookings Blizzard for a two-game set and the Wilderness will play in one more game this week as they take on the Midwest Division-leading Minnesota Magicians on Saturday night.

In the East Division, the Northeast Generals will face the task of trying to stop the NAHL’s hottest team, the Johnstown Tomahawks, who at 20-4 have the best record in the league along with a 13-game winning streak. The Jamestown Rebels have won two in a row and are just two points out of 2nd place as they will place host to the Maryland Black Bears. The final series features a pair of teams trying to snap small losing streaks as the New Jersey Titans look to snap their two-game slide against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, who have lost three in a row.

In the Midwest Division, the division-leading Minnesota Magicians own an 11-point lead atop of the division and will look to add to their five-game winning streak as they host the Wilderness on Saturday. 2nd through 5th place is only separated by six points and the action heats up this weekend as 2nd place Janesville travels to Springfield to face the Jr. Blues, who are tied for 3rd place. Also tied for 3rd place is the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, who go on the road in the battle of Alaska to take on the Kenai River Brown Bears in a three-game series, who are just two points back. The Chippewa Steel will step outside the division in a home-and-home series against the Austin Bruins.

In the South Division, it’s a full slate of games. The 1st place Amarillo Bulls, who haven’t played a game since November 11th are on the road in Odessa for a pair against the Jackalopes, who are in 6th place in the South Division. The battle for 2nd place resumes in Topeka this weekend as the Pilots host the Shreveport Mudbugs in a pair of games, with the teams separated by just one point in the South standings. Also with an eye on keeping 2nd place is the Lone Star Brahmas, who will host the Corpus Christi IceRays. The Brahmas are unbeaten in regulation in their last seven games.

FRI, NOVEMBER 23

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at New Jersey - 7:00 PM EST

Maryland at Jamestown - 7:05 PM EST

Northeast at Johnstown - 7:30 PM EST

Chippewa at Austin - 7:05 PM CST

Janesville at Springfield - 7:05 PM CST

Shreveport at Topeka - 7:05 PM CST

Amarillo at Odessa - 7:11 PM CST

Brookings at Bismarck - 7:15 PM CST

Corpus Christi at Lone Star - 7:30 PM CST

Aberdeen at Minot - 7:35 PM CST

Fairbanks at Kenai River - 7:30 PM AKST