NAHL Weekend Preview

March 1, 2019

Playoff berths and division titles could be clinched this weekend as the NAHL heads into March with a full schedule of 23 games.

It has been a huge week for news for the NAHL. Four more players secured their NCAA commitments, bringing the season total to 191 players to date, which is the most for any single-season by March 1st.

The NAHL also announced two new expansion teams on Thursday as the Maine Nordiques and New Mexico Ice Wolves have been accepted to the league and will begin play in the 2019-20 season.

The NAHL is coming off a very successful 2019 Top Prospects Tournament, which took place less than two weeks ago in Attleboro, MA. Despite having the event for the past nine years in the state of Michigan, this year’s new location out East was a rousing success, as scouting and attendance numbers once again set a new standard.

With over 220+ NCAA, NHL, and other college and junior scouts checking in, the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament once again proved that it is a vital and important part of the NAHL event model, which includes the NAHL Showcase in September and the NAHL Robertson Cup National Championship in May.

Watch all the action on HockeyTV

Click here for updated scores

Download the NAHL App (iOS - Google Play)

In the Central Division this weekend, it is a #1 vs. #2 match-up in Austin as the 2nd place Bruins host the 1st place Aberdeen Wings with a potential playoff spot ready to be clinched by the division leaders. The Bismarck Bobcats look to keep their hot streak going as they have gone eight straight games without a regular loss and will host the Brookings Blizzard this weekend, who have lost five straight. In 3rd place and just one point out of 2nd place is the Minot Minotauros, who will play host to the Minnesota Wilderness.

In the East Division, the Johnstown Tomahawks are just a couple wins away from claiming the regular season crown and will look to do so with a pair of games this weekend in New Jersey against the Titans. The Northeast Generals, who are holding down the 4th and final playoff spot in the division, will have a tough three-game test against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, who are just three points back and who have won four in a row. The final series has the Jamestown Rebels looking to snap a three-game slide as they travel to Maryland to face a Black Bear team that has lost seven in a row.

In the Midwest, the Minnesota Magicians look to clinch a playoff spot as they try and rebound from a 3-1 loss to Kenai River on Thursday with another game on Saturday night. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs are also close to clinching a playoff berth and will look to do so with two games in Springfield against the Jr. Blues. The final series has the Janesville Jets completing a long homestand against the Chippwa Steel in the continuing battle for the Milk Can between the two Wisconsin rivals.

In the South Division, the Amarillo Bulls are on the cusp of a division title as they are on the road to face the Topeka Pilots, who are four points out of the final playoff spot with 13 games remaining. The Shreveport Mudbugs look to increase their lead on 2nd place in the division with one more game in Corpus Christi on Friday as they won the opener of the series with a come-from-behind 5-3 win on Thursday. The final series has the Lone Star Brahmas hosting the Odessa Jackalopes.

FRI, MARCH 1

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Northeast - 7:30 PM EST

Jamestown at Maryland - 7:45 PM EST

Johnstown at New Jersey - 7:45 PM EST

Aberdeen at Austin - 7:05 PM CST

Shreveport at Corpus Christi - 7:05 PM CST

Chippewa at Janesville - 7:05 PM CST

Fairbanks at Springfield - 7:05 PM CST

Amarillo at Topeka - 7:05 PM CST

Brookings at Bismarck - 7:15 PM CST

Odessa at Lone Star - 7:30 PM CST

MN Wilderness at Minot - 7:35 PM CST