North American Hockey League Update
It is good to see a full schedule of games and that’s what takes place again this weekend in the NAHL as 20 games fill the slate from Friday through Sunday.
Things got started early this week with several games during the week. This weekend features action in all four divisions.
It has been another good week of NCAA Division I commitments for the league as six more players made NCAA Division I commitments, bringing the current season total to 212 players who are committed to playing NCAA Division I hockey in 2020-21.
In the Central Division this weekend, the top team in the NAHL, the Aberdeen Wings, face a tough test as they travel to Marshall, MN, to take on the Fairbanks Ice Dogs from the Midwest. The St. Cloud Norsemen are in Bismarck to take on the Bobcats. The Austin Bruins are back at home after a close 5-4 loss to Fairbanks on Thursday to host the Chippewa Steel on Friday, then travel to Cloquet, MN to take on the Wilderness on Saturday. The Wilderness will then host the Kenai River Brown Bears on Sunday.
In the East, things get started early on Friday as Maryland and Maine finish out their two-game series, which saw Maine come away with a 3-2 shootout win on Thursday. The Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks return to the ice for the first time since November 5th as they travel to Johnstown for a two-game set. In the final series, New Jersey will be on the road Saturday and Sunday to face the Northeast Generals.
In the Midwest, Kenai River has a busy weekend with a series at the Minnesota Magicians on Friday and Saturday, followed by a game on Sunday against the Wilderness. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs will face a tough task as they host the Aberdeen Wings from the Central. The Chippewa Steel play just one game on the road on Friday at Austin. The Janesville Jets will be in action in exhibition games against the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers.
Finally, in the South, the top two teams in the division clash as Shreveport travels to Lone Star for a two-game series. The surging Amarillo Bulls, who have won three straight games, will play host to the Odessa Jackalopes, who have lost six straight games. The final series has Wichita Falls hosting New Mexico.
North American ‘3’ Hockey League Update
It is another busy weekend in the NA3HL as 28 games are on the schedule from Friday through Sunday, which includes action in all five divisions.
Some big match-ups are on the slate, starting the Central Division where the top two teams will meet as Peoria travels to Rochester. In the East, Northeast, and Bay State continue their in-state rivalry. In the Frontier Division, the Sheridan Hawks put their 20-game winning streak on the line on Saturday in Yellowstone. In the South, Atlanta hosts the Texas RoadRunners, while El Paso hosts Mid Cities. Finally, in the West, North Iowa, and New Ulm will both play two home games against various division rivals.
The NA3HL is in its 11th season in 2020-21 and serves as one of the top training grounds in the country by providing the best coaching, exposure, and developmental vehicles available for student-athletes in Tier III junior hockey. It is one of only two USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III junior leagues.
No other league has had more movement and advanced more players onto play in the NAHL than the NA3HL. Earlier this summer, not only did 27 NA3HL players sign a tender to play in the NAHL for the upcoming 2020-21 season, but 28 more players were selected in the 2020 NAHL Entry Draft on July 21st.
