NAPHL crowns 2017 Dixon Cup Champions

February 21, 2017

The conclusion of the 2016-17 NAPHL season took place at the Troy Sports Center on Monday, February 20th with the Dixon Cup Championship games in the 18U, 16U and 15U Divisions.

 

Monday also featured the crowning of the Silver Division (Consolation) Champions in the 18U and 16U Divisions.

 

 

Monday’s competition was very close and capped of another incredible season for the NAPHL. With that said, here is a look at the results of the Championship Games:

 

18U Gold Division Championship

Madison Capitols 2 vs. Meijer AAA 1 (SO) – Three periods of regulation and two, five-minute overtimes were not enough to determine the NAPHL’s 18U Champion as Madison and Meijer battled in the title game for a second straight season. Both goalies shined in the game as the team’s went back and forth.  Meijer was first to get on the board as Andrew Walker slammed home a loose puck from the low slot late in the 2nd period to make the score 1-0. Early in the 3rd period, a shot from the point from Brendan Syed found its way through traffic and into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1.  Both five minute overtimes featured multiple chances by both teams, including breakaways, but the goaltending of Nathan Severtson (Madison) and Liam Murray (Meijer) stole the show.  In the shootout, Meijer got an early lift on a nice snipe from Benito Posa, but Madison answered a round later on a goal from Gavin Holland. In the 4th round, a shot by Madison’s Kobe Keller trickled over the line and after Severtson denied Posa, the title went to Madison for a second straight season. Severtson made 31 saves in the win, while Murray made 24 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

Esmark Stars 1 vs. Rocky Mountain RoughRiders 0 – Thanks to 22 saves from Nico Pidro, the Esmark Stars claimed their first ever NAPHL Championship crown with a 1-0 win over the RoughRiders. The lone goal of the game came early in the 2nd period as Drew Murphy converted on a 2 on 1 thanks to a nice pass from Christian Gorscak.  The rest of the way was great goaltending by both Pidro and Rocky Mountain goalie Andrew Miller. Miller ended up with 20 saves in the contest.  The win was the first-ever NAPHL Championship for the Stars organization.  Boxscore

 

Washington Little Capitals 3 vs. Colorado Springs Tigers 1 – Mac Robertson scored two goals to lead the Washington Little Capitals to a 3-1 win in the first ever NAPHL 15U Dixon Cup Championship Game. The Caps were strong from the get go as Robertson opened the scoring just 1:48 into the contest. The lead increased to 2-0 thanks to another goal in the 2nd period from Robertson.  Adam Varga then added his first goal of the contest early in the 3rd period to make the score 3-0 with the Little Caps in control.  The shutout bid of Andrew Owens was spoiled with just seconds left in regulation as Alexander Enegren scored the lone Tigers goal. Owens made 19 saves in the win, while Tigers goalie Eric Buchholz made 29 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

18U Silver Division Consolation Championship

Wenatchee Wolves 3 vs. HC Dallas 2 – Wenatchee jumped out to an early lead and held off a late HC Dallas rally to claim the consolation crown in the 18U Division. The Wolves went ahead 1-0 with a goal late in the 1st period from Raymond Fleming. Early in the 2nd period, the lead increased to 2-0 for Wenatchee thanks to a goal from Jed Butler. HC Dallas stayed close with a goal seconds later from Alex McBey to make it 2-1.  In the 3rd period, the Wolves got the eventual game-winning goal from Jake Landers to make it 3-1.  Connor O’Connell added a late goal for HC Dallas to make the final score, 3-2. Hayden Chieffo made 27 saves in the win, while Jacob Ange made 17 saves in the loss. Boxscore

 

Washington Little Capitals 1 vs. Arizona Bobcats 0 (2OT) – Drake Voell made 34 saves as the Little Caps claimed the 16U consolation title thanks to a goal in the 2nd overtime in a 1-0 final.  Bobcats goalie Riley Morgan was equally as good, making 35 saves in the double overtime loss. The winning goal came at the tail end of a 4 on 3 power play in the 2nd overtime as William Eden got the puck down low and sent a shot to the net that Morgan got a piece of, but the puck trickled over the line for the game-winner. Boxscore