18U Division comes into focus after Day 1 of Dixon Cup

February 16, 2019

The 2019 North American Prospects Hockey League Dixon Cup Playoffs began on Friday, February 15th at the Troy Sports Center in Troy, Michigan. Day 1 was filled with some close games with each 18U team playing in two round-robin games and each 16U team playing in one game.

 

It was a busy opening day of the Dixon Cup Playoffs in the 18U Division, as all 16 teams played in two round-robin games. In Division 1, both Meijer AAA and the Valley Forge Minutemen won their opening two game and sit atop of the division with six points each. Meijer AAA beat Shattuck-St. Mary’s in the opening game, 2-1, and then shutout the Nashville Jr. Predators, 5-0. Forward Devin Hays and defenseman Brendan Bruman lead with way with four points each. Valley Forge beat Nashville 4-2 and then beat Shattuck-St. Mary’s in the afternoon, 3-1. Defenseman Adam Smith had three points in two games and Jake Harman had two goals. In Division 2, the Thunder Bay Kings lead the way with a 2-0 record thanks to wins over CarShield AAA and Everett. Travis Hensrud leads the way for the Kings with three points in two games. CarShield and Everett both picked up wins over the Arizona Bobcats at sit at 1-1-0 after two games. In Division 3, the Esmark Stars got off to a 2-0 start and 1st place with two dominating wins and six points as they beat Colorado Springs 6-0 in the morning game and posted another shutout in the afternoon with a 9-0 defeat of Florida Alliance. Three different players had five points for the Stars in the two wins including Tyler Stewart, Oldrich Virag, and Giovanni Palombo. Also winning their first two games was the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders who beat Florida Alliance 6-1 in the morning game and Colorado Springs in the evening game by a score of 2-1 in overtime. Zachary Purcell leads all Rocky Mountain scorers with four points, which included the overtime-winner in the nightcap against Colorado Springs. In Division 4, the guest Soo Indians (who cannot advance to the Semi-Finals as a non full-time member) recorded two wins on the opening day, which included an overtime win over Sioux Falls in the morning game and a last-minute win over the Madison Capitols in the nightcap. Sioux Falls redeemed their OT-loss in the morning with a 2-1 win over Wenatchee in the evening. Madison had beat Wenatchee in the morning, but then lost to Soo in the evening game. It sets up a final game of the round-robin match-up between Sioux Falls and Madison with the winner advancing to the Semi-Finals.

 

The 16U Division action on Day 1 kicked off with the #1 overall seed Alaska Oilers picking up a big 7-1 win over the Nashville Jr. Predators. Jackson Kerich had two goals and NAHL tenders Aiden Westin and Bret Link had three points each. In the other game of the Division, Valley Forge beat the Meijer 15U team thanks to two goals from David Matousek. In Division 2 action, the Esmark Stars got two goals from Trent Gray and 18 saves from Connor Strobel in a 6-0 shutout of the Green Bay Jr. Gamblers. Also in Division 2, the Sioux Falls Power also picked up a 6-0 win over the Florida Alliance as Jake Vockler had a hat-trick and Hobie Hedquist made 18 saves in the shutout. In Division 3, the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders picked up a 5-1 win over the Thunder Bay Kings thanks to two goals and assist from both Nathan Cote and Braden Husby. In the other Division 3 game, the Arizona Bobcats picked up a 2-1 upset of CarShield AAA as goalie Caleb Wall made 32 saves in the win and Braydeb Vanmeter and Deven Wang scored goals. In Division 4, the Meijer AAA 16U team poured it on late with four goals in the 3rd period as NAHL tender Branden Piku had three goals and an assist. In the final game of Day 1, the Everett Silvertips Elite picked up a 1-0 overtime win over the Colorado Springs Tigers thanks to an overtime goal from Trevor Mertel and 15 saves from Carson Van Winkle.

 

All Dixon Cup games will be broadcast live and in HD on HockeyTV

 

 

The NAPHL Championship trophies (Dixon Cup) are named after Dean Dixon, longtime coach of the NAPHL’s Lansing Capitals, one of the charter members of the NAPHL. In the Summer of 2013, Dixon was diagnosed with brain cancer. Even though the tumor was thought to be inoperable, it was successfully removed and Dean continued his fight through radiation and chemotherapy. On March 17, 2014, Dixon ultimately lost his battle with the disease, but his influence and legacy on the Capitals program and the NAPHL is something that will never be forgotten.

 

The NAPHL will use the International Point System for the Dixon Cup Championship.

3 points for a regulation win

2 points for an OT/Shootout win

1 point for an OT/Shootout loss

0 points for a regulation loss

   

Advancement to Semifinals:  At the end of the three round-robin games, the top teams in each of the four divisions based on points (and subsequent tie-breakers if necessary) will advance.

 

Overtime/Shootouts: Overtime and shootout procedures will remain the same as the regular season for the play-in portion. (4 minutes of 3 v. 3 then straight to a sudden death shootout w/same player able to shoot in multiple rounds).

 

In the Semifinals and Finals teams will play five minutes of 5 v. 5, followed by five minutes of 3 v. 3, then a 3 man shootout, then a sudden-death shootout if necessary.

 

2019: 15U-Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

2018: 18U-Esmark Stars, 16-Arizona Bobcats, 15U-Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

2017: 18U-Madison Capitols, 16U-Esmark Stars, 15U-Washington Little Caps

2016: 18U-Madison Capitols, 16U-Omaha AAA

2015: 18U-New Jersey Jr. Titans, 16U-Omaha AAA

2014: 18U-Omaha AAA, 16U-Lansing Capitals

2013: 18U-Indiana Jr. Ice, 16U-Omaha AAA

2012: 18U-California Titans, 16U-Indiana Jr. Ice, 14U-St. Louis Selects

2011: 18U-DC Capitals, 16U-Pikes Peak Miners, 14U-Rocky Mountain RoughRiders

2010: 18U-California Titans, 16U-Pikes Peak Miners