MHA Mudbugs win Fall League titles on Day 3
The fourth NAPHL event of the 2020-21 season continued on Sunday at the Super Rink in Blaine, Minnesota. Saturday's action saw games in the Tier 1 West Division, the Showcase Division and also the NAPHL Fall League Semi-Final and Championship Games.
Now in its 12th season, no other USA Hockey youth league does more for its players than the NAPHL. Operated by the full-time staff of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), who make it their mission to outperform others both on and off the ice in promoting its players. The NAPHL has proved over the years that the league is a great stepping-stone for development and training for young hockey players looking to gain experience and knowledge to work their way up to the National level.
If you are attending the event this weekend at the Super Rink, there are several reminders and policies that are designed to keep everyone safe and on the ice:
- There is no admission fee for this event
- Only two spectators per player per game
- Masks are required (except on the ice)
- Maintain social distancing
- Players are to come dressed and may enter 15 minutes prior to game time
- Players must take hockey bags to bench and take skates off on bench post game. (No Locker Room Access)
- Spectators allowed to enter facility only at the posted game time
- Merchandise will be on sale in upstairs lobby outside of Rink 4
- No lingering and please leave the facility at the end of the game
- Wash and sanitize hands
For those who will not be attending, all NAPHL games will be broadcast live on HockeyTV by selecting the Elite Package.
Download the NAHL App to keep up to date with NAPHL scores (iOS - Google Play)
Day 3 Recaps
18U Fall League: In the first Semi-Final, the MHA Mudbugs outlasted the Fairbanks Ice Dogs, 6-4. Lucas Krol scored all three goals in the 3rd period to put the game out of reach. Tyler Lawrence, Andrew Larson, and Adam Pietila also scored. Fairbanks got goals from Jackson Knutsen, Stanley Regguinti, Logan Weierke, and Joseph Faith. In the other Semi-Final, the Minnesota Wilderness put forth a dominant effort against the Janesville Jets, 7-1. Seven different players scored for the Wilderness and Zach Tyman made 23 saves in the win. Danny Amberg had the lone goal for the Jets. In the Championship Game in the afternoon, MHA got 21 saves from Blake Nowak and two goals from Andrew Larson to beat the Wilderness 3-1. Tyler Lawrence also scored for MHA, while Beau Janzig had the lone goal for the Wilderness.
16U Fall League: The Semi-Finals in the Fall League were both thrillers, with both contests going to overtime. In the first Semi-Final, the MHA Mudbugs edged the Janesville Jets, 1-0 in overtime. Ashton Trombley had the game-winning goal one minute into overtime. MHA goalie Kameron Ragon made 20 saves in the shutout, while Jets goalie Michael Polston made 20 saves in the OT loss. In the other Semi-Final, the Chippewa Falls Steel beat the Minnesota Magicians, 2-1 in overtime. Anthony Madigan had the game-winner in overtime and Luke McCarthy also scored for Chippewa, while Mason Garcia had the lone goal for the Magicians. It was a back and forth affair in the Championship Game as MHA outlasted the Steel, 5-4. MHA’s Jack Brunell, who scored earlier in the game, had the lone goal in the 3rd period, which turned out to be the game-winner. Connor Stoffel had two goals in the losing effort for the Steel.
18U Showcase Division: The Littleton Hawks and Tri Valley Blue Devils were the big winners during the first event as they both completed 4-0-0 records with wins on Sunday. The Hawks beat the Texas Tigers, 4-1, as Ben Ford scored twice. Tri Valley jumped out to an early league and held onto a 4-3 win over Cherry Creek. The Affton Americans finished with a 3-1 record with a 4-2 win over Tahoe Academy. With the loss against Littleton, the Texas Tigers finished 3-1, as did the Clearwater Ice Storm. Monument and St. Mary’s both finished with 2-1-1 records, while Chesterfield, Rose City and Cherry Creek all went 2-2-0.
16U Showcase Division: The Affton Americans, Chesterfield Falcons, and Dallas Penguins all went 4-0 at the event in October. Affton posted a big 10-0 win over Ontario on the final day, as 10 different players scored. The Penguins shutout the Janesville Jets 15U, 2-0 as Cole Fennema made 26 saves. Chesterfield beat Park City, 6-2 as Connor Williamson had a hat-trick. The Littleton Hawks, Park City Ice Miners, and Anaheim Jr. Ducks all finished 3-1. Hyland Hills finished with a 2-0-2 record and the Clearwater Ice Storm and Texas Jr. Brahmas both finished 2-2-0.
14U Showcase Division: The Houston Wild completed a dominant run through the weekend with an 8-0 win on Sunday over Anaheim, completing a perfect 4-0 event. Carson Smith had a hat-trick in the win. It was the Ducks first loss of the event. The Ontario Jr. Reign finished with a 3-1 record thanks to a 7-2 win over Park City on Sunday as Paul Corriere had two goals and an assist in the win. The Dallas Penguins went 2-0-2 in Blaine and won their final game on Sunday in an 11-1 win over Arizona as Aydin Duncan-Morgan had an amazing 9 points in the win, including four goals and five assists. In the final game of the event, the Vegas Jr. Golden Knights picked up a 7-3 win over Des Moines as Chase Nehring scored twice.
18U Tier 1 West: In the morning games, Colorado Springs beat Ontario 3-1 thanks to two goals from Eitan Geralnik, while the West Coast Renegades beat the Northwest Stars, 4-3 in a shootout as Logan Neilson had the winner. In the night games, the Tigers kept things rolling with a 4-1 win over Arizona. Shattuck-St. Mary’s exploded for 8 goals in an 8-3 win over the Northwest Stars and Ontario slipped by West Coast, 5-3.
16U Tier 1 West: The West Coast Renegades beat the Ontario Jr. Reign 3-1, as Yovanni Flores had a goal and an assist. The Northwest Stars got a goal and an assist from Kaden Shahan in a 4-3 win over the Colorado Springs Tigers. The Arizona Bobcats shutout the Madison Capitols 3-0 as Connor Dumensnil made 17 saves in the shutout.
