Regular season comes to an end in Troy
January 23, 2013
The North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) 2012-13 regular season came to an end this past Monday with all of the 16U teams playing in their final games. Heading into the final day, the top eight spots had been determined for the playoffs, but the seeding was still in question. Here is a look at the top eight teams, who will be able to compete for the NAPHL Championship next month back in Troy, MI.
The Omaha AAA Hockey Club capped off their season with a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Viper Stars on the final day to finish the regular season with a 21-1-0 record and 42 points. Statistically, it is the best season record any team, 18U or 16U, has had in the four-year history of the NAPHL. The lone blemish came on Sunday night as the California Titans, who won the Red Division and finished as the #3 seed, defeated Omaha, 3-1. The #2 seed belongs to the Anaheim Jr. Ducks who finished with a 19-2-1 record and 39 points. Their only two losses in regulation came to Omaha, both by a goal. Anaheim finished the Troy event with a perfect 4-0-0 record. Defenseman Riley Hummitsch finished as the highest scoring defenseman in the 16U age group. California, who handed Omaha their only loss, finished as the #3 seed with a 17-2-3 record as they won the Red Division with 37 points. The Titans featured three of the top four scorers in the NAPHL in forwards Ethan Somoza (48 pts.), Jacob Hamacher (43 pts.) and Brendan Harris (41 pts.). The Pittsburgh Viper Stars won the Blue Division with a 18-4-0 record and 36 points and will be the #4 seed. The #5 seed will belong to the San Jose Jr. Sharks, who finished a point behind Pittsburgh in the Blue Division with a 17-4-1 record and 35 points. Sharks forward Tyson McLellan finished 3rd in league scoring with 42 points. The New Jersey Jr. Titans will be the 6th seed as they posted a 15-3-4 record and 34 points. The Wenatchee Wild went 3-1 in Troy to finish with a 15-5-2 record, earning the 7th seed with 32 points. Like their 18U counterparts, the Texas Tornado 16U team earned the 8th and final seed by finished second in the Red Division with a 10-11-1 record and 21 points.
The top two teams in each division (Red, White and Blue) of the 18U and 16U age groups have qualified for the Championship Playoff Bracket (Gold), where they will be joined by the two teams with the highest point totals that finished outside of the top two in their own respective divisions. These eight qualifying Clubs will then be seeded 1-8 based on their regular season point totals. The remaining clubs that did not make the top 8 will be placed in the consolation bracket (Silver) and will compete for the consolation championship.
18U Gold Pool A: #1 Lansing Capitals, #4 Pikes Peak Miners, #5 Indiana Jr. Ice, #8 Texas Tornado
18U Gold Pool B: #2 Pittsburgh Viper Stars, #3 Anaheim Jr. Ducks, #6 West Michigan Hounds, #7 Omaha AAA Hockey Club
16U Gold Pool A: #1 Omaha AAA Hockey Club, #4 Pittsburgh Viper Stars, #5 San Jose Jr. Sharks, #8 Texas Tornado
16U Gold Pool B: #2 Anaheim Jr. Ducks, #3 California Titans, #6 New Jersey Jr. Titans, #7 Wenatchee Wild
A complete NAPHL Gold and Silver playoff schedule and format will be announced in the near future.
