With the Blaine tournament completed, the NAHL season is off to a hot start with some of the top Division I and Division III college prospects on display. We break down our top 5 teams for our first power ranking of the season !
1 - New Mexico Ice Wolves - 6-1-0-1
William Howard an 2002 birthyear has been on an absolute tear early in the year for the Ice Wolves collecting 8 Goals and 4 Assists in 8 games. 2003 defensemen Jack Dalton has also rounded out his game and provided a nice spark on the back end for the Wolves. A 3-1 Blaine Showcase record and only 1 regulation loss too date, New Mexico is looking just as good as the team we saw at the Robertson Cup in May.
With their only regulation loss coming to a solid Maryland squad, the Ice Wolves will need to retain their form over their 2 week break, playing next at Shreveport 10/21.
2 - Amarillo Wranglers - 6-0-0-0
Undefeated to date and an impressive showing at the showcase the Wranglers are flexing their muscle. They recently just travelled to Shreveport and took of business with relative ease. Rihards Simanovics leads an impressive Wranglers defensive core that is long and hard to beat.
Over their first 6 games, the Wranglers have given up more than 1 goal just once, with both Carter Clafton and Luca Ganz performing well between the pipes.
3 - Maryland Black Bears - 8-2-0-0
Rochester Institue of Technology commit Christian Catalano has been a huge pick up for the Blackbears as he has recorded 14 points in 10 games for Maryland. A 3-1 showcase performance and taking 3 of 4 from the New Jersey Titans is an impressive start for the leaders in the East Division.
4 - Lone Star Brahmas - 6-1-0-0
Arthur Smith has returned in net for Lone Star and in his first two starts he has posted a 95.8 Save Percentage and a 0.73 GAA. Smith maybe the top goaltender in the league on a deep team that looks like it can do damage this season.
Matthew Macdonald, Mason Mara, and Dhillon Wilde lead the way offensively, each with 4 goals in the opening 7 games. The Brahmas will face Corpus Christi, currently 7th in the South Division, in their next 4 games of October.
5 - North Iowa Bulls - 6-2-0-0
Hartley, Mexico and Dombrowsky have been on an absolute early season tear for the Bulls. The forward group is deep for the Bulls and both goaltenders Erik Chaffe (95.5 save percentage and Mitch Day (94.1 save percentage) have been up to the task early on.
North Iowa has a tough two week stretch where they play Aberdeen and Minot, both of which are tough outs in a competitive Central Division.
Outside looking in:
Janesville
Fairbanks
Oklahoma
Austin
Kenai River
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