With the NAHL showcase past us and teams returning home for their home openers. We would like to introduce our first NAHL Power Rankings of the 2023-2024 season. There will be a lot of movement in the weeks coming up, but with getting a chance to see every team in Blaine our scouts at TSA give their opinions on who stood out.
5) Maryland BlackBears
5-2-0-1
The East is going to be extremely difficult this season as 8 of the 9 teams skating in the division look like they have the pieces to make the playoffs. Clint Mylymok's group appears to have the depth, grit, and scoring power to win games in different ways. Maryland has had several key contributors early on but it has been the duo of 03' Forwards Adam Schanjula and Dimitry Kebreau (University of Anchorage) who have led the charge with 12 points each for the BlackBears.
4) Kenai River Brown Bears
5-2-0-0
In somewhat of a surprise, Kenai has been the most impressive out of the Alaskan teams early on this year. Coach Taylor Shaw's group has not played the most daunting schedule to date but they looked impressive at the Showcase and took care of Springfield this past weekend. The Brown Bears have two more games vs the Windigo before heading home to Kenai where they will spend most of the month of October at home. Kenai has a great opportunity to pile up some wins early on this season.
3) Oklahoma Warriors
4-2-0-0
The defending champions came to the showcase and did their jobs. With wins over Kenai, an impressive Rochester team, and a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the New Jersey Titans the Warriors have not shown much in terms of a championship hangover. They are once again a deep team that competes every shift making them a hard out every night.
2) Austin Bruins
5-1-0-0
Beating the last two defending Robertson Cup champions on a big stage like the Blaine showcase turned several heads around the league. With their only loss coming in their 4th game of the showcase vs Fairbanks, Austin came home and defeated St. Cloud and North Iowa. Bruins 04' Goaltender Trent Wiemken has been great to start the season posting a 3-1 record with a 93 save percentage and has been a major reason for the early success the Bruins are having.
1) Shreveport Mudbugs
5-1-0-0
There is not much to not like about what the Mudbugs have been showing early in the season. They are big and strong and have shown the ability to put the puck in the net. The defensive core defends tight through the neutral zone and has proven to be a match-up nightmare for their opponents. With their only loss coming to the hands of a good Maryland team at the showcase, the Mudbugs returned home and swept Lone Star. TSA Athlete 03' Defensemen Logan Heroux and Ferris State Commit, has been off to a hot start accumulating 3 goals and 3 assists early on.
Just missing the cut
6) Maine Nordiques
7) Northeast Generals
8) Minot Minotauros
9) El Paso Rhinos
10) Amarillo Wranglers
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