Get ready for the Division finals of the 2022 Robertson Cup, starting Friday night. Get caught up for the 4 remaining matchups, including prospects to watch and recent top performers.
2021-22 All-NAHL 1st Team
F : Cy LeClerc (Janesville)
F : Nicholas Niemo (Lone Star)
F : Ryan O’Neill (St. Cloud)
D : Vincent Corcoran (Wichita Falls)
D : Evan Murr (St. Cloud)
G : Arthur Smith (Lone Star)
2021-22 NAHL All-Rookie Team
F : Michael Mesic (North Iowa)
F : Nicholas Rexine, (MN Wilderness)
F : Jak Vaarwerk (Jamestown)
D : Nicholas Bernardo (Maine)
D : Camden Shasby (Fairbanks)
G : Arthur Smith (Lone Star)
2021-2022 MVP & Forward of the Year
Ryan O’Neill (St. Cloud)
2021-2022 Goaltender & Rookie of the Year
Arthur Smith (Lone Star)
2021-2022 Defenseman of the Year
Vincent Corcoran (Wichita Falls)
2021-2022 Coach of the Year
Phil Fox (New Mexico)
2021-2022 General Manager of the Year
Dan Wildfong (Lone Star)
2021-2022 Executive of the Year
Stan Hubbard (New Mexico)
2021-2022 Organization of the Year
Anchorage Wolverines
Central Division Finals
#1 St. Cloud Norsemen vs #3 Aberdeen Wings
The #1 seed St Cloud barely avoided the upset, surviving game 4 with an OT win before taking Game 5 3-2 over Bismarck. Recently announced league MVP and forward of the year ‘01 Ryan O’Neil has just 4 assists after the opening round, but the St Thomas commit has been a factor off the score sheet for the Norsemen.
The Norsemen will take on the #3 seed Aberdeen Wings, fresh off a quick, 3 game sweep of the Austin Bruins. The Wings have found some balanced scoring in their top 9 forwards, and will need season point leader Cade Neilson, as well as ‘01 Jacob Bosse, ‘02 Anthony Galante and ‘02 Ronan Walsh to continue to up their play offensively.
Game Schedule
5.6 @ St. Cloud, 7:00pm
5.7 @ St. Cloud, 7:00pm
5.13 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm
5.14 @ Aberdeen, 7:15pm*
5.16 @ St. Cloud, 7:15pm*
*if necessary
East Division Finals
#1 New Jersey Titans vs #3 Jamestown Rebels
The top seed battled through a back and fourth series before a buzzer beater goal in game 5 by Mercyhurst commit Ryan Coughlin advanced the Titans through to the East Division Finals over the Northeast Generals.
The Titans offensively are getting contributions throughout the lineup, with 12 goal scorers in the opening round. Niagara Commit David Posma and UNH commit Nick Ring lead the Titans in playoff points, with Ring have 2, multi-point games in the opening round.
The Rebels enter the East Division Finals after a grueling 5 game series that featured 3 overtime games, including a game 1 double OT win and a 4-3 OT win in game 5. UMass Lowell commit Jakub Vaarwerk was a force in the opening round, tallying a point in every game as well as opening the series with a fight in game 1.
Both teams had to fight for every inch in their opening round, and this series will be no different. This will be the second time in 6 years these 2 teams have met in the division championship. Would not be surprised to see the winner of this series in the final.
Game Schedule
5.6 @ New Jersey, 7:30pm
5.7 @ New Jersey, 7:00pm
5.11 @ Jamestown, 7:30pm
5.13 @ Jamestown, 7:00pm*
5.15 @ New Jersey, 7:00pm*
*if necessary
Midwest Division Finals
#3 Anchorage Wolverines vs #4 Minnesota Wilderness
Minnesota pulled off the upset of #1 Fairbanks, even after going down 2-0 in a 7-1 game 2 loss. ‘02 goaltender Matthew Smith found his game after struggling early in the series, stopping 78 of 80 shots in the Wilderness 3 straight wins to take the series.
The Wilderness will face a composed Anchorage team, who made quick work of the Springfield Jr Blues with the 3 game sweep. The Wolverines defeated Springfield in 3 1-goal games, including completing the sweep with a 4-3 OT win. ‘02 Raytheon Robbins has been sound for Anchorage, averaging a .962 Save % in the opening round, seeing 30+ shots in all 3 games.
Which “underdog” can continue their magical run ?
Game Schedule
5.6 @ Anchorage 7:00pm
5.7 @ Anchorage 7:00pm
5.13 @ Wilderness 7:15pm or 5.8 @ Anchorage 5:00pm
5.13 or 5.14 @ Wilderness 7:15pm*
5.14 or 5.15 @ Wilderness 7:15pm or 5:00pm*
*if necessary
South Division Finals
#1 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #2 New Mexico Ice Wolves
Nicholas Niemo was the hero for Lone Star in their opening series vs Shreveport. The ‘01 Bentley commit only registered 1 assist in the first 3 games, but tallied a hat trick in game 4, including the OT game winner.
Lone Star will meet New Mexico in the South Division Finals, fresh off their first playoff series win in franchise history over Wichita Falls. The Ice Wolves and Warriors entered game 3 tied, followed by 2 overtime games in games 3 and 4, including a triple OT Ice Wolves win in game 3. The Ice Wolves would fail to close out the Warriors in Game 4, falling in overtime 2-1, but responded in a close 4-2 win in game 5.
Less than 20 seconds after opening the 3rd period giving up the game tying goal, ‘03 Sully Scholle found the back of the net for the eventual series winning goal. Jake Keller would add another goal a minute later to seal the game 5 victory for the Ice Wolves.
Both teams are finding ways to win tight games, and have battled through some adversity thus far in the playoffs. Look for this series to go the distance.
Game Schedule
5.6 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
5.7 @ Lone Star, 7:30pm
5.12 @ New Mexico, 6:30pm
5.13 @ New Mexico, 6:30pm*
5.15 @ Lone Star, 2:00pm*
*if necessary
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