The defending champion Aberdeen Wings took on the 2018 Robertson Cup champion Shreveport Mudbugs Tuesday night for the 2021 NAHL Robertson Cup Final. These 2 NAHL powerhouses have had their eyes set on the prize all season, and battled it out in an exciting game at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.
Road to the Final
Aberdeen Wings
The leagues top team finished with 20 points more than the 2nd place Johnstown Tomahawks, and were the clear favorite to win the Robertson Cup entering their first round series with Minot. After taking the first 2 games, a double OT loss in game 3 gave the Minotauros much needed momentum, as they would take game 4 to force a pivotal game 5. But Aberdeen would avoid the upset, as Kyle Gaffney would score late in the first overtime to take the series 3-2.
Aberdeen would take on the #2 seed Bismarck Bobcats in the Central Division Finals, but would face little resistance, sweeping the series by a combined score of 12-5.
Entering the Robertson Cup Semifinal, Aberdeen was flying high as they looked to continue their impressive form against the Midwest Division champions Minnesota Magicians. After a commanding 5-1 win in game 1, Kyle Gaffney would be the hero again in game 2, scoring with less than 3 minutes to go in the third to give the Wings a 2-1 lead. The Wings would hold on to their lead, and entered the Robertson Cup Final looking for back to back championships.
Shreveport Mudbugs
After a loss in their opening round against Amarillo, the Mudbugs won back to back overtime games before closing out the series in game 4.
Entering the South Division Finals, Shreveport would take on Wichita Falls, fresh off their first playoff series win in franchise history. On paper, the series seemed to be an easy one for Shreveport, sweeping the Warriors in 3 straight. However all 3 games were tight, hard-fought, low scoring games. The key to the Mudbug’s success was the depth of scoring, as 8 different players finding the back of the net. Cole Hudson was solid in net for Shreveport when needed, stopping 79 of 84 total shots.
After being crowned South Division champs, the Mudbugs would take on East Division champions Maine Nordiques in a best of 3 series. The defense for the Mudbugs, along with Cole Hudson was impressive again in the series, as the Nordiques only averaged 23 shots per game in the series. The Mudbugs would take the series 2-0, with comfortable wins in both games, to punch their ticket to the Robertson Cup Final.
Robertson Cup Final Game
Both teams opened the first period slightly tentatively, but settled in as the period went on. The neutral zone was tightly contested, and both teams did a great job holding their defensive blue lines to negate any odd man rushes. Both Hudson and Sibell were solid when called upon in the first, as both teams failed to score on their first period power plays.
Entering the second, both teams looked for the pivotal first goal. The wait was short as Sean Bunting drove the net in the opening minute of the second, and squeezed a shot through Sibell to give the Mudbugs the early lead. Half way through the period, Giovanni Procopio got loose in the mid slot and tipped a Chris Hedden point shot to give the Mudbugs a 2-0 lead. Aberdeen would quickly respond minutes later on the powerplay, when Liam Fraser redirected a Trevor Russell point shot to cut the deficit in half.
Early goals was a theme for both teams in the third, trading goals in the first 5 minutes of the third. With the 3-2 lead in the third, the Mudbugs would continue their impressive defensive game to hold out the Wings. As they did all playoffs long, Shreveport held Aberdeen to only 21 shots in the game, and only 6 in the final period. Aiden Metcalfe would put home an empty net goal with seconds remaining in the period to seal the championship for the Mudbugs.