The NAHL awards a trophy for the best NAHL team performance based on their record in the four games played at the Super Rink. This year Fairbanks and Austin shared the trophy. If the trophy were given to the best division, the award would go to the Midwest Division that two Minnesota teams play. Fairbanks and Kenai River posted 4-0 records at the showcase. The Ice Dogs (and Austin) each had only one overtime shootout win, the Brown Bears had two OT victories.
The two new NAHL franchise, the Minnesota Wilderness and the Magicians had good opening weekends. The Wilderness went 2-0-2 in their first four league games taking 6 out of a possible 8 points. The Magicians went 2-1-1 taking 5 out of 8 points.
One thing the opening weekend proved; the Midwest Division will be tough to win this year. Besides the 4-0 Fairbank and Kenai River teams, two Midwest teams, Coulee Region and Wenatchee, won three of four games. Each lost one of their Showcase games to a division rival; the Chill lost their final Showcase game to Wenatchee and Wenatchee’s only Showcase loss was to the Magicians.
Against non-division foes, the six Midwest teams took 34 out of a possible 38 points. As result, at this point in the early season, the Midwest Division is the toughest of the four NAHL divisions with all 6 teams playing better then .600 hockey.
Other NAHL teams faired well at the Showcase. Austin ran the table winning all four games. The defending Central Division Champs Bruins look ready to defend. Aberdeen, potentially the Bruins’ nearest rival went 3-1.
Aberdeen beat Topeka, the South Division leader, 1-0 in their final game at the Showcase Saturday. Wenatchee beat Topeka 5-2 in the opener Wednesday. Another South Division contender, Wichita Falls, had a good Showcase. They went 2-1-1 eking out overtime win over the Magicians and losing in overtime to the Coulee Region. The Wildcats ended the weekend in second place in the South.
Port Huron is the runaway leader in the NAHL North; but really struggled at the Showcase losing to Austin 3-2 in overtime in the opener Wednesday and winning two shootouts with Minot and Corpus Christi. They beat Lone Star 4-2 in their only game to end in regulation time.