Flying high with the Falcons - Junior Hockey

Flying high with the Falcons

It's one of the best junior hockey stories in years and there's still another chapter to be written.   The outhouse to penthouse rise of the Port Huron Fighting Falcons is a stirring saga of a second-year North American ...
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This is a "good story" by Randy on what is the "best story" of the year in the N.A.H.L. and perhaps all of Junior Hockey.
Go get 'em Coach Warren & the Fighting Falcons !!!

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has released the schedule for the 2012 Robertson Cup National Championship Tournament, which will be played from May 3-8 at the Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.

The six qualifying teams were broken into two pools, with each team from Pool A crossing over to play each team in Pool B and vice-versa. Pool A features the #1 seed Amarillo Bulls, #3 seed St. Louis Bandits, and #5 seed Port Huron Fighting Falcons, while the #2 seed Bismarck Bobcats, #4 seed Fairbanks Ice Dogs, and #6 seed Texas Tornado will be playing out of Pool B.
The seeding was based upon the respective teams’ regular season record. The Tornado received the 6th seed because they did not win their divisional playoff title as the other five did.

Pool A
#1 Amarillo Bulls (South Champion)
#3 St. Louis Bandits (Midwest Champion)
#5 Port Huron Fighting Falcons (North Champion)

Pool B
#2 Bismarck Bobcats (Central Champion)
#4 Fairbanks Ice Dogs (West Champion)
#6 Texas Tornado (host)

Robertson Cup Schedule (all times central)
May 3-Fairbanks vs. St. Louis, 12:30pm; Port Huron vs. Bismarck, 3:30pm; Texas vs. Amarillo, 7:30pm
May 4-St. Louis vs. Bismarck, 12:30pm; Fairbanks vs. Amarillo, 3:30pm; Texas vs. Port Huron, 7:30pm
May 5-Bismarck vs. Amarillo, 12:30pm; Port Huron vs. Fairbanks, 3:30pm; Texas vs. St. Louis, 7:30pm
May 6-(No Games) NAHL Banquet of Champions, Cocktails at 6:00pm, Dinner at 7:00pm
May 7-Semi-Finals; A1 vs. A2, 3:30pm; B1 vs. B2, 7:30pm
May 8-National Championship Game, 7:30pm

All overtime Robertson Cup games, including those played during pool play, will be played using Sudden Death format. If the score is tied after three periods, the teams will go to their respective dressing rooms while the ice is resurfaced for a 20-minute overtime period. This process will repeat until a goal is scored.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to the semifinal round, to be played Monday May 7th. However, should all three teams in one pool go 3-0 in the round-robin, all teams from that pool will advance to the semi-finals. The team with the best goal differential in the opposite pool will also move on to the semi-finals. Similarly, if all three teams from one pool go 2-1, the same rules apply. Goal differential will be used as the first tiebreaker, while goal quotient will be used as the second tiebreaker. By dividing goals scored by goals allowed, positions will be determined based on the highest quotient.

All tournament games can be viewed live over the Internet through FASTHockey.com.

Great Article!

Derek,

Thank you.

Regards,

RR

RR - excelent work as usual & hoping to read more about the new Elliott Lake Bobcats of the N.O.J.H.L.

Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings Press Release

APPLEYARD HONORED
Named to NAHL All Rookie Team

Kalamazoo, MI- The Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, proud members of the North American Hockey League, announce that defenseman Anthony Appleyard has been named to the NAHL’s All Rookie First Team.

After playing AAA last season with the Chicago Fury 18U team, Appleyard quickly made a seamless transition to hockey at the Junior A level.

The Indian Head Park, Illinois native was one of four Jr. K-Wings who appeared in 60 games during the regular season. He lead all Kalamazoo Defensemen with 30 points (9 goals, 21 assists), while he also lead the entire North Division with his +32 rating. His best single game performance came on December 18th against the Michigan Warriors, when he posted two goals, one assist and was a +6.

The nineteen year old skated in eight games during the postseason and raked up an assist during Kalamazoo’s North Divisional Final run.

Appleyard was the only member of the North Division to make the leagues All Rookie First Team, as he joins Frank Dichiara (St. Louis), Gage Christianson (Alaska), Brandon Bradley (Fresno), Garrett Cecere (Janesville), and Connor Hellebuyck (Odessa).

NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE, MEDIA RELEASE


NAHL announces 2011-12 All-Division Teams

FRISCO, TEXAS -- The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced its All-Division teams for the 2011-12 season. The teams represent the five divisions in the NAHL: Central, Midwest, North, South and West Divisions, as selected by the league’s coaches and general managers.

Central Division
Forward: Charlie Adams, Austin Bruins
Forward: Cory Ward, Aberdeen Wings
Forward: Castan Sommer, Bismarck Bobcats
Defenseman: Christian Folin, Austin Bruins
Defenseman: Bryce Anderson, Bismarck Bobcats
Goaltender: Jacob Meyers, Alexandria Blizzard

Midwest Division
Forward: Joe Kalisz, St. Louis Bandits
Forward: Kyle Cook, Springfield Jr. Blues
Forward: Joe Birmingham, St. Louis Bandits
Defenseman: Garrett Cecere, Janesville Jets
Defenseman: Eric Drapluk, Coulee Region Chill
Goaltender: Tony Kujava, Janesville Jets

North Division
Forward: Andrew Graves, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
Forward: Sean Murphy, Traverse City North Stars
Forward: Ian Miller, Port Huron Fighting Falcons
Defenseman: Nolan Valleau, Port Huron Fighting Falcons
Defenseman: Anthony Appleyard, Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings
Goaltender: Kyle Laslo, Traverse City North Stars

South Division
Forward: Jack Prince, Texas Tornado
Forward: Brooks Behling, Amarillo Bulls
Forward: Brian Christie, Topeka RoadRunners
Defenseman: John Rey, Amarillo Bulls
Defenseman: Karl Beckman, Amarillo Bulls
Goaltender: Connor Hellebuyck, Odessa Jackalopes

West Division
Forward: Gabe Levin, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Forward: Brett Lubanski, Kenai River Brown Bears
Forward: JT Osborn, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Defenseman: Sean O’Rourke, Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Defenseman: Joe Schmitz, Alaska Avalanche
Goaltender: Robert Nichols, Wenatchee Wild

The All-NAHL Team, All-Rookie Team, Forward of the Year, Defenseman of the Year, Brian’s Goaltender of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, General Manager of the Year and Organization of the Year, along with the Academic Achievement Award, Gongshow Lifestyle Community Service Award and Mark Messier Leadership Award winners, will be announced on May 6th and 7th.