Indians Wrap-Up Franchise-Best Season; Prepare for Playoff-Run
Published on March 30, 2004 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Soo Indians News Release
What was supposed to be a rebuilding year, evolved into a reloading year for the Kewadin Casinos Indians hockey club. After finishing runner-up to Pittsburgh in last season's National Tournament in a close fought 3-1 loss, the Indians returned a goaltender, three defenseman, and four forwards. Now eight months and seventeen new faces later, the perennial powerhouse has once again captured the North Division and this time in record-breaking fashion.
Heading into the first round of the playoffs against the USNTDP, the Indians (44-6-6 League, 50-6-6 Overall) will try not to gloat over a season which was the second best of any NAHL team in league history after amassing 44-wins and 94-points. Despite breaking the league's previous record of 43-wins and 89-points this season, which the Indians set and tied during the 2000-01 campaign, the Indians were ultimately surpassed by a terrific Texas Tornado campaign which amazed 96-points and 47-wins. This season the Indians and Tornado faced each other only once this season in a game held at the Chicago Showcase. The Indians were victorious by a 3-0 margin. The team looks to set another standard during the playoffs as their next victory will be the 51st of the year overall which will eclipse the team record of 50-wins set in the same 2000-01 season.
Three Indians players finished in the top ten in overall league scoring as Logan Bittle (34-37-71) finished second, Stavros Paskaris (30-38-68) fourth and Jason Blain (12-45-57) tenth. Three Indians Defenseman were in the top ten in rear guard scoring as Mark Lutz finished second in points and tied for first in goals. Justin Gutwald and Jim Jorgensen also finished in the top ten in defenseman scoring.
Indians goaltender Derek MacIntyre finished the season as the NAHL'S top rated goaltender, after compiling a 31-3-2 record and league-best 1.77 GAA. He is the third Indians netminder to do so following in the footsteps of Cam Ellsworth and NAHL MVP Ryan Miller. Overall, the Indians were the stingiest defensive squad in the league, allowing the fewest goals against in the entire North American Hockey League.
Many Indians players should be in contention for league awards as Derek MacIntyre will surely be the front runner for Rookie of the Year honors as well as 1st team All League, 1st Team All Rookie, and MVP honors. Logan Bittle, Stavros Paskaris, and Mark Lutz will gain considerable attention for All League honors. Local Sault Ste. Marie product Jim Jorgensen should also be highly considered for All Rookie team.
The Indians will now put their experience to the test by facing the best that the United States has to offer hosting the USNTDP in the best of five first round series beginning Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The Indians are 4-1-1 versus the US National Team this season.
Indians to Face USA in Divisional Playoffs!
March 30, 2004--The top four finishing teams in each division (North, South and West) qualified for this year's NAHL playoffs. Each division will have its own playoff tournament to determine a division playoff champion in a Best of 5-Game Series. The #1 seeded Indians will host the #4 seeded US National Team in the Northern Division Semi-Final Playoff Series this weekend on April 2nd and 3rd for Game #1 & #2 of a best-of-5-game series. The Indians will then travel to Ann Arbor for Game #3 & #4 on April 8th & 9th. If necessary, Game #5 will be played in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday, April 10tth at 7:00 p.m. The #2 seeded Springfield Jr. Blues take on the #3 seeded Cleveland Barons rounding out the Northern Division Playoffs. The two winning teams from the Division Semi-Final Playoff Series will advance to the Northern Division Final to compete in a 5-game series.
In the Western Division, the (#1) Billings Bulls take on (#4) Helena Big Horns, while the (#2) Fargo-Moorhead Jets entertain the (#3) Bismarck Bobcats. In the Southern Division, the (#1) Texas Tornado take on the (#4) Texarkana Bandits, while the (#2) Fairbanks Ice Dogs face the (#3) Wichita Falls Rustlers.
The three teams that win their respective division final playoff series shall be playoff champions of their respective divisions and qualify for the National Championship Tournament. The Texas Tornado are this year's official host team and will receive an automatic bid to the tournament and shall qualify as the fourth team to compete in the National Championship Tournament if it does not win the NAHL South Division final playoff series. If the Texas Tornado Hockey Club wins the South Division final playoff series, the team it defeats in the South Division final playoff series shall qualify as the fourth team to compete in the National Championship Tournament.
The National Championship Tournament shall consist of four qualifying teams competing against each other in a "Round Robin". Each competing team shall play one game against each of the other three qualifying teams. Two games will be held each day commencing Thursday April 29th and concluding Saturday May 1st. All games will be held at the Star Center in Frisco, TX. At the conclusion of the "Round Robin", the competing teams shall be seeded according to their records resulting from the "Round Robin".
The teams seeded first and second at the conclusion of the "Round Robin" shall compete in a single game to determine first place and the "Gold Medal" in the National Championship Tournament. This game shall be held at the Star Center in Frisco, TX on Sunday May 2nd.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2004
- Bobcats To Broadcast Tonight's Match-Up - Bismarck Bobcats
- Indians Wrap-Up Franchise-Best Season; Prepare for Playoff-Run - Soo Indians
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
