NAHL Announces Outlaws' First Round Playoff Schedule
March 24, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Mason City (IA) The North American Hockey League has announced the schedule for the North Iowa Outlaws' first round Central Division playoff series against the Owatonna Express that will begin next weekend. As the #2 seed in the division, the Outlaws (33-18-5) will have home-ice advantage over the #3 seed Express (29-23-4), marking the second consecutive season the Outlaws have had home-ice advantage in their opening series.
NAHL Central Division First Round Series
Best-of-Five
Game 1 Friday April 3 in Mason City, IA @ 7:30pm
Game 2 Saturday April 4 in Mason City, IA @ 7:30pm
Game 3 Tuesday April 7 in Faribault, MN @ 7:00pm
Game 4 Saturday April 11 in Faribault, MN @ 7:00pm (if necessary)
Game 5 Sunday April 12 in Mason City, IA @ 5:00pm (if necessary)
Note: All of Owatonna's home games will be played on the campus of
Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, MN
The winner of this series will advance to face the winner of the #1-seed Bismarck Bobcats versus #4-seed Alexandria Blizzard in the Central Division Finals. Whoever wins the Central Division Finals will then be invited as the division's representative at the 2009 Robertson Cup National Tournament beginning April 28th in Mason City.
If the Outlaws defeat Owatonna in their first round series, then their opponent in the Central Division finals will automatically earn a berth in the Robertson Cup.
The Outlaws went 7-3-3 against Owatonna this season, but the Express were victorious in four of the last six meetings
This is the third straight year the Outlaws have made the playoffs, having lost in a five-game series to Fargo-Moorhead in 2007 and having been swept by Springfield in three games last season. As for Owatonna, they are technically an expansion team though the Southern Minnesota Express won the Central Division championship in both 2006 and 2007 under current head coach Pat Cullen.
In all three years of the Southern Minnesota Express' existence, they went all five games against the Alexandria Blizzard, winning the decisive game in 2006 and 2007, but falling last season to the eventual division champs.
The Outlaws still have two regular season home games to play this Friday at 7:30 against Albert Lea and Sunday at 5pm also against Albert Lea.
The North Iowa Outlaws Hockey Club is in its fourth season as members of the North American Hockey League. The NAHL is the nation's largest Junior A hockey league and is now in its 33nd year of operation. For more information, visit northiowaoutlaws.com or call (641) 424-5468.
Outlaws home games are played at the North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, IA. All games will be broadcasted on northiowaoutlaws.com and video broadcast through B/2 Network.
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North American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2009
- U.S. Nat'l U18 Downs Motor City, 8-4 - U.S. National Team
- NAHL Announces Outlaws' First Round Playoff Schedule - North Iowa Outlaws
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