Outlaws Fall Back in Division Race
November 17, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Mason City (IA) In the long run, being in a division race that will likely last the length of the season will probably be a benefit to the North Iowa Outlaws. Whereas last season the team jumped out to a 10-2-1 record and hardly had its hold on first challenged after the seasons first two months, this year's version of the Outlaws find themselves in a division race that has four teams packed tighter than kids in gym during a school assembly.
It's a division so tight that a mere stumble, such as the one the Outlaws' suffered this past weekend, sent them in a plummet from second place down to fourth place. Only three weeks ago, the Outlaws were in a first place tie with Alexandria, but since then have earned only three out of a possible 14 points over the last seven games and have seen division rivals Bismarck and Owatonna pass them by.
The Outlaws were swept this past Friday and Saturday at Springfield, losing 2-1 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday as Jr. Blues goalies C.J. Groth and Matt Wichorek frustrated North Iowa shooters on consecutive nights. For most of the weekend, especially Saturday night, the Outlaws didn't play poorly earning numerous quality scoring chances and playing strong defense. On Saturday, the Outlaws killed off a pair of Springfield five-on-three power play advantages and for the weekend as a whole, the penalty kill unit was a perfect 11-11.
Nonetheless, Joe Harcharik (Johnston, IA) and Alex Carlson (Farmington, MN) each scored the Outlaws' lone goals in the first period on the consecutive nights but no one else could tally, giving the Outlaws' their first pointless weekend of the year, and gives them their first consecutive regulation losses since the North American Hockey League Showcase in September.
"Defensively we played well and our shooters gave themselves opportunities but hats off to the Springfield goalies that had an outstanding weekend" commented Outlaws' head coach Jeff Crouse. "We played well, but (Springfield) found a way to beat us both nights and that is the way it goes sometimes in this league. Everyone is very close."
North Iowa is also on a three-game winless streak (0-2-1), having dropped an overtime decision at home to Owatonna on November 8th.
The games were a brief trip outside of the Central Division for North Iowa, who will now play all but two of their remaining regular season games versus divisional opponents with the only exception being a weekend home series against Springfield at the end of January (1/30-1/31).
Controlling their Own Destiny
Having fallen into fourth place in the division, the Outlaws can quickly rise back as high as second come the end of next weekend thanks to a pair of home games against one of the NAHL's hottest teams in the Bismarck Bobcats.
"The (Bismarck) games are as much of a big time matchup in November as we can get. It's still important to remember its only November, but we can quickly turn around the slide and get rewarded for it in the standings with a good series" added Crouse.
Bismarck has won four straight and five of their last seven games. In many ways, it was the Bobcats who began the Outlaws' downward slide with a 3-0 win at the North Iowa Ice Arena on Oct. 24th. That game snapped North Iowa's seven-game unbeaten streak and has since sent them on a seven-game skid where they are 2-4-1 during that time frame.
The Outlaws end the month with a Thanksgiving Eve home game against Owatonna, and a weekend series at Alexandria on Nov. 29th and 30th.
"We go on a tear to end the month and we are back in first place" added Crouse. "That is how tight everything is and the reason why we can't get down even though we've been on a slide."
Playoffs a Lock?
Serving as the Robertson Cup host this spring gets the Outlaws an automatic invitation to the tournament, but they still have to earn their way into the playoffs which doesn't look as though it will be much of an issue. In fact, beyond all of the South and West division teams who are already in the playoffs due to their divisions' diminutive sizes, the four Central division teams in the postseason could be locked up by the end of January.
The expansion Albert Lea Thunder has just three points through 18 games. North Iowa is already 17 points clear of Albert Lea and as of right now in a fairly comfortable spot. The most points the Thunder could finish with is still 83 points meaning the Outlaws' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is still 63 points.
However, even if the Outlaws went 20-20 over their final 40 games to give themselves 60 points, Albert Lea would have to go 29-11 to pass them.
Outlaws Last Week
Fri. Nov. 14 @ Springfield 1-2 Loss
Sat. Nov. 15 @ Springfield 1-4 Loss
Outlaws This Week
Fri. Nov. 21 vs. Bismarck 7:30pm
Sat. Nov. 22 vs. Bismarck 7:30pm
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.
North American Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2008
- Overtime work pays off in Marquette - NAHL
- Higby's OT Winner Nets Him Player of the Week Award - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Outlaws Fall Back in Division Race - North Iowa Outlaws
- Machine Falter against USA, 5-2 - Motor City Metal Jackets
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.
