Outlaws Prepare for 2009 Postseason
March 30, 2009 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Mason City (IA) A wedding day can be an extremely enjoyable time filled with laughs, tears and memories, though as everyone knows the best part comes at the end when the true party kicks into gear at the reception. In the end, though the ceremony itself may have been special it's what happens at the reception afterwards that truly defines the success of the day.
The North American Hockey League and the North Iowa Outlaws completed the seven month long regular season this past weekend and now preparations begin for the month long postseason, which for better or worse, will dictate the final analysis of every team's season. Regular season records, stats and even tendencies aren't totally forgotten but it doesn't hide the reality that the month of April carries more weight than all the other months combined.
"(The playoffs) are what we play for all season and what every player looks forward to" says Outlaws' head coach Jeff Crouse. "As a team, we know what we've done all year but everyone also realizes that the way the season ends is how others gauge how good you are"
As the number two seed the Outlaws have drawn the third-seeded Owatonna Express as their first round opponent in the best-of-five NAHL Central Division playoffs with the winner facing the team that comes out of the #1 Bismarck Bobcats/ #4 Alexandria Blizzard series for the right to hoist the all new Central Cup. The winner of the Central Cup will represent the division at the Robertson Cup National Tournament April 28-May 3 in Mason City. If the Outlaws advance to the Central Cup, the team that face will automatically earn an invitation to the national tournament.
For the third consecutive season, the Outlaws will go into the NAHL Central Division postseason and for the second straight season, have home-ice advantage in their first round series. North Iowa fell in the first round in each of the past two seasons having been ousted by Fargo-Moorhead in a decisive game five in 2007, and being swept in three games by Springfield in 2008. Two quick exists from the postseason made this season's playoff goal for the Outlaws' easy to identify since day one and that is too get out of the first round of the postseason.
"That first season, everyone was exited to get in and we were underdogs in that series and nearly pulled it off. We weren't satisfied with losing in the first round but knew we put up a good fight" added Crouse. "But the sweep last season really hurt because we felt we had a team capable of competing at the National Tournament and to go out the way we did stings to this day."
North Iowa's third trip to the postseason will also come with its third different seed. In 2007 the Outlaws used a late season surge to grab the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division, whereas last season they had sewn up first place by the start of March. This season the Outlaws entered second place in the Central Division following a 3-1 home loss to Bismarck on January 25th and remained there through the remainder of the regular season.
"No doubt we would've loved to grab that top spot back and go in as the regular season division title holders but the truth is, our goal is to win in the postseason because that is much sweeter" added Crouse. "We won the division in the regular season last year and were bumped out in three games. I'd much rather go into the playoffs as the number two and win the whole thing."
Crouse is in his first season as the Outlaws' head coach after serving as an assistant under former head coach Dave Blitz the previous three seasons in Mason City, and for two years prior to that in Alexandria. Crouse and Boitz participated in the two playoffs with the Outlaws and also with the Minnesota Blizzard in 2004-2005.
As a team, the Outlaws bring back six players who have seen ice time during the playoffs last season and that doesn't include Joe Harren (Warroad, MN) who played for Santa Fe in the 2006-2007 playoffs. Alex Carlson (Farmington, MN) led the Outlaws last season with four points (2g, 2a) in the three-game sweep at the hands of Springfield. Meanwhile, Joe Harcharik (Johnston, IA) has played in both of the Outlaws postseason series combining for five points (3g, 2a) in eight games.
North Iowa is 2-6 all-time in the playoffs, including a 0-4 record in road games.
Outlaws and Owatonna Series History
The whole notion that the regular season doesn't matter and that the playoffs is where the lasting memories are seared in still holds true but that doesn't mean history should be totally forgotten. The Outlaws faced the expansion Owatonna Express 13 times, going 7-3-3 during the regular season. North Iowa lost two games in overtime and one in a shootout but still managed a solid record against Owatonna.
However, Owatonna did earn a victory in four of the last six meetings dating back to February 14th, and that includes earning two of a possible three wins during what amounted to being a preview series March 13-15.
Nonetheless, the Outlaws had their moments against Owatonna including a 4-1 win on the road in which North Iowa played the game without its top scorers and head coach who were en route to the Top Prospects Tournament that night. Plus, the Outlaws held the high powered Owatonna offense to two goals or less in seven of their 13 games.
"We've known for a while that we'd be playing Owatonna and we feel good about the matchup" said Crouse. "They are very skilled team offensively that plays at a high tempo which should provide some excellent games for fans to watch."
Jack Paul (Minnetonka, MN) led North Iowa with 17 pts (9g, 8a) while Travis Peckskamp (Sauk Rapids, MN) added 13 pts (3g, 10a). In goal, Thomas Callaghan (New Westminister, PA) went 5-2-2 with a 2.92 GAA and .904% save percentage.
Cory Thorson did most of Owatonna' damage with 13pts (7g, 6a), but late-season addition Dan Cecka had three game winning goals in just eight games versus the Outlaws. Owatonna's power play went 17% against North Iowa this season.
Owatonna's strength is probably behind the bench where head coach Pat Cullen has proven himself to be a 'playoff coach". The one time player and assistant coach for the old North Iowa Huskies, he led the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Southern Minnesota Express to back-to-back Central Division championships. He didn't coach the Express last season but comes into this series with a starting 13-4 record in the divisional playoffs.
Though this is this incarnation of the Express' first trip to the playoffs, the Southern Minnesota Express went to the postseason each of the last three seasons. In all three of those seasons, the Express played Alexandria in the first round and the series went the full five games with Southern Minnesota winning the first two, and Alexandria prevailing last season.
Home-Ice Advantage
The Outlaws enter the postseason with home-ice advantage in the first round for the second straight year and while it didn't provide the advantage expected last season its still like having a dog. The few times it may poop in the house doesn't take away from the fact the majority of the time it's the companion one can't live without.
North Iowa is 2-2 in the playoffs, winning both games in 2007 against Fargo-Moorhead, but losing both last season to Springfield.
Since the 2004 NAHL Playoffs, there have been 48 division series with the team with home-ice advantage winning 40 of them. That's 83% of the teams with home-ice advantage winning.
In the 2005 playoffs, all the higher seeds won their respective playoff series.
Winning Game 1
North Iowa has never led any of their previous two series having lost game one in both 2007 and 2008 and one of the best ways the franchise can finally get past the division semi-finals is to take the opener. Since the 2004 NAHL playoffs, the team that wins game one has gone on to win 77% of the series.
Former Outlaws' Compete in Frozen Four
Three former members of the Outlaws' competed in the NCAA Division men's ice hockey tournament this past weekend, with two alumni advancing to the Frozen Four. Alex Tuckerman's Northeastern team lost to Cornell in the first round but Shea Walters, Tyler Jundt and the rest of the Bemidji State Beavers shocked both Notre Dame and Cornell to move onto the Frozen Four in two weeks in Washington, DC.
All of the games were played in Grand Rapids, MI.
Attendance Record
The Outlaws set a new single-season attendance record in 2008-2009 drawing a total of 23,909 for an average of 886 for 27 home games.
Harcharik Sets Record
Fourth-year veteran Joe Harcharik (Johnston, IA) completed his push to become the Outlaws' all-time leading scorer recording six points this past weekend (1g, 5a) and now has 143 for his career. That passes Max Mobley who had 138 points from 2005-2008 and is now playing Division I hockey at St. Lawrence University
Brodhag and Paul Finished Tied
The Outlaws' roster sports the co-winners of the NAHL Central Division scoring race with both Brandon Brodhag (Brooklyn Park, MN) and Jack Paul (Minnetonka, MN) each finishing with 65 points. Paul entered the final day of the regular season with a one point lead in the race but his two goals were topped by Brodhag's hat trick against Albert Lea to create the tie.
Both finished tied for fourth overall in the NAHL as Fairbanks' Austin Block had a league-high 73 points.
Brodhag did win the Central Division goal title with 33 tallies this season. He was tied for second in the NAHL behind Trent Fry of Springfield who had 35 goals.
Outlaws Last Week
Fri. Mar. 27th vs. Albert Lea 7-2 win
Sun. Mar. 29th vs. Albert Lea 11-1 win
Outlaws This Week
Fri. Apr. 3rd vs. Owatonna 7:30pm (Game 1)
Sat. Apr. 4th vs. Owatonna 7:30pm (Game 2)
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 30, 2009
- Outlaws Prepare for 2009 Postseason - North Iowa Outlaws
- Phantoms Playoff Schedule Set for First Round - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Playoff Preview Bobcats vs. Blizzard - Bismarck Bobcats
- Wildcats swept by Junior Blues - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- North Stars, Father Fred team up - Traverse City North Stars
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.
