Outlaws Weekly
Published on January 12, 2009 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Mason City (IA) There is the notion of a "second wind" that runners get while going through the paces, a burst of energy just when it seems as though the personal gas tank is past empty. This burst of energy is likely more mental than anything but can be the key to a late win in a race for a runner, or simply finishing a workout for the recreational jogger.
For the North Iowa Outlaws their fourth game in as many days - a rarity at any level - turned out to be their most complete performance in a weekend that went from disheartening to promising in the course of one 60-minute game. Whether it was a "second wind" or any other combination of factors can be debated but what isn't arguable is that on the final game of a long weekend, when not only physical but mental fatigue is an easy excuse to grab hold of, the Outlaws looked their freshest in doling out one of their best games of the season.
The Outlaws salvaged a 5-0 win in Alexandria on Sunday January 11th, after dropping a pair of games the previous two nights in Bismarck by a combined 7-2 margin. Add in a 5-2 exhibition loss to Bismarck in Aberdeen, SD on January 9th and the win did plenty to reverse what had been a rough road trip for the Outlaws.
"I was very impressed with the way the guys responded on Sunday against a very good Alexandria team" said head coach Jeff Crouse. "We rotated players around in Bismarck to avoid burnout but still, it would've been easy for the team to roll over and blame the schedule for another loss."
Goaltender Keegan Asmundson (Inver Grove Heights, MN) made numerous quality saves, finishing with 31 stops to earn his first career Junior A shutout and the team's first blanking since Robby Moss delivered a goose egg on March 22, 2007 versus Fargo-Moorhead. Asmundson's performance almost was overshadowed by Jack Paul (Minnetonka, MN) who notched his first career Junior A hat trick.
With the win, the Outlaws leave the weekend in the same position they left it and that's in first place in the North American Hockey League's Central Division, two points up on Bismarck and four points clear of Alexandria with 23 games remaining.
The Outlaws were in more control than a motorcycle rider on a bone dry highway, which was a sharp contrast from the games in Bismarck where North Iowa had as much a handle on the game as a person trying to hold a burning hot baked potato with a bare hand. Though North Iowa dictated the pace for durations of the game on Saturday, Bismarck was seemingly in control and that was the case the previous night as well as the Bobcats were able to pack in their suffocating defense with a metaphorical sleeper-hold, rarely allowing quality scoring chances.
A 2-0 loss on Friday was followed by a frustrating 5-2 defeat on Saturday. In both games, the Outlaws had chances, but in both it never seemed as though the Outlaws ever had the upper-hand. Despite 53 saves from goaltender Thomas Callaghan (New Westminister, PA) the Outlaws were unable to provide any offensive support. Then on Saturday, Ryan Bohrer (West St. Paul, MN) was stopped not once, not twice, but thrice by Bismarck goaltender Matt Grogan in the game's opening minute perpetuated a weekend trend of frustration.
"We need to help out our goaltenders when they turn in a performance like Tom had on Friday night. He gave us a chance to win and we couldn't deliver" noted Crouse. "Then to have Bohrer stopped numerous times to open the next game that hurt because we came out with more jump and more energy but weren't rewarded for it."
Proving they Belong
The weekend road trip concluded a stretch of five straight for the Outlaws against the two teams they are in the most direct competition for first place in the Central Division over. Following five straight games against the Albert Lea Thunder, the Outlaws went from running on pavement to wadding through waist-high water in level of competition and came away 2-2-1.
The Outlaws entered in first, and leave the stretch in first.
"This season really perpetuates the stereotype that anyone can win on any night. (Outlaws, Alexandria, Bismarck) are all so close right now that I'm not sure if anyone will totally pull away" added Crouse.
However, lest one forget that this weekend's opponent in the Owatonna Express is just six points back with one game in hand.
Even on the Road
North Iowa is 9-9-0 in games played away from Mason City this season, with 11 of the final 23 games on the road. None of the Outlaws 18 away games have gone past regulation.
Playing Short-handed
Who says it doesn't hurt to be successful? Due to the North American Hockey League Top Prospects Tournament January 18-20 in Ann Arbor, MI, the North Iowa Outlaws are tentatively scheduled to be short five players and a head coach for their game this Saturday at Owatonna.
With the Central Division prospects scheduled to play late Sunday afternoon, a bus taking the team and coaches has been scheduled to leave Saturday afternoon, which would mean players in the division (including the Outlaws) will have to do without some players.
As of now, the Outlaws will be without defensemen Jon Crouse (Alexandria, MN) and Ryan Peltoma (Brainerd, MN) along with forwards Brandon Brodhag (Brooklyn Park, MN), Jack Paul (Minnetonka, MN) and Alex Carlson (Farmington, MN). Combined that is a loss of 55 goals, 92 assists and 147.
Plus, head coach Jeff Crouse will also be absent as he is the Central Division's assistant coach.
Tight Division
With just six points separating first from fourth, the Central Division is the tightest race in the entire North American Hockey League. There is a nine point difference in the North, a 25 point separation in the West and a whopping 34 point difference in the South.
Outlaws Last Week
Thurs. Jan. 8th @ Bismarck (Aberdeen, SD) exhibition 2-5 Loss
Fri. Jan. 9th @ Bismarck 0-2 Loss
Sat. Jan. 10th @ Bismarck 2-5 Loss
Sun. Jan. 11th @ Alexandria 5-0 Win
Outlaws This Week
Sat. Jan. 17th @ Owatonna 8:00pm
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 January 12, 2009
- Express Picking up Steam in Central - NAHL
- Saad Secures Player of the Week Nod - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Wildcats start off homestand with losses - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Outlaws Weekly - North Iowa Outlaws
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.
