Robertson Cup Playoffs Set to Begin this Week
March 31, 2014 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Port Huron Fighting Falcons News Release
PORT HURON, MI - ÃÂ The Port Huron Fighting Falcons, proud members of the North American Hockey League and 2013-14 North Division champions, will begin their quest for the Robertson Cup as they take on the fourth-place Johnstown Tomahawks in the first round.
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The Fighting Falcons will host games one and two against the Tomahawks at McMorran Arena this Thursday and Friday. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
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Johnstown will host game three Saturday, April 11. If necessary, game four would be in Johnstown Saturday, April 12 and game five would be in Port Huron Monday, April 14.
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With three of the 12 games between Port Huron and Johnstown decided in overtime or later, both teams hold winning records in the regular-season series. Port Huron went 6-4-2 against Johnstown, with the Tomahawks going 6-5-1.
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The Fighting Falcons opened the 2013-14 regular season with a weekend sweep over the Tomahawks in Johnstown in mid-September. Port Huron never gave up their lead in the North Division, going wire-to-wire to take the division crown with a 35-15-10 record. The team set a new franchise record with 80 points, and finished ten points ahead of second-place Michigan, the largest differential between top-two teams in the NAHL.
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Johnstown limps into the playoffs, dropping ten of their last 12 regular season games, and finishing 28-27-5, just one point ahead of the Springfield Jr. Blues for the final playoff spot in the North Division.
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The Fighting Falcons and the Tomahawks split each of the last five series of the regular season, with the Tomahawks winning 4-2 in the last matchup between the teams on February 1. That was the last game the Fighting Falcons lost at McMorran Arena this season, as they bring an eight-game home winning streak into the playoffs.
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Port Huron's players voted goalies Max Milosek and Alex Blankenburg to share MVP honors this season, and the net minders have been a huge part of the Fighting Falcons' record-breaking season. ÃÂ
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In his final NAHL season, Milosek finished his third year in Port Huron winning each of his last eight home starts, putting up five shutouts and allowing just four goals at McMorran Arena in that stretch. The Lapeer, MI native finished the 2013-14 season with an 18-10-7 record.
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Blankenburg was among the best goalies in the NAHL all season, finishing 17-5-3 and in the top 10 in both goals against average (2.26) and save percentage (0.931).
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Zach Badalamenti tallied 11 points on four goals and seven assists against the Tomahawks this season, while defenseman Alex Archibald put up nine points on two goals and seven assists.
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Mitch Hall's nine points on a goal and eight assists against the Fighting Falcons lead the way for Johnstown.
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When the Fighting Falcons take on the Tomahawks in game three, it will be their first trip to Johnstown since November 23, as all six of Johnstown's home games against Port Huron took place before the Fighting Falcons hosted six in a row to end the season series.
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This marks the second consecutive season that Port Huron and Johnstown will face off in the playoffs, as the Fighting Falcons defeated the Tomahawks in the play-in round last season. Despite finishing the 2012-13 season with a better record, the Fighting Falcons had to travel to Johnstown for the series third and final game last year after the teams traded shutouts at McMorran Arena. Port Huron scored with less than a minute to play and their net empty to send the game to overtime, where Ian Miller's goal ended Johnstown's inaugural NAHL season.
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Tickets to games one and two of the 2014 Robertson Cup Playoffs are available now at the McMorran Arena Box Office, starting at just $8 for seniors, students and military. For more information, contact the Fighting Falcons front office at (810) 966-3800.
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