The Best of the Central/North Battle This Weekend
Published on December 11, 2007 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
North Iowa Outlaws News Release
Two of the NAHL's top team's face-off this weekend, in the midst of the NAHL Midget Showcase down in St. Louis. The North Iowa Outlaws (18-4-1) travel south to take on the defending Robertson Cup Champions, the St Louis Bandits (19-5-1). The Friday/Saturday match-up ends a hockey filled day at the NAHL Midget Showcase, which will feature 24 teams from across the country competing at the U-18 & U-16 divisions. All games will be played at the Summit Center in Chesterfield, MO, home of the Bandits.
St Louis enters the weekend in a tie for the top spot in the North Division with Mahoning Valley, while the Outlaws continue their dominance of the Central. Last weekend, the Bandits split a series with the South's top team, the Wichita Falls Wildcats, winning the first on Friday before falling in overtime on Saturday. North Iowa comes off another perfect weekend, down the Bismarck Bobcats 2-1 on Thursday and 5-0 on Friday. North Iowa's league leading defense has only given up 46 goals, while their offense has put up 89. The Bandits have given up 72 goals on the season, while scoring 109. Home ice has also been a factor for both teams as the Outlaws and Bandits have only one home loss each.
North Iowa boost two of the league's best in Shea Walters (Hibbing, MN) and Robby Moss (St. Louis, MO). Walters leads the league in scoring, tied with Mahoning Valley's Derek Graham with 33 points. The Bemidji State recruit has 12 goals and 31 assists, and is on his second 10 game point streak of the season, recording 23 points in the last 10 games. Moss on the other hand has anchored the Outlaws between the pipes. The former St. Louis Junior Blue's goaltender and Chesterfield native leads the league in goaltending categories with a record of 16-3-1, a 1.95 GAA and a .938 save percentage. Moss also has three shutouts to go with his excellent start to the first half of the season.
The Bandits have a duo of goaltenders in Mike Johnson and Cal Heeter who have split time this season, each seeing 13 games and winning 9 a piece. The pair ranks 7th and 8th respectively in the standings with 3 shutouts between the two.
Behind Walters in the high scoring offense for the Outlaws are forwards Max Mobley (Phoenix, AZ) and Bryant Skarda (Lake Elmo, MN). Mobley ranks 15th in the league while the Army recruit Skarda is 36th, but holds the second spot with 9 power play goals on the season. St. Louis' Kyle O'Kane leads the league with 10 power play goals and 31 points two points behind teammate Ben Warda, who leads the Bandits with 33 points (7G, 26A). Sam Bozoian and Mike Leone also rank in the top 25 in scoring for the Bandits.
Who would have thought that this weekend, the last before the break for most teams, would have set-up one of the best match-ups in the NAHL. Last season the Bandits dominated while the Outlaws struggled but this year the tables have turned. Saturday night the Bandits will raise their Robertson Cup Banner, welcoming back many of the Bandits from last season for the ceremonies. You can listen and watch the games online, log on to www.northiowaoutlaws.com for the audio webcast of the game, or watch it on B2 Broadcast Networks.
North American Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2007
- Litke resigns - Bismarck Bobcats
- U.S. National Under-18 Team Weekly - U.S. National Team
- Santa Claus At Northern Lights Arena - Alpena IceDiggers
- The Best of the Central/North Battle This Weekend - North Iowa Outlaws
- Wildcats Split Weekend Series with Bandits - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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