2020–21 NAHL season
| 2020–21 NAHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | North American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | Regular season October 9, 2020 – May 16, 2021 Post-season May 21 – June 22, 2021 |
| Number of games | 60–48 |
| Number of teams | 23 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Aberdeen Wings |
| Season MVP | Jake Sibell (Aberdeen Wings) |
| Top scorer | Payton Matsui (Aberdeen Wings) |
| Robertson Cup Playoffs | |
| Finals champions | Shreveport Mudbugs |
| Runners-up | Anchorage Wolverines |
The 2020–21 NAHL season was the 37th season of the North American Hockey League. The regular season ran from October 2020 to May 2021 with an unbalanced schedule for the league. The Aberdeen Wings won the regular season championship and progressed all the way to the championship game where they were defeated 2–4 by the Shreveport Mudbugs who captured the Robertson Cup.
COVID-19
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the NAHL and its member teams were forced to adjust their plans several times during the season. A few of the existing teams chose to suspend play for the year while some expansion franchises elected to delay their start until the following season. The league initially planned on starting the season on time in September,[1] however, the NAHL decided to push back the first game until early October.[2] After the season was already underway, the league then had to halt play for the entire Midwest division for over a month due to public health orders from the state of Minnesota.[3] Despite the setbacks, the league was able to play most of its scheduled matches and hold a full postseason tournament.
Member changes
- On October 15, 2019, the Wichita Falls Warriors, were accepted as an expansion franchise for this season.[4]
- In late February 2020, the Topeka Pilots announced that they would be moving to Kansas City, Missouri for the following season.[5] The team later announced that they would become the Kansas City Scouts, taking the same name as a defunct NHL team.[6] However, by August the team had decided that not only would they be unable to play during this season due to COVID restrictions,[7] but they would also have to sit out the following year as they had yet to find a stable situation with their home venue. Eventually the team was moved to Amarillo, Texas in the summer of 2021.[8]
- After the season had been suspended due to the pandemic, the St. Cloud Blizzard formally changed their name to the St. Cloud Norsemen.[9]
- Less than a week later, the NAHL approved the sale and relocation of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights.[10] The franchise would take up residence in Danbury, Connecticut and take a similar name as its new patron, becoming the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks.
- In late August, the Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears took up residence in Minnesota due to quarantine and testing regulations that would have made travel between Alaska and Minnesota logistically impossible. At the same time, the New Mexico Ice Wolves announced their move to Texas for the same reason.[11][12] Once policies had been relaxed in April, all three teams were able to return to their home sites and finish out the remainder of their seasons at home.
- Due to similar COVID restrictions issued in other states, the Corpus Christi IceRays, Springfield Jr. Blues and Jamestown Rebels each suspended play for the 2020-21 season.[13][14][15] Each was expected to resume play the following year.
Regular season
The standings at the end of the regular season were as follows:[16]
Note: x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched regular season title
Standings
Central Division
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xyz – Aberdeen Wings | 56 | 51 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 103 | 251 | 75 |
| x – Bismarck Bobcats | 56 | 29 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 64 | 173 | 151 |
| x – Minnesota Wilderness | 56 | 25 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 54 | 136 | 168 |
| x – Minot Minotauros | 56 | 23 | 25 | 6 | 2 | 54 | 150 | 199 |
| Austin Bruins | 56 | 22 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 52 | 159 | 187 |
| St. Cloud Norsemen | 56 | 22 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 151 | 206 |
East Division
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy – Johnstown Tomahawks | 54 | 39 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 83 | 220 | 144 |
| x – Maine Nordiques | 56 | 35 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 169 | 163 |
| x – New Jersey Titans | 54 | 27 | 20 | 2 | 5 | 61 | 197 | 174 |
| x – Maryland Black Bears | 54 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 58 | 146 | 159 |
| Northeast Generals | 60 | 20 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 48 | 164 | 217 |
| Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks | 54 | 20 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 47 | 148 | 187 |
Midwest Division
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy – Janesville Jets | 48 | 31 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 66 | 183 | 144 |
| x – Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 48 | 25 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 54 | 165 | 163 |
| x – Minnesota Magicians | 48 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 144 | 153 |
| x – Kenai River Brown Bears | 48 | 22 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 155 | 168 |
| Chippewa Steel | 48 | 14 | 29 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 116 | 169 |
South Division
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| xy – Shreveport Mudbugs | 56 | 38 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 83 | 205 | 139 |
| x – Lone Star Brahmas | 56 | 38 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 78 | 172 | 132 |
| x – Wichita Falls Warriors | 56 | 30 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 67 | 171 | 161 |
| x – Amarillo Bulls | 56 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 67 | 159 | 166 |
| New Mexico Ice Wolves | 56 | 21 | 30 | 3 | 2 | 47 | 147 | 184 |
| Odessa Jackalopes | 56 | 12 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 117 | 190 |
Statistics
Scoring leaders
The following players led the league in regular season points at the completion of all regular season games. [17]
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payton Matsui | Aberdeen Wings | 56 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 18 |
| Jay Ahearn | Johnstown Tomahawks | 52 | 31 | 31 | 62 | 71 |
| Clayton Cosentino | Aberdeen Wings | 56 | 12 | 48 | 60 | 25 |
| Cole Hanson | New Mexico Ice Wolves | 53 | 21 | 39 | 60 | 34 |
| Braiden Dorfman | Shreveport Mudbugs | 55 | 21 | 38 | 59 | 22 |
| Andrew DeCarlo | Lone Star Brahmas | 54 | 22 | 35 | 57 | 61 |
| Brendan Clark | Johnstown Tomahawks | 51 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 81 |
| John Gelatt | Johnstown Tomahawks | 51 | 24 | 30 | 54 | 34 |
| Nicholas Niemo | Lone Star Brahmas | 52 | 17 | 36 | 53 | 35 |
| Thomas Manty | Aberdeen Wings | 55 | 25 | 28 | 53 | 26 |
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SOL = Shootout losses; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage
| Player | Team | GP | Mins | W | L | OTL | SOL | SO | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Sibell | Aberdeen Wings | 47 | 2826:31 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .952 | 1.19 |
| Cole Hudson | Shreveport Mudbugs | 32 | 1941:11 | 20 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | .923 | 2.13 |
| Arsenii Sergeev | Shreveport Mudbugs | 20 | 1206:09 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .936 | 2.14 |
| Salvatore Evola | Johnstown Tomahawks | 27 | 1588:18 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 3 | .924 | 2.15 |
| Josh Graziano | New Mexico/Johnstown | 21 | 1252:36 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | .931 | 2.16 |
| Graham Burke | Lone Star Brahmas | 37 | 2001:34 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .917 | 2.16 |
Robertson Cup playoffs
Teams are reseeded prior to the semifinal round based upon regular season records.
| Division Semifinals (Best-of-5) | Division Finals (Best-of-5) | Semifinal (Best-of-3) | Championship (Best-of-1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Aberdeen Wings | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Minot Minotauros | 1 | 3 | 3** | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Aberdeen Wings | 5 | 4 | 3 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Bismarck Bobcats | 3 | 1 | 1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Bismarck Bobcats | 5 | 6 | 5 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Minnesota Wilderness | 3 | 3 | 4 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Aberdeen Wings | 5 | 2 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Minnesota Magicians | 1 | 1 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Johnstown Tomahawks | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Maryland Black Bears | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Maryland Black Bears | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Maine Nordiques | 4 | 4 | 4 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Maine Nordiques | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| E3 | New Jersey Titans | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Aberdeen Wings | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Shreveport Mudbugs | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MW1 | Janesville Jets | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MW4 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MW4 | Kenai River Brown Bears | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Midwest Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MW3 | Minnesota Magicians | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MW2 | Fairbanks Ice Dogs | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| MW3 | Minnesota Magicians | 6 | 7 | 3 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Shreveport Mudbugs | 4 | 5 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Maine Nordiques | 1 | 1 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Shreveport Mudbugs | 1 | 2* | 3* | 3 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S4 | Amarillo Bulls | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S1 | Shreveport Mudbugs | 4 | 2 | 4 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Division | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S3 | Wichita Falls Warriors | 3 | 0 | 2 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S2 | Lone Star Brahmas | 2 | 3 | 1 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| S3 | Wichita Falls Warriors | 4 | 5 | 2 | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: * denotes overtime period(s)
References
- ^ "NAHL issues return to play statement and update". NAHL. June 16, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "2020-21 NAHL regular season to start on October 9th". NAHL. July 27, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Midwest Division Play Paused". Our Sports Central. November 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL team in Wichita Falls, TX approved for the 2020-21 season". NAHL. October 15, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL announces relocation of Topeka Pilots to Kansas City". NAHL. February 28, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Pilots to become Kansas City Scouts". NAHL. May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Kansas City Scouts exercise option to sit out the 2020-21 season". NAHL. August 26, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Kansas City Scouts sold and relocated to Amarillo, Texas". NAHL. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Blizzard rebrand as St. Cloud Norsemen". NAHL. May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL announces relocation of WBS Knights to Danbury, Connecticut". NAHL. May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL Fairbanks Moves To Marshall Minnesota". The Junior Hockey News. August 26, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL Has Two More Temporary Relocations?". The Junior Hockey News. August 31, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Corpus Christi IceRays suspend operations". NAHL. August 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "Springfield Jr. Blues suspend operations for 2020-21 season". NAHL. September 16, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL Jamestown Goes Dark". NAHL. September 21, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL Standings". North American Hockey League. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "NAHL Stats". North American Hockey League. Retrieved May 26, 2025.