DC takes down Roughriders to claim NAPHL Championship

The DC Capitals (18U) were crowned champions of the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) after winning the title game Monday at the Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Defenseman Josh Bretner notched the game-winning goal and an assist as the Capitals downed the Rocky Mountain RoughRiders in the 18U championship game, 3-2.  In goal, Paul Bourbeau turned aside 12 shots.


DC Capitals won all five games in the NAPHL playoffs, four of the five games by a one goal differential. DC also captured the AYHL Regular Season title a few weeks ago, and are the favorites to win the Southeastern District Championship and qualify for nationals. 


It was an inspiring effort by the Rocky Mountain Roughriders after defeating the Lansing Capitals 3-1 to reach the semifinals and finish second in Gold Division A behind the DC Capitals. Then, the Roughriders took down a red-hot Indiana Jr. Ice team in a shootout to reach the championship game. Rocky Mountain came to the NAPHL Playoffs in their last event of the season, after having a disappointing performance at the Colorado State playoffs and failing to qualify for the Rocky Mountain District Championships. 


In consolation games, the Lansing Capitals pounded the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals 5-1, while the NAPHL regular season champions, San Jose Jr. Sharks, collected their first win in the playoffs with a 4-3 win over the Detroit Falcons.  

Roughriders and Capitals rematch in finals

 

The DC Capitals and Rocky Mountain Roughriders will faceoff tomorrow in the NAPHL playoffs championship. The DC Capitals finished tied for first place but lost the regular season title because San Jose beat them earlier in the year. Rocky Mountain finished in seventh place in the NAPHL regular season standings, but have made their way stunning the competition to the championship game. 


DC has gone undefeated after defeating Lansing Capitals 2-1, Rocky Mountain Roughriders 2-0, and Detroit Falcons 2-1, and rolling over Wenatchee Jr. Wild in the semifinals by a 5-2 score. 


Rocky Mountain's only loss was the 2-0 defeat coming at the hands of the DC Capitals, but they went on to defeat the Falcons 4-3 in a shootout, Lansing Capitals 3-1, and the Roughriders cooled down the red-hot Jr. Ice 2-1 in a closely contested shootout in the semifinals.


These two teams met only once during the regular season, the Roughriders won 5-4 after a shootout, but that was in October of 2010. The DC Capitals shut out the Roughriders in a 2-0 contest a day ago in the NAPHL playoffs, but both with rematch for the second NAPHL playoffs championship. Last year, the California Titans defeated Omaha AAA for the U18 NAPHL playoff championship, after California won the regular season title.  

Thunder Bay Kings spoil Hounds cinderella story

2011 NLHL Playoff Champions - Thunder Bay Kings

Thunder Bay Kings 4, West Michigan Hounds 3

Thunder Bay won the NLHL Playoff Championships with a 4-3 defeat of the NLHL's cinderella team in the playoffs, West Michigan Hounds. The Hounds won their semifinal matchup against the NLHL Regular Season Champions, Shattuck AAA. West Michigan won their semifinal in a shootout, after being pounded by Shattuck AAA 6-2 and 5-1 in two games a weekend ago. The Hounds almost completed the Cinderella Story but came up one goal short to the host-team Kings. 


Thunder Bay finished in third place in the NLHL regular season, while the Hounds finished in fourth. Both defeated the higher two seeds in upset semifinals. Thunder Bay took out Lansing CC Pride by a 6-4 score, and the Hounds did the same in a 3-2 shootout victory over Shattuck AAA. This is a great sign for the Thunder Bay Kings heading into Tellus Cup play, and even a better sign as West Michigan prepares for Michigan state-play downs. 

NAPHL Playoff Semifinals set

The Gold Championship Series semifinals are set in the NAPHL playoffs. In one semifinal the Indiana Jr. Ice faceoff against the Rocky Mountain Roughriders, and the other semifinals has the DC Capitals battling the Wenatchee Jr. Wild.


The Lansing Capitals and Milwaukee Jr. Admirals who respectively finished in third place in their divisions matchup in a consolation. While, the California State Champs and number 1 seed coming into the playoffs, San Jose Jr. Sharks, look for their first win in the NAPHL playoffs when they take on the Detroit Falcons in the other consolation matchup. 

Ice Jets golden at Gold Medal Classic

Dallas Ice Jets 4, Culver Academy Prep 3

The Ice Jets' incredible performance at the Gold Medal Classic sure makes them a threat at the Rocky Mountain District Championships, if they get there. Dallas defeated Chicago's best two AAA teams and one of USA's best prep teams to claim the championship. The Ice Jets opened the tournament by defeating CYA 8-5, then the Ice Jets took down the host Capitols and the NLHL's Soo Indians. This landed the Ice Jets in the semifinals against the reigning national champions, Chicago Mission. But, the Ice Jets continued to roll and they rolled by the Mission 5-3. In the finals, the Ice Jets battled Culver Prep. The closely contested battle ended up in Dallas' favor with a 4-3 victory and Gold Medal Classic champions. 

Dallas heads home proud as Gold Medal Classic champions, and hopes of continuation of their season at the Rocky Mountain District Championships. 

Back to back NLHL Championships for Shattuck AAA

Shattuck St. Mary's AAA 6, West Michigan Hounds 2

Shattuck St. Mary's AAA 5, West Michigan Hounds 1

Shattuck St. Mary's AAA convincingly took a two game sweep over the West Michigan Hounds to claim back to back NLHL regular season championships. Shattuck AAA also won the NLHL playoff championship last year. Shattuck's passed the Lansing CC Pride on the last weekend of regular season play, and claimed the top spot in the NLHL playoffs next weekend in Thunder Bay, Ontario. 

Thunderbirds dominate Colorado State Championships

Colorado Thunderbirds 8, Colorado Rampage 0

Colorado Thunderbirds dismantled their in-state competition to easily claim the state championship. The Thunderbirds won their opening contest 3-0 over the Pikes Peak Miners and followed it up by defeating the Rampage 6-3. In the finals, the Thunderbirds battled the Rampage, who was definitely fatigued after winning a closely contested game in overtime to reach the finals. The Thunderbirds took advantage of the opportunity and rolled over the Rampage by an 8-0 score. 

Thunderbirds head into the Pacific District Championships as the team to beat, but the Dallas Stars and Phoenix Jr. Coyotes could pose problems for the #3 nationally-ranked team. 

Dallas Stars come back to win state

Dallas Stars 4, Dallas Alliance Bulldogs 5 (2OT)

Dallas Stars 4, Dallas Alliance Bulldogs 1

Dallas Stars 5, Dallas Alliance Bulldogs 2

Stars win series (2-1 games)

Dallas Stars is another team that clinched a state championship this weekend. The Stars took two of the best of three game series from their arch-rival Dallas Alliance Bulldogs.

The Stars like the Junior Sharks found themselves down after losing the first game of the state championships. Dallas Alliance Bulldogs pulled off a stunning upset in game one of the series, defeating the Stars 5-4 in double overtime. But the Stars came back with two convincing wins over the Alliance Bulldogs to claim the state championship.

Dallas Stars will advance to the Rocky Mountain District Championships, and the Alliance Bulldogs and Dallas Ice Jets participation in the District Championships still has to be determined.

The Dallas Stars will pose as one of the biggest threats to #3 nationally-ranked Colorado Thunderbirds in the Rocky Mountain District Championships.