Thursday, May 14, 2015
NAHL Final a Minnesota Affair
Austin Bruins, Minnesota Wilderness square off for Robertson Cup this weekend.
Seven Division I commits with the Minnesota Wilderness will travel south across the state to face the Austin Bruins in a best-of-three series this weekend to determine the Robertson Cup, given annually to the NAHL playoff champion.
The NAHL, USA Hockey’s only Tier II junior league, had sent more than 200 alumni directly to Division I programs in 2014-15.
See also: Clark Cup Finals | RBC Cup
Both Austin and Minnesota won their semifinal series on the road to set up the in-state meeting for the championship. Minnesota beat regular-season champion Janesville, while Austin knocked off Lone Star.
Not surprisingly, the two teams feature three of the top four scorers in NAHL playoff action. Minnesota recruit Darian Romanko leads the Wilderness – and the entire league – with 18 points through 10 playoff games. Bemidji State recruit Aaron Miller of the Wilderness and Austin’s uncommitted Nico Sturm are tied for second in the league with 13 points apiece.
Austin does not currently feature a Division I commit, though that could certainly change at any time. In addition to Sturm, the Bruins feature a pair of talented goaltenders in Jake Kielly, who has a 1.97 playoff goals-against average, and Evan Smith, who was ranked by NHL Central Scouting in advance of the upcoming draft. Defensemen Ian Scheid and Liam Feeney are two of the top four scoring blueliners in the NAHL playoffs.
Minnesota Wilderness Division I Commits
| Ivan Chukarov | Massachusetts |
| Tyler Cline | Alaska |
| Brett Heikkila | Northern Michigan |
| Bradley Johnson | Ohio State |
| Ian Mansfield | Army West Point |
| Aaron Miller | Bemidji State |
| Darian Romanko | Minnesota |