More Midwest junior teams head into action this weekend

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Midwesthockey.info

A few Midwest-based junior teams kicked off their respective 2021-22 campaigns last weekend and more are jumping into the fray starting tonight (Sept. 17, 2021). Here is a quick rundown on some of the leagues and the Midwest teams entering play this weekend.

NAHL – The annual NAHL Showcase tournament brought the entire league to Blaine, MN once again as all 29 teams are taking part at the National Sports Center Super Rinks. The event began Wednesday with each team scheduled to play a game a day for four days. Two exceptions as the Janesville Jets and St. Cloud Norsemen who were the odd team out on the first two days. The US National Development Team arrived in Blaine Friday to make it an even 30 teams for the final two days.

SIJHL – The two American teams in the Superior International Junior Hockey League based mostly in Northwestern Ontario will open against each other Friday. The Wisconsin Lumberjacks will travel from the home base of Spooner, WI to Thief River Falls, MN to take on the host Norskies in the season opener for both teams on Friday, playing the first of a weekend pair at Ralph Engelstad Arena. Game time on both nights is 7:30 p.m. CDT.

NA3HL – Milwaukee and St. Louis were the lone Midwest-based teams in action last weekend. This weekend will see the Granite City Lumberjacks traveling to Breezy Point to take on the Minnesota Loons while the Rochester Grizzlies will be in Oregon, WI to play the Oregon Tradesmen. Both games will start at 7:30 p.m. Friday with the Loons paying a return trip to Sauk Rapids Saturday and the Grizzlies finishing off a two-game set in Oregon.

Also playing Saturday will be the Willmar Warhawks at the New Ulm Steel at 7:10 p.m. CDT Saturday.

USPHL Premier – League play opened the previous weekend, but this will be the start of the season for the Midwest with a couple games.

The Dells Ducks will play host to the Rum River Mallards for a pair of Midwest-West Division games at 7:30 p.m. CDT on both Friday and Saturday. Also, the Great Lakes Division will hit the ground running with the Cincinnati Cyclones in Columbus to play the Mavericks, at 7:30 p.m. EDT Friday and again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.