Big Kahuna's NAHL Power Rankings - 11/25/2008

Big Kahuna's NAHL Power Rankings - 11/25/2008

1. Topeka (0)
2. Mahoning Valley Phantoms (+2)
3. St Louis Bandits (-2)
4. Traverse City North Stars (-1)
5. Bismarck Bobcats (+2)
6. USNTDP (-1)
7. Alexandria Blizzard (-1)
8. Owatonna Express (0)
9. Alpena Ice Diggers (+2)
10. Fairbanks Ice Dogs (+2)
11. North Iowa Outlaws (-2)
12. Alaska Avalanche (-2)
13. Wichita Falls Wildcats (+2)
14. Springfield Jr Blues (-1)
15. Marquette Rangers (-1)
16. Kenai River Brown Bears (0)
17. Wenatchee Wild (0)
18. Motor City Machine (0)
19. Albert Lea Thunder (0)

The tie at the top was broken over the weekend as Topeka swept St Louis. Mahoning Valley jumps up to #2, with the Bandits struggling lately. Bismarck is hot and jumps into the top 5. I wanted to move the Express above the Blizzard, but I'll wait and see. If the guys play well in their 4 games this weekend, they could leapfrog both the Blizzard and the USNTDP.

Around the NAHL:

- The Motor City Machine has a new head coach. You can read the official release here: http://www.nahl.com/news/story.cfm?id=706 , or the OPP article here: http://owatonna.com/news.php?viewStory=31328

- Express forward was named Honorable Mention Central Division Player of the Week after scoring a goal and an assist in Friday's 6-3 win over Alexandria.

- College students can get into this weekend's home games Friday and Saturday against Springfield for only $3 with a current college ID.

- Interesting article about the Albert Lea Thunder's new goalie: http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2008/nov/25/goalie-lifting-thunder/

- Those who watched the #1 ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers beat the Denver Pioneers on Friday night, got a glimpse of former Express goalie Lars Paulgaard in net for the Pioneers in mop-up time. Former Express defenseman Brian Schack of the Gophers had an assist and former Express forward Dusty Jackson started for the Pioneers.

- Many other former Express players were also in Division 1 action last weekend. Mike Montgomery started on defense for Minnesota-Duluth, Nate Hardy was in uniform for St. Cloud State. James Gaulrapp started for MSU-Mankato, Jason Wiley scored a goal for MSU-Mankato, Ryan Guentzel had the first assist on Notre Dame's game winning goal against Bowling Green, and his brother Gabe saw action for Colorado College. Tim Kirby had an assist and Scott Kozlak had a goal for the Air Force Academy, and Sean Murphy was in the lineup for RIT.

- On the professional side, former Express player Stu Bickel has played in 12 games so far for the Iowa Chops, who are the Anaheim Ducks affiliate in the AHL.

See you at the rink.

--BK