Ice Miners set to begin NAHL playoffs
LEISENRING — Only one point separated the Keystone Ice Miners and Soo Eagles in the NAHL’s North Division after the 60-game regular season.
That slim difference of one fewer loss and one more tie allowed Keystone to finish second on the final night of the regular season and the opportunity for home-ice advantage in the opening round of the divisional playoffs.
The playoffs begin Friday night at the Ice Mine in Leisenring with the opening faceoff slated at 7:30 p.m.
The second game of the series remains at the Ice Mine on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Game 3 is Friday, April 17, at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., at 7:30 p.m. Game 4, if necessary, remains in Michigan on Saturday, April 18, at 7 p.m. Should a Game 5 be necessitated, then the series moves back to the Ice Mine on Monday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Their records are eerily similar with the Ice Miners finishing with 67 points (31-24-5) and the Eagles closing with 66 (31-25-4). Keystone was 15-12-3 at home, while Soo, based in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was 15-11-4. The Ice Miners were 16-12-2 on the road and the Eagles finished 16-14-0.
Keystone won the eight-game regular season series, 4-3-1, going 3-1-0 on the road.
The series features contrasting styles with Soo totaling 182 goals in 60 games, while Keystone allowed 140, the fifth-fewest in the NAHL. Forward Trevor Cope leads the Eagles with 24 goals and 34 assists. Sandis Zolmanis also topped 50 points with 13 goals and 38 assists.
Matt Jones is the only Ice Miner to top 40 points with 17 goals and 24 assists.
It’s the goals against that has Ice Miners head coach Michael Gershon saying his squad is built for the playoffs.
“We’re built from the back out with two good goalies (Alex Blankenburg and Nick Kossoff). We play tough defense and we play physical,” explained Gershon. “Defense wins championships.”
Anchoring that defense is the goaltending tandem of Blankenburg and Kossoff. Blankenburg finished with a record of 17-14-3 with a goals against average of 2.18. Kossoff was 14-10-2 with a 2.21 GAA. Kossoff posted six shutouts, while Blankenburg had one. The goaltending needs to be on point because the Keystone offense totaled 153 goals, the second-lowest among the playoff teams.
“Our goaltending every night gives our players a little more confidence. We’ll rotate the first two games and then reevaluate,” said Gershon.
With eight games plus a lot of video study, Blankenburg and his teammates understand how Soo plays. Conversely, he acknowledged the same works for the Eagles.
“We know what to expect. We know their systems. They know us pretty well,” said Blankenburg. “I’ve played against the coach and the core of the team for three years.”
Gershon has a strong core from last year’s playoff team that was based in Port Huron, Mich., of 13 players, so he believes they know his system and what is expected of them.
“We go after kids that are winners, that understand how to win. They have to have that mentality that you are expected to win,” said Gershon. “You hope you do enough to prepare the guys and they understand what’s going on.
“The playoffs, you have to grind it out. You have to outwork the team in front of you. It’s starts from one guy. That’s how you get on streaks.
“It comes down to who executes better. It’s execution and who comes together as a team.”
Although Gershon and his staff designed the team from the goaltending out, the first line of defense will be forechecking pressure to slow down the Soo offense. That pressure falls on the forward lines, including Vito Aluia, who will be paired with Taylor Fernandez, the second-leading scorer with 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists), and Mike Maiden.
“You have to keep the guys in front of you and forecheck on their defense so they can’t make those passes,” said Aluia, who scored six goals and 16 points. “We have to hit their defensemen and forecheck a little harder, and play a little smarter in our zone. If you do it a little harder, it goes a long way.”
After enduring a tough, cold, snowy winter, the weather for the Robertson Cup playoffs will be decidedly warmer for the opening two games with daytime high temperatures in the low to high 60s, cooling down into the low 40s by the end of the game. The warm weather will affect the ice surface.
“The weather will affect both teams. It’s who gets accustomed to it first,” said Gershon, again noting Soo’s team speed.
“It’s a little slushy,” Blankenburg said with a smile.
As for the effect on his play, Blankenburg searched for the right words, adding, “Physically, the gear gets grimier. We have a blower to dry out my glove.”
“The ice is a little softer. We like to control the puck,” said Aluia.
Advancing to the playoffs is quite an accomplishment given what the franchise has endured in the past 11 months. The team was relocated from Port Huron, Mich., and then lost its ownership right before Christmas. The playoffs allow the squad that grew together through those trying times the opportunity to play a little bit longer together as a team.
“This is the last time all these guys will play together. The guys in the room rally around each other,” said Gershon. “We want to spend more time together.”
Aluia and Blankenburg agreed.
“My motivator is I play like it’s your last time,” said Blankenburg. “This is the last time I’ll be playing with a great group of guys.”
Blankenburg, who hails from the Detroit area, has enjoyed his time in the area.
“I settled with an unbelievable billet family (in Uniontown),” praised Blankenburg. “The local support from my billet family and fans has been great. Then, I get to go home to Detroit to my family (and their support).”
“All the hardships, the guys really pulled it together, especially after Christmas,” said Aluia.
NOTES: Tickets for home games are being sold at a special “5 for $25” rate if fans purchase tickets in increments of 5. Otherwise, individual ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+) and military members, and $7 for students and children between the ages of 5-17. Children under 5 are free. Tickets can be ordered at https://squareup.com/market/keystoneiceminers or over the phone by calling (724) 628-4847. Game 1 is an “Orange Out” presenting by Little Caesars. The first 250 fans will receive an orange rally towel upon entering the Ice Mine. Friday’s gates will open at 6:00. … Games 3 and 4 (if necessary) will be presented at one of two Keystone Ice Miners viewing party locations: Scottdale Fireman’s Club (Friday ONLY) at 405 Porter Ave, Scottdale, and Harrigan’s Lounge inside the Park Inn Radisson on 700 West Main Street, Uniontown. All games can be viewed via video stream on FASTHockey.com, with the Ice Miners broadcast on the “HOME” feed for games 1, 2, and 5 and the “AWAY” feed for games 3 and 4.