Warriors capture NAHL North
For the second time in their four-year existence, Michigan Warriors are headed to the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup championship tournament.
Playing at home on Saturday, the Flint-based Warriors blanked Port Huron Fighting Falcons 4-0 to capture the North Division title and advance to the Robertson Cup with the three other divisional winners from the 24-team NAHL.
Michigan — which finished second in the North Division during the regular season, 10 points back of first-place Port Huron — got a third shutout from goalie Trevor Gorsuch to win the best-of-five series in four games.
Gorsuch allowed only two goals in Michigan’s four-game conquest of Port Huron.
In six playoff games this post-season, Gorsuch has a 6-1 record to go with a 0.90 goals-against-average, .971 save percentage and three shutouts.
Meanwhile, in Saturday’s series-clinching win, TJ Stuntz scored twice to spark the Warriors and Tyler Groat and Zack Szajner tallied once apiece.
The goal for Groat — a mid-season acquisition by Michigan from Topeka RoadRunners — was his fifth in six games in the playoffs.
Connor Lyons — who played a season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League with Soo Eagles — chipped in with a pair of assists.
The Warriors take a playoff record of 6-1 into the Robertson Cup tournament, having swept the Janesville Jets in three straight games in the opening round of the playoffs.
PHOTO: Michigan Warriors goalie Trevor Gorsuch. (NAHL photo.)
Warriors Win = Total Team effort!
Warriors … … North Division CHAMPS!!
Take that “Lady Jane” from Janesville!!!
Great point Perry. Our “friend” Lady Jane had predicted a sweep in this series by the Falcons. Jane had surmised that the Warriors were over-rated and that they were far too slow for Port Huron (which she spelled Port Huren). My advice to Lady Jane: You need to take your hockey predicting crystal ball down to the nearest car wash and hose all the dried up boogers off it. Your prediction of the Warriors-Falcons series failed miserably. Don’t quit your day job.
These “champs” will be lukky to win a game at the Robbie Cup!
Take my advice and stay in Flint & be happy to be North Division champs as there is no way in Hell that the “Warriors” will beat Fairbanks or Amerillo!
Maybe you can take “Randy baby” with you to the Robbie Cup as he is on the Warriors Bandwagen ever since his Soo Eagles do not make the Playoffs!
Lady Jane,
My advice to you is to use spell check.
Jane, Jane, Jane. There used to be a sort of unwritten tradition in hockey that the losing team in a playoff series would “usually” root for the winning team through any future playoff rounds. If that winning team then went all the way and won the cup, you could proudly say that it took the best team in the league to knock your guys out of the playoffs. Beyond that time-honored hockey tradition, the last time I checked, the Janesville Jets were members of the NAHL North Division. Why would you not want to root for the current NAHL North Division Champions to bring that Robertson Cup home to OUR division Jane?
Michigan won the series fair & square as they out worked us over 60 minutes each Game and they showed more heart than we did in my opinion.
Best coverage of the Warriors is not from the Flint Area it has been from Randy Russon!
Way to go WARRIORS!!! So very proud of our North Division Champions!!! One Team. One Goal.
the falcons be Champions next year ok you get it?
Jane you ignorant s***. Lol. Snl reference. Four years ago the Warriors were a third place finisher who made the playoffs on the last weekend. Wandered thru the north division winning it. Played an extra two games to stay at the Robbie Lost first two games but win when needed to stay in. Made the championship game. Was leading in that till six minutes remained when the clock finally struck midnight. Maybe that team should have stayed home too. Moe has a way they will find a way. Great job Warriors. All teams are 0-0 at the beginning of the playoffs.
Mike…you were reading my mind about the SNL classic line! LOL
The team’s that shook hands Saturday night after a very hard fought four game series showed the true essence of sportsmanship and what a show of outstanding of amazing goalie play by both boys in net. The total team offense and solid defense that added a degree of separation by the Warriors was just a bit better than their foes. After all most wins occur by the slightest of margins. These games were no different. My respect go to the Falcons a very well coached team and full of tough minded and talented player.
Now Go Warriors beat the Ice Dogs and good luck Friday night.
I understand Port Huron may not have a team next year, Definatly not in Port Huron, Then who are you going to cheer for Lady Jane!Be careful what you wish for