2015–16 Post-Season recap
April 12, 2016
Spider fans were absent from the BIG Summit beer garden during playoff weekend for the second consecutive season. Free beer tickets were instead handed out to 11 C3 teams plus a D1 parity buster for the usual bad ice, worse officiating, lack of sleep, and the occasional season-ending injury, to determine this year’s champion.
The round robin games shook out the four finalists for Sunday morning’s semi-final, for which Spider goaltender Bill McCormick got the call-up to take the Arctic Wolves’ net, knocking off the Nord 3–1 to punch the Wolves’ ticket to the Sunday night BIG dance to face the front-runner overall top seed Royals.
The Royals, the number one overall seed in C3, and the only C3 team to reach 30 points in the regular season (and the only team aginst which the Spiders earned no points), went 2–1 in the round robin, the only loss coming Saturday morning to the Blade Runners in a PIM-fest (though not as PIM-festive as some of this season’s playoff games). But with the top four records advancing to the Sunday semi-final, the Royals four points were enough to advance, getting the Pool C Mosquitos. The Royals won their Sunday morning game 5–4, setting up the final of two C3 South teams. Notably, those two teams had the best overall records of EVERY other team in C3. The first-place Royals (30 points) and second-place Arctic Wolves (29 points) representing the top two records in all of C3. (As the saying goes, the Spiders always manage to find their way into the toughest division.) So it was fitting that these two teams would end up battling for the C3 hardware.
The BIG dance was a 9 p.m. start on the Olympic sheet, and the final game of the AHA playoffs. And, as was the case in the regular season (2–1–0), the Royals would have the Arctic Wolves number. The Royals scored late in the first, early in the third, and following a Wolves’ 5+10 game misconduct for “kicking a player,” the Royals scored the dagger with 5 minutes to go. The Royals outshot the Wolves 33–23. And as the Spiders have seen when it comes to the playoffs, it’s a battle of attrition. Whichever team can last the longest with its bench in tact, can take home the hardware.
Congratulations to the Royals on winning the C3 crown. They went 13–3–4 in the regular season, finishing first overall at C3, and 4–1 in the post-season.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Wolves (2) | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 45 | +2 |
| Fighting Ice Fish (1) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 20 | -1 |
| Northern Gators (3) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 20 | -1 |
| Ak Bars (4) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 38 | -1 |
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * C3 Champions | ||||||||||
| Royals (1)* | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 11 | 16 | +10 |
| Mosquitos (2) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 15 | 26 | +11 |
| Blade Runners (4) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 38 | ±0 |
| Hooligans (3) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 10 | -18 |
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED Norde (3) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 18 | ±0 |
| Diablos (2) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 20 | +2 |
| Gold Rush (1) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 14 | -2 |
| Anchors Blue (4) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -2 |
And full pool standings, based on tiebreaker rules:
| Team | Pool | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royals (1) | B | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 21 | 11 | 16 | +10 |
| Arctic Wolves (2) | A | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 14 | 45 | +2 |
| Mosquitos (2) | B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 | 15 | 26 | +11 |
| Diablos (2) | C | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 20 | +2 |
| Blade Runners (4) | B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 38 | ±0 |
| LED Norde (3) | C | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 18 | ±0 |
| Fighting Ice Fish (1) | A | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 20 | -1 |
| Northern Gators (3) | A | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 20 | -1 |
| Gold Rush (1) | C | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 14 | -2 |
| Anchors Blue (4) | C | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 18 | -2 |
| Ak Bars (4) | A | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 38 | -1 |
| Hooligans (3) | B | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 21 | 10 | -18 |
| Date | Time | Arena | Pool | Home | Result (Home) | Away | Result (Away) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon., April 4 | 8:30 p.m. | BIG 2 | A | Fighting Ice Fish | 2 | Northern Gators | 4 |
| Mon., April 4 | 9:15 p.m. | Richfield 2 | A | Arctic Wolves | 5 | Ak Bars | 5 |
| Tue., April 5 | 7:15 p.m. | Richfield 2 | B | Royals C3 | 6 | Hooligans C3 | 1 |
| Tue., April 5 | 8:00 p.m. | Wakota 1 | C | Gold Rush | 5 | Les Etoiles du Nord C3 | 3 |
| Tue., April 5 | 9:00 p.m. | Richfield 2 | B | Mosquitos | 8 | Blade Runners | 6 |
| Tue., April 5 | 9:15 p.m. | Parade S | C | Diablos | 4 | Anchors Blue | 1 |
| Thu., April 7 | 6:15 p.m. | BIG 3 | B | Royals C3 | 4 | Mosquitos | 2 |
| Thu., April 7 | 7:15 p.m. | BIG 2 | A | Fighting Ice Fish | 4 | Arctic Wolves | 4 |
| Thu., April 7 | 8:00 p.m. | BIG 3 | C | Gold Rush | 2 | Diablos | 4 |
| Thu., April 7 | 9:00 p.m. | BIG 2 | A | Northern Gators | 4 | Ak Bars | 4 |
| Thu., April 7 | 9:45 p.m. | BIG 1 | B | Hooligans C3 | 2 | Blade Runners | 3 |
| Thu., April 7 | 9:45 p.m. | BIG 3 | C | Les Etoiles du Nord C3 | 2 | Anchors Blue | 1 |
| Sat., April 9 | 8:30 a.m. | BIG 1 | B | Mosquitos | 12 | Hooligans C3 | 0 |
| Sat., April 9 | 8:30 a.m. | BIG 3 | A | Fighting Ice Fish | 4 | Ak Bars | 3 |
| Sat., April 9 | 10:15 a.m. | BIG 1 | B | Royals C3 | 3 | Blade Runners | 4 |
| Sat., April 9 | 10:15 a.m. | BIG 3 | A | Arctic Wolves | 4 | Northern Gators | 1 |
| Sat., April 9 | 12:00 p.m. | BIG 1 | C | Diablos | 2 | Les Etoiles du Nord C3 | 5 |
| Sat., April 9 | 1:45 p.m. | BIG 1 | C | Gold Rush | 3 | Anchors Blue | 5 |
| Sun., April 10 | 9:00 a.m. | BIG 1 | SF | Les Etoiles du Nord | 1 | Arctic Wolves | 3 |
| Sun., April 10 | 10:45 a.m. | BIG 1 | SF | Royals | 1 | Mosquitos | 3 |
| Sun., April 10 | 9:00 p.m. | BIG 3 | – | Royals | 3 | Arctic Wolves | 0 |
The initial C3 pool seedings:
- Pool A:
- East #1 (Fighting Ice Fish)
- South #2 (Arctic Wolves)
- West #3 (Northern Gators)
- Wildcard #1 (Ak Bars)
- Pool B:
- South #1 (Royals)
- West #2 (Diablos)
- East #3 (Hooligans)
- Wildcard #2 (Blade Runners)
- Pool C:
- West #1 (Gold Rush)
- East #2 (Mosquitos)
- South #3 (Les Etoiles du Nord)
- D1 Anchors Blue
D1 results
For posterity, since some of these teams may move up to C3 next season, the D1 Wolfpack beat the first-seeded Nighthawks 2–1.
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| * D1 Champions | ||||||||||
| Nighthawks (1)* | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 36 | +5 |
| Minnesota Warriors (2) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 9 | 38 | +4 |
| Wolf-Rayets (3) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 11 | 40 | +2 |
| Flying Hellfish (4) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 22 | -12 |
| Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | P | GF | GA | PIM | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfpack (3) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 12 | +7 |
| Silverbacks (4) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 22 | +4 |
| Minnesota Mild (2) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 18 | -3 |
| Knights (1) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 18 | -7 |
| Date | Time | Arena | Pool | Home | Result (Home) | Away | Result (Away) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., April 6 | 8:00 p.m. | Wakota 1 | A | Nighthawks D1 | 7 | Wolf-Rayets | 2 |
| Wed., April 6 | 9:10 p.m. | VMCC E | A | Minnesota Warriors D1 | 7 | Flying Hellfish | 3 |
| Wed., April 6 | 9:15 p.m. | Braemar W | B | Knights | 3 | Wolfpack | 7 |
| Wed., April 6 | 9:45 p.m. | BIG 3 | B | Minnesota Mild | 0 | Silverbacks | 3 |
| Fri., April 8 | 3:15 p.m. | BIG 2 | B | Wolfpack | 3 | Silverbacks | 2 |
| Fri., April 8 | 5:00 p.m. | BIG 2 | B | Knights | 2 | Minnesota Mild | 3 |
| Fri., April 8 | 6:45 p.m. | BIG 2 | A | Wolf-Rayets | 8 | Flying Hellfish | 2 |
| Fri., April 8 | 8:30 p.m. | BIG 2 | A | Nighthawks D1 | 3 | Minnesota Warriors D1 | 4 |
| Sat., April 9 | 10:50 a.m. | VMCC E | A | Minnesota Warriors D1 | 2 | Wolf-Rayets | 3 |
| Sat., April 9 | 12:30 p.m. | VMCC E | A | Nighthawks D1 | 5 | Flying Hellfish | 3 |
| Sat., April 9 | 5:15 p.m. | BIG 3 | B | Knights | 2 | Silverbacks | 4 |
| Sat., April 9 | 7:00 p.m. | BIG 3 | B | Minnesota Mild | 2 | Wolfpack | 3 |
| Sun., April 10 | 5:30 p.m. | BIG 3 | – | Wolfpack | 2 | Nighthawks | 1 |
