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Junior Notebook: Goalies Gibson and Driscoll Match Shutout Records in NAHL and USHL

By Tom Robinson, 04/12/18, 6:15AM MDT

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Elsewhere in NAHL, Robertson Cup field is set

Goalies Gibson and Driscoll Match Shutout Records in NAHL and USHL

Mitchell Gibson and Zach Driscoll are turning shutouts into a frequent occurrence.               

Gibson matched a North American Hockey League record by closing out the regular season with his 11th shutout, going into overtime to get it for the Lone Star Brahmas in a 1-0 victory over the Corpus Christi Ice Rays.               

Driscoll put up back-to-back shutouts for the Omaha Lancers, pushing his season total to eight in the United States Hockey League. Gibson matched the record set by Mareks Mitens with the Philadelphia Rebels last season.               

The 18-year-old from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, used his 11 shutouts to lead the NAHL with a 1.59 goals against average and .935 save percentage. He was second in wins with 26.               

“I think what Mitchell has done this season is very impressive because there have been so many good goalies that have been developed in the NAHL over the course of the last 42 years,” Brahmas coach Dan Wildfong said, according to a story on the league website. “To make history like that and post 11 shutouts in a season is something that is a testament to what he brings to the table every game.”               

Driscoll, from Apple Valley, Minnesota, stopped 55 shots in his two shutouts. The Bemidji State commit improved to 21-9-1-1 with a 1.93 goals against average and .933 save percentage. He earned his fourth USHL Goaltender of the Week award since November.               

NAHL RECAP: The North American Hockey League completed its regular season with the Aberdeen Wings, Philadelphia Rebels, Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Shreveport Mudbugs winning division titles.               

Fairbanks won the Midwest Division title with the league’s best record at 45-8-4-3.               

Jakov Novak from the Janesville Jets won the league scoring title with 73 points in 68 games.             

Travis Kothenbeutel from the Austin Bruins was second with 67 points.             

Hunter Wendt from Fairbanks had 44 assists while finishing third with 61 points.               

ROBERTSON CUP: The field is set for the NAHL’s Robertson Cup Playoffs, which will begin with eight divisional semifinals, each of which are best-of-five series.               

All but one series gets started Friday with the Northeast Generals vs. Philadelphia, Springfield Jr. Blues vs. Janesville Jets, Minnesota Wilderness vs. Austin, Corpus Christi IceRays vs. Shreveport, Minot Minotauros vs. Aberdeen Wings, Odessa Jackalopes vs. Lone Star and Minnesota Magicians vs. Fairbanks.              

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights vs. New Jersey Titans series starts Saturday.               

USHL ROUNDUP: The Waterloo Black Hawks moved up from third to take over the top spot in the final usahockeymagazine.com United States Hockey League Power Rankings of the season.               

Waterloo was unbeaten in regulation in 12 games going into April. The Black Hawks took over the Western Conference lead during the streak.             

USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program remains in second, followed by the Fargo Force. The Omaha Lancers dropped from first to fourth.               

The Lincoln Stars went 8-2 in their last 10 games to move up four places to seventh.             

Tyce Thompson posted consecutive three-point performances, each on one goal and two assists, to help the Dubuque Fighting Saints clinch their eighth straight Clark Cup Playoffs berth.              

COACHING CHANGES: The North American 3 Hockey League’s Willmar Warhawks announced the hiring of Doc Delcastillo as head coach for next season.               

Tim Kunes will move up from coaching the New England Wolves Eastern Hockey League Premier team to serving as the head coach of its Eastern Hockey League team next season.               

COLLEGE COMMITMENTS: Two NAHL forwards are among the recent college commitments.               

Ryan Naumovski from the New Jersey Titans is headed to Niagara University while Josh Boyer from the Brookings Blizzard is going to Nebraska-Omaha.               

Naumovski, an 18-year-old from Shelby Township, Michigan, has 46 points in 53 games in his first NAHL season.               

Boyer, 18, from Wasilla, Alaska, led the Blizzards in goals (27), assists (29), points (56) and power-play points (16) in a success first season that included a pair of overtime game-winning goals.               

ONE-TIMERS: The New England Wolves received the EHL and EHLP 2017-18 Humanitarian Award, recognizing the team’s collective community events and the community service time put in by their players. …  Max Brainin had goals in both games as the Springfield Junior Blues prepared for the Robertson Cup Playoffs by running their season-ending NAHL winning streak to eight games.

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.

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