Robertson Cup Championship: The Last 4 Standing
The Robertson Cup Championship finally has arrived as the last four teams standing in the North American Hockey League Playoffs head to Blaine, Minn., to compete for the Tier 2 United States national championship.
And according to our MYHockeyRankings.com NAHL/Tier 2 rankings, all four of the remaining teams – the Bismarck Bobcats, the defending-champion Lone Star Brahmas, the Wisconsin Windingo and the Rochester Americans – rank among the league’s top 10. In addition, each of those teams won its regular-season division championship.
Bismarck, our top-ranked NAHL club, claimed the Central Division crown with an overall record of 47-12-0. fourth-ranked Lone Star finished first in the South with a 44-15-0 mark, No. 5 Wisconsin captured the Midwest Crown at 41-18-0 and 10th-ranked Rochester went 39-20-0 to win the East Division.
Each team has advanced to Blaine by winnings its respective best-of-five division semifinals and finals.
Bismarck was pushed to the brink in the Central Division Semifinals, defeating the Aberdeen Wings, 3-2, before eliminating the Austin Bruins in four games for the division title. The Bobcats have outscored their postseason opponents by a 27-18 margin.
Wisconsin needed five games vs. the Anchorage Wolverines, prevailing 3-2 in the Midwest Finals, after eliminating Chippewa, 4-1, in the semis. The Windingo outscored their opponents, 31-19, in advancing to the Robertson Cup Championship.
Lone Star has been dominant in its quest for back-to-back championships. The Brahmas swept both the New Mexico Ice Wolves and the Corpus Christi IceRays, outscoring them by a combined 22-4. Lone Star has recorded three shutouts in six contests and allowed just two goals in each South Division series.
In the East, Rochester needed overtime in a thrilling 6-5 Game 5 Division Semifinal victory against Johnstown before knocking out the Maine Nordiques in four contests to capture the division crown. The Americans have outscored their playoff foes, 29-21.
CLICK HERE for the complete Robertson Cup Playoff bracket.
Tournament Format & Schedule
The puck drops on the 2025 Robertson Cup Championship at Fogerty Ice Arena in Blaine Friday, May 16, at 5 p.m. EDT when Bismarck takes on Rochester. Wisconsin and Lone Star face off at 8:30 p.m. The teams were re-seeded for the championship tournament based on their final regular-season records.
Those teams will compete in best-of-three series May 16-18, with the winners advancing to a winner-take-all championship game for the Robertson Cup May 20 at 8 p.m. EDT.
All games can be viewed live and on-demand at NAHLTV.com. Every Robertson Cup Championship game that requires overtime will be played until there is a winner.
2025 Robertson Cup Championship Schedule
Friday, May 16 - Game One
Bismarck vs. Rochester | 5:00 PM EDT
Wisconsin vs. Lone Star | 8:30 PM EDT
Saturday, May 17 - Game Two
Bismarck vs. Rochester | 5:00 PM EDT
Wisconsin vs. Lone Star | 8:30 PM EDT
Sunday, May 18 - Game Three*
Bismarck vs. Rochester | 4:00 PM EDT*
Wisconsin vs. Lone Star | 7:30 PM EDT*
* if necessary
2025 Robertson Cup National Championship
Semifinal winners - Tuesday, May 20 | 8:00 PM EDT
The Road to the Robertson Cup
The 2025 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs got underway the weekend of April 11-13.
The NAHL is the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier 2 junior league in the U.S. It is a tuition-free league that last year sent more than 400 players on to play NCAA Hockey at the Division I and Division III levels, with about 75 percent of those commits landing on Division I rosters.
North American Hockey League teams compete for the Robertson Cup, which is awarded annually to the league champion. There are 35 NAHL teams divided into four divisions: the Central, East, Midwest and South. The Central and Midwest divisions each have eight teams, with the top four regular-season finishers advancing to the Robertson Cup Divisional Semifinals.
The East and South divisions have 10 and nine teams, respectively. In those divisions, the first- and second-place finishers receive byes into the division semifinals, while the next four finishers play in best-of-three play-in series for the right to compete in the best-of-five division semifinals.
The division semifinals and finals both are best-of-five series, and the teams that win their divisional playoffs advance to compete for the Robertson Cup National Championship May 16-20 at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minn.
The oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States, the Robertson Cup is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan.
Below is a look at our MHR top 10 NAHL power rankings and how each of the four remaining teams advanced to Blaine to play for the Robertson Cup.
MHR NAHL Robertson Cup Playoff Power Rankings
- Bismarck Bobcats (49-14-0) – 93.90
- Austin Bruins (44-19-0) – 93.57
- Minot Minotauros (41-21-0) – 93.57
- Lone Star Brahmas (47-14-0) – 93.25
- Wisconsin Windingo (44-19-0) – 93.19
- Fairbanks Ice Dogs (37-25-0) – 92.89
- Anchorage Wolverines (39-23-0) – 92.85
- Aberdeen Wings (36-26-0) – 92.85
- Cloud Norsemen (30-29-0) – 92.54
- Rochester Jr. Americans (41-22-0) – 92.44
2025 Roberston Cup Overview
Based on our rankings alone, it appeared as though the Central Division would present the toughest pathway to Blaine, with the top three power-ranked teams and four of the top seven competing in the Central Semifinals.
In the Midwest Division Semifinals, our fifth, sixth, seventh and 12th-ranked teams through battled it out for a trip to Blaine. Meanwhile, the South Division featured the defending-champions and No. 4 Lone Star Brahmas along with the Nos. 13, 14 and 22 teams, and the East included teams ranked 10th, 15th, 16th and 24th.
Central Division Recap
Four of the top seven NAHL power-ranked teams competed in the Central Division Semifinals for the opportunity to advance to the Division Finals.
The top-seeded and top-ranked Bismarck Bobcats took on the No. 8 Aberdeen Wings in one semifinal, while second- and third-ranked clubs, the Austin Bruins and Minot Minotauros, faced off in the other best-of-five series.
Bismarck dropped the first two games of its semifinal series at home vs. Aberdeen but rallied for three consecutive wins to advance to the Division Finals. Game 4 was a double-overtime thriller, with the Bobcats prevailing, 4-3.
It also took Austin five games to knock out Minot after dropping the first two contests, and coincidentally the Bruins needed a pair of overtimes in Game 4 to send the series back home for a decisive Game 5.
The Bobcats fell to Austin at home in Game 1 of the Division Finals before reeling off three straight wins to advance to the Robertson Cup Championship.
Through the Division Finals, forward Tommy Cronin paces the Bismarck offense with a goal and eight assists in nine contests. Keanu Kreen leads the team in goals with five and is tied for second in points (six) with Alexandr Kim, Julian Beaumont and Nick Snyder. Goalie Tomas Anderson has a .934 save percentage and a 1.787 goals-against average in postseason play.
While Bismarck didn't have any players ranked among the league’s top regular-season scorers, the Bobcats featured a balanced attack with nine players contributing at least 31 points. Forward Louie Kamineski, acquired from Oklahoma during the season, led the way with 47 points on 25 goals and 22 assists, while defensemen Matthew Rafalski and Ian Engel contributed 38 and 37 points, respectively.
Central Division Finals Schedule & Results
#1 Bismarck Bobcats vs. #2 Austin Bruins - Bismarck advances, 3-1
Game One: Friday, May 2 @ Bismarck - Bruins 3, Bobcats 1
Game Two: Saturday, May 3 @ Bismarck - Bobcats 2, Bruins 0
Game Three: Friday, May 9 @ Austin - Bobcats 2, Bruins 1
Game Four: Saturday, May 10 @ Austin - Bobcats 7, Bruins 2
Central Division Semifinals Schedule & Results
#1 Bismarck Bobcats vs. #4 Aberdeen Wings - Bismarck Advances, 3-2
Game One: April 18 @ Bismarck - Wings 4, Bobcats 3 (OT)
Game Two: April 19 @ Bismarck - Wings 1, Bobcats 0 (OT)
Game Three: April 25 @ Aberdeen - Bobcats 3, Wings 1
Game Four: Saturday, April 26 @ Aberdeen - Bobcats 4, Wings 3 (2OT)
Game Five: Monday, April 28 - Bobcats 5, Wings 3
#2 Austin Bruins vs. #3 Minot Minotauros - Austin Advances, 3-2
Game One: April 18 @ Austin - Minotauros 3, Bruins 1
Game Two: April 19 @ Austin - Minotauros 2, Bruins 1 (OT)
Game Three: April 25 @ Minot - Bruins 3, Minotauros 1
Game Four: Saturday, April 26 @ Minot - Bruins 4, Minotauros 3 (2OT)
Game Five: Monday, April 28 @ Austin - Bruins 5, Minotauros 1
East Division Recap
The East Division Semifinals figured to be very evenly matched as MHR’s Nos. 10, 15, 16 and 24 NAHL teams were competing.
Tenth-ranked Rochester played 24th-ranked Johnstown in one semi, while heated rivals the No. 15 Maine Nordiques and No. 16 Maryland Black Bears squared off in the other matchup.
Maine, which rallied to win the last two games of its play-in series vs. the New Hampshire Mountain Kings, took out the Black Bears, who advanced to the Robertson Cup Finals a year ago, in four games. Meanwhile, in a thrilling series that featured three overtime contests, Rochester advanced and eliminated Johnstown with a 6-5 home OT win in Game 5.
In the East Finals, the Americans dropped the series opener to Maine, 2-0, at home before rallying to win three straight, including a 1-0 victory in Game 2 and a 3-2 overtime decision in Game 4, to capture the division crown.
Ryan Shaw leads the Amerks in both goals (seven) and points (11) through the Division Finals. Calle Karlsson is second in goals and points with six and 10, respectively, while Jaden Dyke ranks third in goals with five and Clay O’Donnell is third in points with eight. Jensen Carlstrom has posted six wins in goal, compiling a .910 save percentage and 2.15 goals-against average in the process.
Karlsson ranked fifth in the NAHL scoring race with 73 points on 31 goals and 42 assists. Teammate Adam Gionta added 28-37-65, while six other Amerks posted between 38 and 58 points.
East Division Finals Schedule & Results
#1 Rochester Jr. Americans vs. #3 Maine Nordiques - Rochester advances, 3-1
Game One: May 2 @ Rochester - Nordiques 2, Americans 0
Game Two: May 3 @ Rochester - Americans 1, Nordiques 0
Game Three: May 9 @ Maine - Americans 7, Nordiques 2
Game Four: May 10 @ Maine - Americans 3, Nordiques 2 (OT)
East Division Semifinals Schedule & Results
#1 Rochester Jr. Americans vs. #4 Johnstown Tomahawks - Rochester Advances, 3-2
Game One: April 18 @ Rochester - Americans 5, Tomahawks 2
Game Two: April 19 @ Rochester - Americans 2, Tomahawks 1
Game Three: April 25 @ Johnstown - Tomahawks 4, Americans 3 (2OT)
Game Four: April 26 @ Johnstown - Tomahawks 3, Americans 2 (OT)
Game Five: April 28 @ Rochester, Americans 6, Tomahawks 5 (OT)
#2 Maryland Black Bears vs. #3 Maine Nordiques - Maine advances, 3-1
Game One: April 18 @ Maryland - Nordiques 4, Black Bears 3
Game Two: April 19 @ Maryland - Black Bears 2, Nordiques 0
Game Three: April 25 @ Maine - Nordiques 3, Black Bears 0
Game Four: Saturday, April 26 @ Maine, Nordiques 5, Black Bears 2
Midwest Division Recap
All four Midwest Division semifinalists fell among our top 12 in the NAHL rankings. The top-seeded and fifth-ranked Wisconsin Windingo took on the No. 12 Chippewa Steel in one semifinal, while it was a Battle of Alaska between No. 6 Fairbanks and No. 7 Anchorage in the other best-of-five matchup.
Chippewa pushed the top seeds to four games before they ultimately prevailed to advance to the Division Finals. Meanwhile, lower-seeded Anchorage swept its in-state rival from Fairbanks in the opening round.
In the Midwest Finals, an unusual best-of-five format necessitated by the travel distance from Wisconsin to Alaska forced Wisconsin to play on the road in Game 5 after hosting the first three contests. But the Windingo prevailed, 2-1, in front of a raucous crowd to advance to Blaine.
Hunter Hayes, Theodore Richardson and Braydon Beahm each has scored four goals in nine games to lead Wisconsin in the postseason through the Division Finals. Hayes and Richardson also are tied for the team lead in points with nine, followed by Zachary Cline with eight and Beahm with seven. In goal, Lucas Szyszka has posted four wins and a 2.037 goals-against average to go along with a .912 save percentage. Beau Altman has two wins, a .956 save percentage and a 1.35 GAA.
Beahm ranked eighth in league scoring with 69 points on 33 goals and 36 assists. Hayes recorded 25-29-54 and Zachary Cline added 17-29-46 as the only two other players to score more than 40 points, but six others contributed 30 or more.
Midwest Division Finals Schedule & Results
#1 Wisconsin Windigo vs. #3 Anchorage Wolverines - Wisconsin advances, 3-2
Game One: May 2 @ Wisconsin - Windingo 5, Wolverines 2
Game Two: May 3 @ Wisconsin - Wolverines 2, Windingo 1 (OT)
Game Three: May 4 @ Wisconsin - Windingo 4, Wolverines 0
Game Four: May 9 @ Anchorage - Wolverines 4, Windingo 2
Game Five: May 9 at Anchorage - Windingo 2, Wolverines 1
Midwest Division Semifinals Schedule & Results
#1 Wisconsin Windigo vs. #4 Chippewa Steel - Wisconsin advances, 3-1
Game One: April 18 @ Wisconsin - Windingo 7, Steel 3
Game Two: April 19 @ Wisconsin - Steel 2, Windingo 0
Game Three: April 25 @ Chippewa - Windingo 3, Steel 2 (OT)
Game Four: April 26 @ Chippewa - Windingo 7, Steel 3
#2 Fairbanks Ice Dogs vs. #3 Anchorage Wolverines -Anchorage advances, 3-0
Game One: April 18 @ Fairbanks - Wolverines 2, Ice Dogs 1
Game Two: April 19 @ Fairbanks - Wolverines 4, Ice Dogs 1
Game Three: April 25 - Wolverines 3, Ice Dogs 2
South Division Recap
The defending-champion Lone Star Brahmas entered the South Division Semifinals as the only division team ranked among the MHR NAHL top 12 at No. 4. Lone Star took on 24th-ranked New Mexico, which won its play-in series, 2-1, against No. 23 El Paso. In the other best-of-five South Semifinal, No. 13 Shreveport faced off against 14th-ranked Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi swept the Colorado Grit in two games to earn the semifinal berth.
Lone Star and Corpus Christi each swept their semifinal series to advance to the South Division Finals. The Brahmas then swept the IceRays to advance to the Robertson Cup Championship.
Through the Division Finals, Saxton Tess leads the Brahmas in goals with five and points with eight in six games. Christian Venticinque is second in goals with four, while Cooper Faughnan has three. Kristo Pitkanen is second in points with seven, followed by Zach Rizzo with six. Ryan Cameron has posted three shutouts while recording all six Lone Star wins in goal. He has a .974 save percentage and a remarkable 0.65 goals-against average.
Tess led the way for a very balanced Lone Star team during the regular season with 50 points on 19 goals and 31 assists. Owen Kerr added 25-22-47, while a total of 13 Brahmas recorded at least 22 points.
Sout Division Finals Schedule & Results
#1 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #3 Corpus Christi IceRays - Lone Star advances, 3-0
Game One: May 2 @ Lone Star - Brahmas 1, IceRays 0 (OT)
Game Two: May 3 @ Lone Star - Brahmas 3, IceRays 2
Game Three: May 8 @ Corpus Christi - Brahmas 5, IceRays 0
South Division Semifinals Schedule & Results
#1 Lone Star Brahmas vs. #4 New Mexico Ice Wolves - Lone Star advances, 3-0
Game One: April 18 @ Lone Star - Brahmas 4, Ice Wolves 0
Game Two: April 19 @ Lone Star - Brahmas 4, Ice Wolves 1
Game Three: April 24 @ New Mexico - Brahamas 5, Ice Wolves 1
#2 Shreveport Mudbugs vs. #3 Corpus Christi IceRays - Corpus Christi advances, 3-0
Game One: April 18 @ Shreveport - IceRays 2, Mudbugs 1 (3OT)
Game Two: April 19 @ Shreveport IceRays 3, Mudbugs 1
Game Three: April 21 @ Corpus Christi - Ice Rays 3, Mudbugs 0
