NAHA 2025 Dunlap Cup Playoffs West QF G1 – Milwaukee Renegades @ Oakland Seals
[Applause] Enough talk, enough hype. Let’s do this. Your first period is set to go. A critical game for both sides here and we are underway. Handles the puck at the point. That was amazing. What a save by BBO. Oh, turns it aside once again. What a sequence. I mean, he has been outstanding making consecutive saves. I mean, his defense, they got to start playing. We’re still in the early stages of this period. We’re still scoreless. Johansson’s won a big draw in their own end. Oh, he destroys him on the play. In order to dictate the tempo of the game right at the onset of it, you want to make your opponent And here you coming. And that’s what he does with that first hit. Musa quickly over to Kubalik. Oh, of some smooth skating to lose the defender there. The Seals to play the puck from behind the net. Scooped up along the wall by Minstrom. Stopped by the goender. Takes a lot, but still hangs on. Oh, look at this. Jabs the puck away. slides it to Dio and he sends it across to Magna and the puck leaves the zone going back to center ice. Shakes off the defender with some nifty moves. Cut it to the front of the net. Can’t get it to go. Slides the puck across to Lindstöm. James shot the mother. What a save by Kie. Oakland’s got it in the offensive zone. The Renegades gain control of the puck. Donovan’s got it into offensive territory. Puts it on net. Oh, he got a piece of it to keep it out. And he slides it quickly to Healey. Takes the feed and that’s knocked away by Connelly. Delay penalty coming up here. Looks like slashing is the call. Extra score on the delay penalty. They’ll make it count. They do make it count, James. Now it will negate their power play opportunity. But hey, when you capitalize, you don’t get the power play. Now your opponent’s chasing the game. When you get the first goal of a playoff series, you’re starting it off sending a clear message that you want it. [Applause] Oakland’s hard work pays off as they get on the board first here tonight. Yeah, getting on the board first over halfway through the first period. And you know, there hasn’t been much going on here in this game. has been back and forth, but it’s starting to open up with this first goal. Got to hope that there’s some more offense in this one. Picked up along the wall by Tusac. Big hit that frees up possession. Devastating hit into the boards. And listen to this building [Applause] [Music] rattle. inching closer to the midway mark of the period. Oakland’s ahead one- nothing. Cody’s won the draw and they’ll look to set up. Passes it over. Slides it across. Here’s a shot. Takes the feed. Takes it across the blue line. Broken up by Dodie. Oakland’s got possession of the puck. Moves it to Franco. Carries the puck through the neutral zone. Here’s a shot. Oh, it stays out. He got a piece in that one. Big play inside the defensive zone. Scrum ensues along the boards. Now a quick pass to Wolf and tries to make a diagonal pass to Ellie. Takes a shot and he comes up with a stop there. Puck is frozen and we get a stoppage in play. Milwaukeies have put up a lot of shots so far here in the first, but they still haven’t found any finish or any solid results yet. And they win the draw in the offensive zone and they go to work. Too much congestion in front. That opportunity is rejected. Here’s a short pass to Johansson. Shot. Oh, what a stop by Kulie. Great positioning by the goender to redirect it to the corner getting it out of danger. The Renegades will play it in their own end. Puck dumped in. Takes the pass. Feeds the puck across to Ronnie. Oakland’s on the attack. P scooped up by Ronnie. Moves it to the middle. Picked off in front. Milwaukee’s on the attack. Shot turned aside with the glove. Well, this is just a great save from the slot area. I mean, he recognizes where that puck’s going. He gives the top of the net, but he takes it away. More than half the period has expired. Oakland’s up one zip. The Seals win the draw along the wing up the neutral zone. They put the puck into the offensive end. No quarter given here as they battle for the loose puck along the boards. Knocked around but keeps it going. Oakland’s ready to go on the attack. Pass ahead. Old save by Kulie. I’m not sure how he kept up to that shot right from the slot area, James, but man, he flashed the leather. He made the save. No rebound to boot. Looks like lineups are set and they’re ready to get things back underway off the draw. And a nice job locking up his opponent. Oh, and that’s poked away in the offensive zone by Laare. Looks to make a play over to Kraken. And he loses both the puck and his balance after that hit. Fats it over. Oh, I thought he had it. What a chance there. James, I thought he connected on that one. He’s going to be disappointed, but all around the net. Oakland’s got a hold of the puck now from the defensive zone. They move the puck around. Crackles gaining momentum. Here’s a shot and that goes off a player in front. Oakland’s got a hold of it along the wall. The score and that’s back. Well, it feels like there’s a wave of momentum and it has certainly changed. You can get the opportunity, but you have to execute. That’s two in a row. The coach has some choice words for his bench right now. And you can just see the negativity on his face and on his demeanor because his team really didn’t come ready to play. Now they’re trailing in this game. They got a mountain to climb. The Renegades have had their opportunities, but they just can’t capitalize here in the late stages of the opening period. Taken by Gilmore, and that’s blocked in front. Takes that pass back to the point. Puts it just wide of the net. And it’s a quick pass to Tusac. He scores. A stop by holding the twine. Well, it’s a game of inches, isn’t it? And this time those inches, they work in his favor. They go right into the net. I’m not sure if the goalie saw this or tracked this correctly, James, but it was just a bullet of a shot from the point that had seeing eyes here in the late going of the period. Oakland’s got a threegoal lead. The Leos run the draw center. Oakland’s got the puck along the wall. Here they come up along the wing. For got it along the boards, loses his balance on the play. Feeds the puck over to Dio. Receives the pass. Dol with a stop in front and a stoppage on the play as the goender covers things up. Some last second communication with the D as centers get ready to drop the puck. [Applause] Play resumes here as he wins the draw inside the offensive zone. Delayed penalty coming up here. Coner swooping in on the attack. Oh, he almost put him through the boards. Whistle blow stopping the play. Well, you’re down a bunch of goals here, James. And really, you take a penalty because you’re chasing the game and you want to get back into it. But this one, this one’s a tough one to take. [Applause] Oakland’s man advantage unit will take to the ice for the first time tonight. First power play opportunity for this team. It’s going to start in the faceoff circle getting possession with the win and they’re looking to set up tonight on the play. Whoa. Oh, you don’t practice that one in goalie sessions, James. You just have to have fight and compete to get to that puck. He has all of it. He makes the save. Big hit along the board. Well, he was so aggressive on this one, James. He recognizes that he’s got to close and then shoulder on shoulder. This is a clean hit and disrupts the player from the back. That’s a beauty. My goodness. They are really starting to tie up the pressure here now. kicks it out of his own end through center along the wing. Takes the feed from the left side. And with that, the first period is in the books. Both teams with a chance in a refresh will get a clean sheet of ice and come back with period number two. website. New content is available. Opening face off for period number two. About set to go. Up and ready to get back on the ice. It was quite the one-sided tilt of the first 20 minutes. Let’s see if that continues here in the second. Well, Cheryl, we got 20 minutes under our belts in this one. How do you sum up the performance? Milwaukee is behind in this game, James, because they simply haven’t had the puck. They got to do a better job of closing on it and holding it when they get it. And now he moves it quickly to Gaunt. Reads it perfectly in the defensive end. Oakland’s got it in their own zone. Quick pass to Coner. The Renegades look to start the transition game and he slides it quickly to Dio. Hipped away by Minstrom. And now he passes it to Nash. Handles it along the blue line. Gets a piece of it to keep it out. [Applause] Lots of time left in this period. 3 nothing is where we sit. One team really enjoying this night. The other not so much. Takes the puck at the point and that cars off a potty in the lane. Back to the blue line. You’ve been thunder struck. Yeah. And you could see and feel that coming, couldn’t you, James? And man, that was thunderous. That was huge. Four straight calls. They’re rolling now. And talk about confidence, James. I mean, their opponent does not have an answer. They look absolutely stunned. I mean, they are like a freight train just pounding down on him. The goalender, he’s going to want this one back. James, I thought that he was set to position. Just the blast of the shot. It hit him. He got a good chunk of it, but it went in. You can see the frustration in the body language. Well, another goal against and the coach, he’s given his team an earful right now. Listen, they deserve it. They haven’t trusted the process. They’ve done nothing in terms of urgency to get themselves out of the hole and they just keep digging themselves further and further into it. The Seals look about as dominant as I have seen them all season here, Cheryl. This period has been unbelievable for them. Yeah, they’re dictating pace and they’re dictating the play all over the ice and then they’re executing on their opportunities. It’s a reason why they hold the lead. Slides the puck over, stops and cold. Oakland’s got a hold of it against the wall. The Seals will play it from the defensive zone. Dishes it off and the shot dies in the traffic jam. The Seals going to work on offense. Oh, and that goes wide. Hockey is a game of inches and you know these athletes take so many shots on net in practice and in this one just over rotate under rotate but nonetheless misses the net. Takes the shot. That’s glove by Mayor. Still lots of time left in the period. Oakland’s latest goal has now given them a fourgoal lead. Puck grabbed by Honka. Milwaukee’s done it in their own zone. From the open ice, they gain the line. Here’s a chance that it goes off the face of the [Applause] goalender. Centers glide into the dots. We’re ready to get things back going again. Smart read on the play as both centers were tied up on the drop. And that goes wide of everything. Puts it on goal. Redirected off one of his own linemates there. Fires it. And that shot goes nowhere as the lane was filled. Grabbed along the boards by Nash. Along the half wall with the puck. Poked away in the offensive zone by Nash. Scores. in the back of the net. You see the torque on that stick? I mean, imagine if we got a freeze frame. It would have been bent. Almost looked like it could have snapped in half off of that quick release snap shot. [Applause] The Seals are playing what might be their most impressive performance that I’ve seen all season. And we’re only in period number two. Sharon. Yeah. I mean, their offense has simply exploded, hasn’t it, James? I mean, they have been a force to be reckoned with. And it’s a ton of fun when you’re patting your stats. Milwaukee’s got a hold of the puck from along the walls. They’re gaining momentum. battling for the puck but still hangs on. Quick feed to Dio. Shakes off the coverage. Fires it on net. Scores. Well, a side that they haven’t rolled over just yet here, Cheryl. Well, any life is good life right now. And you’re looking at this kind of deficit, James. And if you’re the goal scorer, you certainly feel good about yourself. But from a collective group and and the units that are going out there, they’re going to have to find a way to generate offense. And hey, they’re going to take some risks out here because they got to get a few. [Applause] Milwaukee’s been on their heels all night long, but they finally pushed back here in period number two. Certainly something positive to get on the board, but they’re going to have to build on top of it if they want to really create some momentum and believe that they’re back in this game. Moses quickly over to Johansson. Sends it down low. Slides the paddle in there and puts it away. Ref’s arms in the air. We got a penalty coming up. Can’t hang on to the biscuit after that. There’s the whistle and here’s the goal. I used to cut the palms out of my gloves so I could hold. But anytime you’re a step behind and you reach with one hand, you’re going to the box. [Applause] Milwaukee sending their power play unit out for the first time tonight. An opportunity on their first power play of the game, James. And this is an opportunity to look at the coverage as well. see how they’re playing it, whether they’re going to be aggressive or sit back. We got a whistle as the puck’s frozen. [Applause] Chance to reset here on the draw. This man advantage. Oakland’s going to start with the puck in the end. Working the puck deep inside the end. And now he passes up to and that’s intercepted by Cara. has been a consistent presence in the crease. James, I mean, he’s made the stops he’s needed to, but his team’s playing extremely well, and that’s why they have a comfortable lead. From the right side, he goes to the middle of the neutral zone. Takes it to the net, moves it to Schul through the neutral zone, moving the puck along the side. Quick shot save and time expires on the power play. Both teams back to even. Well, being on a power play, score. I don’t think the goalender had a chance on this one. I mean, such a quick release shot. Almost like a flick of the wrist disguised the shot and it was in the back of the net. The Renegades now need to find a way to get a few more of those. Yeah, they need them because if they get that push back and they can get a couple more, they’ll feel like they have an opportunity to win the game and then the sticks get heavy on the other side. A lot of work to do to make that happen. Maintains control of the puck. Slides it diagonally to Cara. Shot stopped by PBO. Oakland’s got the puck along the boards. Can’t maintain possession after that hit. Through pass ahead shot with the glove to stop that one. Well, this is such a quick shot that comes from the slot that you have to have good reflexes to be able to make that glove save. More than half the period has gone by. Hope you’re enjoying this one. Milwaukee’s been dominated to this point, trailing by three. And now it’s grabbed by Kissaw. Here they come on the attack. Puts it on net. Oh, he flashes the mother with that stop. [Music] Kubalik’s the leader of this team, James. They’re getting flown out right now. You got to look at it as a game within a game, winning this offensive zone faceoff and trying to get a quick punch on net. And the goalender grabs that one for a whistle to try to slow things down here. Milwaukee’s goal scorers need to find a way to finish on some of these chances as they continue to trail here late in this middle frame. Offensive zone face off and he wins the draw. Fantastic save. Is able to get to position and negate that dangerous long shot. Takes the feed at the point using every piece of equipment there that goes off the shaft of the stick to keep it out. Here’s a short pass to Magna. takes a shot and that goes off a body. The Seals have it against the wall. Sends the pass over. Ron’s got it along the wing. Makes the glove stop. Some solid defensive work in their own end with the Poke J. Getting a little too physical to maintain possession. Made that stop. You have to be quick in your crease if you want to be able to deny low shots. does that perfectly as he’s tight to the shooter right there. Milwaukee stopped possession here in the offensive zone. Turned away on the wrapound. Oh, what a great reactionary stop there. Reactionary is right, James. He knew exactly where the shooter was going and a strong push across to be able to make that save here in the late going of the frame. Oakland’s got a 52 lead. H picked up by scores. And a little sign of life here on the ice as they try to get back into it. Yeah, a little bit of a momentum swing right here. And now they’ve got to layer it, which means they’ve got to have that next shift where they attack and have the mindset to drive the net. Let’s see if it’s sustainable now. [Music] [Applause] Milwaukee suddenly made a lot of people sit up here in these stands as they’ve made it a twogoal game now. Well, it’s a game now and everyone standing because they know they’re back in it. Just a twogoal deficit. One more and they’re within striking distance. Oakland’s looking to break out of their own end through the neutral zone now picking up steam. Taken along the wall by Nash and he slides it quickly to Connelly. reads it perfectly and comes up with the takeaway. Time taking away and he comes up big and that’ll bring an end to the second period of play. Let’s get a clean sheet of ice and come back with the third period next. [Music] Time to drop the puck here in period number three. Puck is dropped on the third. And if you love offense, well, stick around for this one. Well, two periods down. Here we go with the third period. Cheryl, your assessment so far. Oakland’s ahead in this game, James, but for how long is the big question. I mean, the opponent just keeps storming back after a goal. This is a modernday offensive game. No defense is being shown on this one. Takes a bump, but still hangs on to the puck. Here’s a shot and he gets a piece of that one and denies it. The Seals scoop it up along the boards and that’s intercepted by Dio. Milwaukee is working hard in all areas of the ice. Defense is structure and it needs to happen in all three zones when you’re talking about stick positioning. Doing a great job of taking away passes. Good fight for the puck on the boards. Oakland’s got the puck in the defensive end. Oh, he’s on top. Well, he got smoke, James. And it’s a yard sale. He’s got to go find his stick and make his way back to the bench. He’s got a step. Big time save. He was dialed in there. Well, he has the benefit of seeing it coming here, James. So, he gets himself set to position he anticipate. I think he has a book on the shooter to be truthful. And he makes a save. [Music] The Renegades have time on their side. Despite trailing early in this third period, they have put a lot of shots on goal. Now, they need to finish. Milwaukeee’s got the puck inside the offensive zone. Quick pass to Connelly. Picked off in the open ice. The Seals have it now. Tosses it on to Nash. Shot. Oh, just goes off his club and it stays out. Spent so much time doing tracking exercises and it’s utilized right here as he knows where this puck is coming from and he makes the save. Is just loving these types of shifts. A lot of pressure and effort in this one. Jos for the puck and he loses control. takes the feet at the back end and he throws it wide to the net. Oh, this is a tough game and you got to fight for your scoring chances, James. And this just seems like a waste when he misses wide. Dumps the puck in. Milwaukeee’s got the puck. Great reach with the boat. Presses it over. Lets it fly. The lane was plugged up and that shots blocked. Now a quick pass to four. Puck scooped up by Cara through the neutral zone and into the offensive end. Oh, and he reaches out with a glove save. Wow. Listen, Jame, the shooter’s in the slot. This is as high danger as it can get. And he challenges. He’s set ready to go in great position and makes the save as a result. The Renegades have had more chances offensively, but they have not been able to convert trailingly here in this third inside the offensive end now down the left. Milwaukee’s gained possession along the boards. Dod’s got the puck in his own zone, handles the pass. Bivos got it and the officials blow the play dead. Well, this is a smart play. He’s been dialed in all night and recognizes that he doesn’t want his team to make any mistakes. The safe play sometimes is to hold on. Plenty of playing time left in this frame. Oakland’s got all sorts of content for the highlight shows tonight. They lead at 53. Moves it into the offensive zone and he gets just enough of it to keep it out to the back of the net. Franco’s picking up steam. The Renegades looking against the half wall. What an entertaining game, James. A lot of goal calls for you as it’s been back and forth action in the offensive zones. What a shot. Love this goal, James. It’s effort and skill wrapped into one. He’s stumbling. It almost looks like he’s going to fall, but he uses that core athletic ability to hold on, find the puck, and get a shot off. That shot fools the goender. He’s on the board. The Seals probably don’t want this game to end the way things have gone here. And I know we’re in period number three. But Cheryl, what a night. Yeah, it’s been terrific right from puck drop. And they’ve been consistent throughout the game. And consistency is always a word that coaches talk about. if they can finish this off with this nice lead. That’s the word the coach is going to be preaching after the game. Moves the puck to Magna into the offensive zone. Here’s a shot. Great glove save. I love that he swallowed this one up with his glove. It’s a real threat coming from the slot area. No rebound to boot. Milwaukey’s Achilles heel tonight has been finding offense as they trail here in the third. [Applause] Johansson’s won a big draw in their own end. Quick feed to Coner. Referee signals penalty coming up here with a delayed call. Tosses it to Johansson. Whistleblow stopping the play. I just had a gander at the bench and the energy and the body language. I mean, they’re defeated, James. And now they have to kill off another penalty down a bunch of goals. It’s a tough [Applause] one. Another chance here on the man advantage. They haven’t scored on the power play yet, but they have another opportunity. The key to this one gain possession so they can set up. Takes the puck as the clock ticks down on the penalty kill. Can’t keep a hold of it. Solid hit on the play and that knocks the puck off his stick and they clear that puck. Good defensive effort to poke it away and now he moves it to Kel. The Seals take it along the wall. Huge steal at his own end. Good clearing attempt to breed. Picked up along the boards by Walton. Laying the body. Oakland’s got a hold of the puck now. Milwaukee’s got possessional under man with a comfortable lead. James, some would say that that power play really wasn’t a big deal, but I would say different. It’s really important that you push, you continue to work on your habits because the timing could be different next [Applause] time. Center’s gliding up to the faceoff dos here. Nash has won the face off. The Seals have it now. Milwaukey’s trying to make something happen in the offensive zone. Oakland’s got the puck along the wall. Taken by Connelly. Oakland’s looking to break out and it’s a quick pass to Nash. Oakland’s got the puck along the wall. Hammers it up and the save. Tries to feed it over to Schulz. Bustering shot. Puts it high over the net. I don’t like this shot, James. You got to keep this one low. You know, you got players that are going to crash the net when they see a shooting. They need to have a shot at a rebound off the crossar. Milwaukee working hard, but nothing’s been going right for them in this game. Another chance off the post. And this is deflating for an entire bench who needs something to get them going. And that’s broken up. They go on the attack through center. And that’s knocked away in the defensive end by Schulz. ahead of steam now towards the front. Slides it across, scores, rips it upstairs and in. Man, did he ever get that puck up in a hurry. The goalender can’t catch up to it. It goes far down and into the net. Oakland’s added yet another one here to the total tonight. And what a performance. Yeah, they’ve had the puck on their stick for a majority of this game. You know, the coaching staff is going to be impressed. Hey, maybe they’ll get the day off tomorrow. And he sidesteps the check there. Moves it quickly over to Dio. Takes a shot. Nothing doing. Sometimes when you have the Well, you can’t do that or you’re going to find your way marching over to the box. Let’s get the call. This is an easy and obvious call to make. I mean, the officials right there. James, what are you doing? You’re going to extend your arms away from your body. You’re going to sit for two minutes. They win the draw and go under attack. Oh, comes up with a stop. Sets the pass down low. Oh, he got all of that. What a save by takes a hit. He goes down to the ice and coughs up the puck. and he takes the dish battle along the boards. They’ll want to clear the zone here while they’re trying to kill off this penalty. Milwaukey’s got possession of the puck. Pass to Kubalik. The Renegades move it in. Swan away with the stick in the defensive zone. And the fans on their feet recognizing a solid victory here in front of them. Here’s a chance to save. That’s it. There’s the final horn to close this one out. An impressive team effort as they take the first one and draw the proverbial first blood into the series. Yeah, and that’s exactly how they would have done it up. James, you want to make sure that you are the one that establishes the play and pace of the game right off the top and you want to set the tone. Well, they did that and now their opponent squeezing their sticks a little tight. She’s Cheryl Ponder. I’m James. The playoffs roll on in the next broadcast and we know we will see you right then and there. Join us then. See you. Heat. [Applause] Heat. [Applause] Heat. Heat.
ABOUT THE NAHA: The North American Hockey Association (NAHA) was created in 2018 to provide professional hockey players (mainly players from the US and Canada) another option to play above the AHL level without having to travel overseas. The league drops the puck on its’ seventh season with 20 teams battling to win the Dunlap Cup.
Series Schedule
May 21 – Game 1 at Oakland
May 23 – Game 2 at Oakland
May 25 – Game 3 at Milwaukee
May 27 – Game 4 at Milwaukee
May 29 – Game 5 at Oakland (IF NEC)
May 31 – Game 6 at Milwaukee (IF NEC)
June 2 – Game 7 at Oakland (IF NEC)
GAMEDAY ROSTERS
MILWAUKEE RENEGADES
Forwards: Darren Archilbald (8), Daniel Carr (7), Chase DeLeo (77A), Jacob Doty (37), Remi Elie (9), Dominic Franco (21), Rocco Grimaldi (91), Jujuhar Khaira (16), Dominik Kubalik (81C), Samuel Laberge (79), Mitchell McLain (65), Jayson Megna (78A), Scott Reedy (54)
Defensemen: Matt Donovan (46), Cameron Guance (24), Josh Healey (44), Julius Honka (60), Nikolai Knyzhov (4), Yannick Weber (10), Nick Wolff (6)
Goalies: Devin Cooley (31), Robert Mayer (29), John Muse (40)
OAKLAND SEALS
Forwards: Tommy Apap (55), Gabriel Bourque (10), Cory Conacher (89), Mike Connolly (22), David Cotton (13), Adam Cracknell (47A), Matt Filipe (16), Ryan Johansen (92C), Riley Nash (20), Ty Ronning (9), Riley Sheen (91), Odeen Tufto (14), Yannick Veilleux (38)
Defensemen: Joseph Duszak (2), John Gilmour (7), Brad Hunt (17), Michael Kim (36), Gustav Lindstrom (5A), Jimmy Schuldt (4), Sami Vatanen (42)
Goalies: Antoine Bibeau (35), Evan Cowley (31), Cale Morris (1)
