The first-round schedule for the upcoming Minnesota Junior Hockey League playoffs is set.
The Rochester Ice Hawks received the No. 5 seed, and they will play the No. 4-seeded Twin Cities Northern Lights in the opening round.
The best-of-three playoff series starts Friday and continues Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it will be Sunday.
Game 1 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rochester Recreation Center. Game 3, if needed, is at 11 a.m. Sunday at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
The Ice Hawks finished the regular season with a 22-17-0-3-4 record in MnJHL play, while the Northern Lights end at 27-15-0-2-2.
ADVERTISEMENT
The winner of the Ice Hawks-Northern Lights series will face the winner of the Dells Ducks vs. Minnesota Owls series in the Minnesota Division semifinals. The Ducks (38-6-0-2-0) are the No. 1 seed.
The final two teams remaining will advance to the MnJHL championship series along with the two top teams in the Great Lakes Division. The final two teams both advance to the Tier III national tournament, which is April 3-7 in Simsbury, Conn., at the International Skating Center.
