Final Weekend Determines Seeds

The final weekend of NILL games proved pivotal.  With wins or losses, seeds would be determined for next weeks playoffs.  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly pulled out a close one goal win over Brainerd giving them the #1 seed in the playoffs.  With a win, Brainerd would have been the #3 seed since the Jaxx later dropped a close game to eventual #5 seed Flying Dutchmen.  The Jaxx pick up the #3 seed (and could have been #2 with a win) while Brainerd gets the #4 seed based on wins against common opponents with the highest seed (the Jaxx defeated #1 seed Uglies while Brainerd did not).  The Grizzlies picked up the #2 seed with a close one goal win over #6 seeded Illuminati.  In the season finale, The Saints picked up their first win over ReLaxin.  The Saints remain the #8 seed while ReLaxin remains the #7 seed.

NILL Playoff Seedings:

#1 The Good the Bad and the Ugly
#2 The Grizzlies
#3 Jaxx
#4 Brainerd
#5 Flying Dutchmen
#6 The Illuminati
#7 ReLaxin
#8 The Saints

In the Middle School Division, MS3 picked up two wins and take the #1 seed into the playoffs and a first round bye.  MS2 keeps the #2 seed while the young MS1 squad gets the #3 seed.

All Playoff games this weekend will be on the turf at the DECC.  The playoff schedule is as follows:

Sunday March 17 Playoffs at Pioneer Hall, DECC:

12:00  #2 MS2  vs.  #3 MS1
1:00   NILL Middle School Championship  #1 MS3  vs. winner
2:00  #8 Saints vs.  #1 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
3:00  #7 ReLaxin vs.  #2 Grizzlies
4:00  #6 The Illuminati  vs.  #3 Jaxx
5:00  #5 Flying Dutchmen  vs.  #4  Brainerd
6:00  Highest remaining seed  vs.  Lowest remaining seed
7:00  2nd highest remaining seed  vs.  2nd lowest remaining seed
8:00  NILL Championship Game

Remember that you will not be allowed fill-in players from other teams for the playoffs.  IF you have an injury on your team, you may be allowed a fill-in player for your game.  Please address this before the game with the commissioner at the scorers table.  This also means that if your team does not have a goalie, you will have to suit up one of your players to play goalie

Also, I lost a LOT of orange game balls last week.  If you happen to find one somewhere, in your bag, on the floor of your car, whereever, please just drop it off on the scorers table at this weekends games.  Thank you!

Scores and standings are updated and stats will be updated soon.

Final Week Coming Up; Stats and Standings Updated

Stats and Standings have been updated from last weeks games.  Grizzlies and Flying Dutchmen pick up big wins over Jaxx and The Illuminati to tighten the standing in the High School Division.  MS3 picks up two wins to extend their lead in the Middle School Division.

The final week of the season is coming up this Sunday.  All teams play this weekend.  This is also the last weekend at UW-Superior Fieldhouse before moving back to the DECC turf for the playoffs.  Final week schedule:

Game 12:  Sunday March 10 at UW-Superior Fieldhouse:

3:00 p.m.  MS3 vs. MS2
4:00 p.m.  MS3 vs. MS1
5:00 p.m.  The Grizzlies vs. The Illuminati
6:00 p.m.  Brainerd vs.  The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
7:00 p.m.  Flying Dutchmen vs. Jaxx
8:00 p.m.  ReLaxin vs. The Saints

March 3 Games; Stats and Standings Updated

After last weeks games, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly remain atop the standings after picking up 2 wins on the weekend.  Jaxx remain in second with a win over Illuminati and Brainerd moves up to 3rd with two wins on the weekend.

This week has a full slate of Middle School Division games with a short schedule for High School Division.  Check the schedule to make sure your team is playing this weekend.  Only Jaxx, Illuminati, Grizzlies and Flying Dutchmen are in action this weekend.

Game 11:  Sunday March 3 at UW-Superior Fieldhouse:

3:00 p.m.  MS3 vs. MS1
4:00 p.m.  MS2 vs. MS3
5:00 p.m.  Jaxx vs. The Grizzlies
6:00 p.m.  The Illuminati vs. Flying Dutchmen

Stats and Standings have been updated.

The Uglies Upset by The Illuminati

Scores, Standings and Stats have all been updated.

Game 8 saw the top team, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly drop a close one goal game to the Illuminati to tighten the race for 1st place in the NILL.  The Uglies now lead the Jaxx by 1/2 a game and 2 points with The Illuminati 1 game back.

The Jaxx continued their winning ways with a 23 goal offensive outburst over ReLaxin.  The Flying Dutchmen topped The Saints, Brainerd came out ahead of The Grizzlies and in the Middle School Division game, MS3 beat MS1.

Our next game date is February 23.  Winter break for Duluth schools starts this weekend.  Please find fill in players if you anticipate being gone on February 23.  The next 3 game dates will be at UW-Superior with the final playoff date back at the DECC.

Games Back at Pioneer Park this FRIDAY!

NILL games will back on the turf again this Friday at Pioneer Park.  Only MS2 has a bye.  The game schedule is as follows:

Game 9:  Friday February 8:

5:00 p.m.  MS1 vs. MS3 (MS2 bye)
6:00 p.m.  The Saints vs. Flying Dutchmen
7:00 p.m.   ReLaxin vs. Jaxx
8:00 p.m.   The Grizzlies vs. Brainerd
9:00 p.m.   The Good, The Bad and The Ugly vs. The Illuminati

The Uglies Take Solid Lead in Standings

Scores, Standings and Stats have been updated from last weeks games.

6th grader Jackson Hill moves upfield against Andrew Green and Kyle Gates

After Week 6, game 8 for the NILL, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (The Uglies) have taken firm control over first place in the league with a 14-11 victory over the second place Jaxx team.  With the win, the Uglies now have a game and a half lead over the Jaxx.

In a battle of Grand Rapids teams, The Grizzlies came out on top in a hard fought one goal victory over the Flying Dutchmen.  With the win, The Grizzlies are tied for third with The Illuminati.  Brainerd picked up another win to take sole possession of 4th place in the league.

6th grader James Holak maneuvers around the crease with Kyle Gates on D

Over on the middle school side of things, MS3 picked up a big win over MS2 to remain undefeated (one tie against MS2).  MS1 dropped another one to MS2 by only one goal and played a super game.  The young MS1 squad continued to show some of the best passing and ball movement in the league and after watching them play, their Spring coach is getting excited to work with them again and see them improve even more!

NILL Back in Action This SATURDAY!

The NILL is back in action this SATURDAY at the University of Wisconsin - Superior Fieldhouse.  Please note the change in the DAY of the games and LOCATION.  All teams are scheduled to play this week.

Directions to the UW-S Fieldhouse can be found here:  Marcovich Wellness Center - 1810 Catlin Ave. -- Includes Mortorelli Gym, Lydia Thering Field House


View Larger Map There should be more than enough free parking right at the wellness center parking lot.  Also, please note that the fieldhouse DOES NOT have a turf surface.  The fieldhouse has a rubberized surface so please wear tennis or basketball shoes.  You will not be able to wear cleats.  Please be sure to tell all of your teammates about this as well.  The no take out checks rule will be strictly enforced while playing on this surface as well.  This is a very nice facility but does not have turf.

Another VERY important item is that only WATER can be brought into the fieldhouse.  No energy drinks like Gatorade, Vitamin Water or anything else is allowed in the Fieldhouse.  Failure to adhere to this requirement will cost us an extra $100 per occurrence.

This weeks schedule:

Game 8:  Saturday January 26 at UW-Superior Fieldhouse:

3:00 p.m.  MS2 vs. MS3
4:00 p.m.  MS1 vs. MS2
5:00 p.m.  Brainerd vs. The Saints
6:00 p.m.  The Grizzlies vs. Flying Dutchmen
7:00 p.m.  Jaxx vs. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
8:00 p.m.  ReLaxin vs. The Illuminati

For Duluth East players, this Saturday is also Sweetheart Ball.  This may not effect too many players.  However, if you will be going to Sweetheart, please find a fill-in player to replace your spot on your team.

Remember, for any weather related changes, we will send out a group e-mail as well as updates on our website.

Another reminder directly from UW-Superior:

"Please have everyone park in Lot 13, directly off Catlin Ave between WITC and our building.  Follow the sidewalk out of the parking lot to the big entrance.  Please be sure that ANYONE, who is in the Fieldhouse has on clean, dry shoes.  All wet shoes or boots can be left in the lobby right outside the FH door.  Please also remind your participants and spectators that no food or drink other than water, is allowed in the Fieldhouse."

Stats, Scores and Standings Updated

Scores, Stats and Standings have been updated from last weeks games.

Last week saw the number 11 prominent in the results.  The league leading Jaxx team took a drop in the standings with an 11-11 tie against Brainerd in an exciting game that saw 4 goals in the 3 minute overtime period.  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly now sit alone atop the leaderboard after squeaking out two 1 goal wins against the Flying Dutchmen by a 12-11 score and The Grizzlies by a 10-9 score.  The final two games of the night also ended with an exact 13-11 score with ReLaxin coming out ahead of the Flying Dutchmen in the first one and the Illuninati topping the Saints in the second.  The Illuminati had a good day with two wins and now sit third in the standings behind the Jaxx and the Uglies.

All the middle school teams were in action with the top two teams battling to a tie in game 2.  MS1, the young team from Duluth continues to show improvement regardless of what the standings show.

Friday NILL Games Cancelled

With Duluth area schools closed, freezing rain, icy roads and more rain forecast for tonight, NILL games scheduled for tonight (Friday Jan. 11) are CANCELLED.  Please inform your teammates of the cancellation.  Doubleheader games for this SUNDAY are scheduled to go on as planned.

Standings and Stats Updated after 4 Games and Schedule

It was a busy day last Sunday as all teams played doubleheaders on the turf at Pioneer Park.  The big winners on the day were the Grand Rapids middle school team, MS3 with 2 wins on the day and the Jaxx and Good, the Bad and the Ugly teams also winning both their games.  The Jaxx and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly lead the High School+ Division both at 3-1 while MS2 leads the Middle School Division in points and victories with 9 and 3 respectively.

Standings, scores and Stats have been updated after 4 games.

No Middle School games are scheduled for this Friday while the High School+ schedule looks like this:

Game 5:  Friday January 11:

NO GAMES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION
6:00 p.m.  The Illuminati vs. The Grizzlies
7:00 p.m.  Jaxx vs. Flying Dutchmen
8:00 p.m.  The Good, The Bad and The Ugly vs. Brainerd
9:00 p.m.  The Saints vs. ReLaxin


Freezing rain is forecast for Friday, so please check your e-mail and the website to find out if games have been cancelled for the night.


Sundays game schedule looks like this:


Games 6 and 7:  Sunday January 13 - Doubleheader Weekend!:

10:00 a.m.  Flying Dutchmen vs. The Grizzlies (make-up game)
11:00 a.m.  MS2 vs. MS1
12:00 a.m.  MS3 vs. MS2
1:00 p.m.  MS1 vs. MS3
2:00 p.m.  Flying Dutchmen vs. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
3:00 p.m.  Brainerd vs. Jaxx
4:00 p.m.  ReLaxin vs. The Grizzlies
5:00 p.m.  The Illuminati vs. Brainerd
6:00 p.m.  The Good, The Bad and The Ugly vs. The Grizzlies
7:00 p.m.  Jaxx vs. The Saints
8:00 p.m.  Flying Dutchmen vs. Relaxin
9:00 p.m.  The Illuminati vs. The Saints