Top 10 Week Ending February 21st...
Feb 21, 2024 17:49:24 GMT -6
dufe92, oforsure, and 1 more like this
Post by Gunit on Feb 21, 2024 17:49:24 GMT -6
Lots of the top teams in the Province are now playing each other in either league or Provincials. I know some people are putting on the miles trying to watch as much of this hockey as possible and it sure looks like they are getting their money's worth with wild comebacks, brawls, and tight games in general. The rankings aren't as easy as I thought they would be as you had Canora beat Dinsmore, Kyle beat Davidson, Dinsmore beat Kyle, Lanigan take Kenaston to the limit, etc
1. Wilkie Outlaws-Wilkie hasn't been tested much this year. That trend continued with the 9-3 win against Biggar in Provincials, but, the same can't be said about league playoffs. The Outlaws needed OT to beat Macklin and keep their chance of a perfect season alive. While I doubt they will end the season perfect I still think their chances of a double banner is realistic.
2. Foam Lake Flyers-The Flyers had no trouble with Lucky Lake in D Prov but last night they had a barn burner with Wynyard. They scored 2 in the 3rd to force OT and scored early in OT to take game 1 in that series. Sounds like it might be a compelling series to watch for a few reasons. Will there be any suspensions from last night that effect's the Flyers series vs Theodore in Provincials?
3. Lumsden Monarchs-Lumsden embarrassed the defending A Champs 11-0 to send a message to the other teams that they will be a contender (I already had them as one) in A playdowns. Lumsden's destiny will l be intertwined with Balcarres as they meet in Provincials now and could also meet again in the QVHHL finals.
4. Canora Cobras-The Cobras haven't been challenged yet in league playoffs yet but that will change with as they await the winner of Theodore and Swan Valley. Ultimately the Cobras move up after heading into Dinsmore and slithering out of there with a 4-3 win.
5. Wadena Wildcats-It feels like the Cats have been sitting around waiting for their next opponent for a while. I say that as many felt that Jansen wasn't competition but then the Cats start playoffs with a convincing win vs Drake last night where, for most of the game, they scored more goals than Drake had shots. Drake was coming off of a big series win vs Watrous and I expected them to make a statement vs Wadena but in the end it was Wadena who made the statement. The Cats now play Watrous in A Provincials. Some say the Cats didn't add for Provincials but why mess with what has been working for 2-3 years.
6. Balcarres Broncs-After 2 huge wins vs Wynyard the Broncs move up this week. They were on the ropes in the 3rd period of game 3 vs Wynyard and ended up winning convincingly in Wynyard to move on to play Lumsden. They also play Milestone in the league semi finals.
7. Kenaston Blizzard-After beating Davidson last night 6-4 you would think the Blizz would move up. The reason they haven't was the challenge they had putting away Lanigan in Provincials. Don't get me wrong Lanigan makes everyone work to beat them but if Kenaston is a dynasty level team they should handle Lanigan a little easier. Give them credit for scoring the winner in game 3 after giving up 4 straight to Lanigan. I think that series may give the other teams more confidence vs Kenaston but last year Langenburg layed a beating on Kenaston and they regrouped to double banner so you can never count them out. Keaston may very well be the last team standing in A this year but 3-4 other teams have just as good of a shot.
8. Round Lake Bears-How does Round Lake move so high up? Partly for their 2 wins vs Milestone in Provincials and partly due to the fan support they have received. Rumour has it they brought 600 to Milestone and there was 1200ish in Ochap. Impressive to say the least. They now play Carlyle in A which should be a fairly even series (depending on who plays net for Carlyle).
9. Redvers Rockets-The Big 6 leaders beat Midale twice in playoffs and finally start provincials vs Craik this weekend.
10. Paradise Hill Hawks/Lashburn Flyers-Their series went pretty well as expected. Lashburn gets the tougher matchup next round vs Wainwright so this may effect these rankings.
HM's, St Brieux, Gull Lake, Rocanville, Kyle, Dinsmore, Davidson,
Round Lake
1. Wilkie Outlaws-Wilkie hasn't been tested much this year. That trend continued with the 9-3 win against Biggar in Provincials, but, the same can't be said about league playoffs. The Outlaws needed OT to beat Macklin and keep their chance of a perfect season alive. While I doubt they will end the season perfect I still think their chances of a double banner is realistic.
2. Foam Lake Flyers-The Flyers had no trouble with Lucky Lake in D Prov but last night they had a barn burner with Wynyard. They scored 2 in the 3rd to force OT and scored early in OT to take game 1 in that series. Sounds like it might be a compelling series to watch for a few reasons. Will there be any suspensions from last night that effect's the Flyers series vs Theodore in Provincials?
3. Lumsden Monarchs-Lumsden embarrassed the defending A Champs 11-0 to send a message to the other teams that they will be a contender (I already had them as one) in A playdowns. Lumsden's destiny will l be intertwined with Balcarres as they meet in Provincials now and could also meet again in the QVHHL finals.
4. Canora Cobras-The Cobras haven't been challenged yet in league playoffs yet but that will change with as they await the winner of Theodore and Swan Valley. Ultimately the Cobras move up after heading into Dinsmore and slithering out of there with a 4-3 win.
5. Wadena Wildcats-It feels like the Cats have been sitting around waiting for their next opponent for a while. I say that as many felt that Jansen wasn't competition but then the Cats start playoffs with a convincing win vs Drake last night where, for most of the game, they scored more goals than Drake had shots. Drake was coming off of a big series win vs Watrous and I expected them to make a statement vs Wadena but in the end it was Wadena who made the statement. The Cats now play Watrous in A Provincials. Some say the Cats didn't add for Provincials but why mess with what has been working for 2-3 years.
6. Balcarres Broncs-After 2 huge wins vs Wynyard the Broncs move up this week. They were on the ropes in the 3rd period of game 3 vs Wynyard and ended up winning convincingly in Wynyard to move on to play Lumsden. They also play Milestone in the league semi finals.
7. Kenaston Blizzard-After beating Davidson last night 6-4 you would think the Blizz would move up. The reason they haven't was the challenge they had putting away Lanigan in Provincials. Don't get me wrong Lanigan makes everyone work to beat them but if Kenaston is a dynasty level team they should handle Lanigan a little easier. Give them credit for scoring the winner in game 3 after giving up 4 straight to Lanigan. I think that series may give the other teams more confidence vs Kenaston but last year Langenburg layed a beating on Kenaston and they regrouped to double banner so you can never count them out. Keaston may very well be the last team standing in A this year but 3-4 other teams have just as good of a shot.
8. Round Lake Bears-How does Round Lake move so high up? Partly for their 2 wins vs Milestone in Provincials and partly due to the fan support they have received. Rumour has it they brought 600 to Milestone and there was 1200ish in Ochap. Impressive to say the least. They now play Carlyle in A which should be a fairly even series (depending on who plays net for Carlyle).
9. Redvers Rockets-The Big 6 leaders beat Midale twice in playoffs and finally start provincials vs Craik this weekend.
10. Paradise Hill Hawks/Lashburn Flyers-Their series went pretty well as expected. Lashburn gets the tougher matchup next round vs Wainwright so this may effect these rankings.
HM's, St Brieux, Gull Lake, Rocanville, Kyle, Dinsmore, Davidson,
Round Lake