SJHL Sherwood Race

I love playoff races almost as much as the playoffs themselves... and long after I should have been in bed in order to actually wake up for my morning shift... I started breaking down the schedules of the top five teams in the SJHL Sherwood Conference... a conference that is absolutley up for grabs.

Weyburn Red Wings 69 pts 6 GR (5H/1R)
Fri/Jan/30: vs EST
Sat/Jan/31: vs NDH
Sat/Feb/7: @ EST
Sun/Feb/8: vs EST
Fri/Feb/13: vs NDH
Sat/Feb/14: vs KIN

Melville Millionaires 61 pts 10 GR (6H/4R)
Wed/Jan/28: vs NDH
Fri/Jan/30: vs YOR
Sat/Jan/31: @ YOR
Wed/Feb/4: vs EST
Fri/Feb/6: @ HUM
Sat/Feb/7: vs KIN
Wed/Feb/11: @ EST
Fri/Feb/13: @ MFT
Sat/Feb/14: vs BAT
Tue/Feb/17: vs HUM

Kindersley Klippers 55 pts 11 GR (5H/6R)
Wed/Jan/28: vs MFT
Sat/Jan/31: vs NIP
Tue/Feb/3: vs BAT
Fri/Feb/6: @ YOR
Sat/Feb/7: @ MVL
Sun/Feb/8: @ YOR
Thu/Feb/12: @ NDH
Fri/Feb/13: @ EST
Sat/Feb/14: @ WEY
Mon/Feb/16: vs NDH
Tue/Feb/17: vs NDH

Yorkton Terriers 54 pts 8 GR (5H/3R)
Fri/Jan/30: @ MVL
Sat/Jan/31: vs MVL
Mon/Feb/2: @ NDH
Wed/Feb/4: vs NDH
Fri/Feb/6: vs KIN
Sun/Feb/8: vs KIN
Mon/Feb/9: @ NDH
Fri/Feb/13: vs BAT

Estevan Bruins 52 pts 7 GR (3H/4R)
Thu/Jan/29: @ NDH
Fri/Jan/30: @ WEY
Wed/Feb/4: @ MVL
Sat/Feb/7: vs WEY
Sun/Feb/8: @ WEY
Wed/Feb/11: vs MVL
Fri/Feb/13: vs KIN

The Race For First
Obviously, Weyburn's now in the drivers' seat, thanks to 8 straight wins. And despite losing the first four head to head meetings against Melville, the Wings won the last two, which allowed them to tie, and eventually pass the Mils for top spot in the last few weeks. But, because Melville beat Weyburn 4 out of 6... they would have the tie breaker if the two teams end up with the same amount of points. Technically, the Mils still control their fate, because even if the Wings run the table the rest of the way, Melville could do the same (and would have to), and would end up tied (8 pts back with 4 in hand). Because Weyburn's got 5 of their last 6 at home, and two of them are against Notre Dame, a team out of the hunt, one would have to assume the red-hot Red Wings will win no less than, let's say 3 of their last 6 (more, I predict). If they go 3-and-3 the rest of the way, Melville would have to go 7-and-3. If Weyburn goes 4-and-2, Melville needs 8-and-2... and if the Wings go 5-and-1, the Mils would need a record of 9-and-1 in their last 10. Possible, but difficult, considering Melville plays Humboldt twice, Yorkton twice, Estevan twice and Kindersley once in their last 10.

Second Place Far From Locked Up
If the standings ended today, Estevan and Yorkton would meet in the Survivor Series for a second straight year. The series, regardless who's in it, will start Fri/Feb/20, and last for, say, 9 days. Plus a couple days for the winner to recover, and the Weyburn Red Wings, whose regular season ends on Valentine's Day, would be off for like 17 days, and playing a team on a roll. Would second place really be so bad? If the Mils finish there they'd face Kindersley, a team they've played close all year... rather than a confident Bruins or Terriers squad. (Again these are based on today's standings) Positions 2-5 in the Sherwood could very well end the way they are now, or they could do a complete 180 in the next 4 weeks. Kindersley's games in hand are shrinking, but they still have some on every team. The Klippers have a stretch of 6 straight road games before the end of the season, with 3 straight at home before, and 2 at home against ND to finish. If they can make some hay on the road, they could certainly move up a spot.

Coveted Top-3 Spots Are Wide Open
Weyburn's got their ticket punched for a bye... but Yorkton and Estevan are both knocking on the door of the top three and could make Kindersley, or even Melville nervous. I talked to Terriers' Coach/GM Ed Zawatsky yesterday (MON), and they have their sights on trying to sweep Melville this weekend and being possibly 3 points behind them (Mils also play ND at home on WED). The Terriers also have 2 home games against what could be a road-weary Kindersley team by then. Couple of 4 point games that weekend (Feb 6-8). The Terriers probably have the "easiest" remaining schedule of all playoff-bound Sherwood teams, with 3 ND's and one Battleford at home, having also just blanked La Ronge at home. And Estevan... I witnessed that 14-0 game... and by their own admission, Melville was bad... but holy smokes... Estevan is getting scary. They've got a tough stretch to finish off the year with 4 of their last 7 on the road... 3 games against Weyburn, 2 vs Melville and 1 against Kindersley. Even if they don't move up from 5th (and they very well could) I think the Bruins are a serious threat to come out of the South. But so is everyone.

Enjoy it folks!