SJHL SHERWOOD: THE RACE FOR 1st
No disrespect intended towards teams like Weyburn and Estevan, but I don't see BOTH Yorkton and Kindersley falling out of this race. Even if Weyburn turns it on down the stretch, they would need both the Terriers and Klippers to come to a screeching halt. So, I think it's fair to say it's a two-horse race for the Sherwood Division pennant.
Here's what both teams have remaining as of today (Monday).
Yorkton (8) (3 home, 5 away)
Feb 1 vs BAT
Feb 4 @ MVL (GX)
Feb 5 vs MVL
Feb 8 @ WEY
Feb 12 @ KIN
Feb 13 @ HUM (GX)
Feb 15 @ EST (GX)
Feb 18 vs LAR
Kindersley (7) (5 home, 2 away)
Feb 1 @ HUM
Feb 4 vs WEY
Feb 8 vs HUM
Feb 12 vs YOR
Feb 15 vs MFT
Feb 18 @ BAT
Feb 22 vs BAT
Aside from having one fewer game left, the remaining schedule definitely favours Kindersley. 5 of 7 on home ice, including 4 straight. The Terriers meanwhile, have a game in hand, but play 5 of their last 8 on the road, which also includes 4 in a row. Yorkton could also very likely be without the services of Blaine Tendler, Robbie Ciolfi, and Zak Majkowski... yes, all three of them, for the rest of the regular season. Their final 8 games will be with a depleted roster featuring some AP's... but let's not kid ourselves... they still boast the likes of Boyer, Buzzeo, Struble, Breitkreuz, and company. They'll compete, but they really need those guys back come playoff time, especially Tendler on the backend. Kindersley's had guys out too, but they're getting healthy at the right time, and that COULD give them the inside track on top spot. Again, it could easily come down to February 12th when the two teams square off in Kindersley. The Terriers could still lose that game and get top spot, provided they win their game in hand and just keep pace with the Klippers in their other 6 games.
SJHL SHERWOOD: THE RACE FOR 5th
The Millionaires looked all but assured a spot in the Sherwood Survivor Series, but lo and behold... here come the Hounds!
While the Mils have 2 games in hand, their lead for the 5th and final playoff spot has been cut to just 2 points, with a pair of head-to-head meetings with ND still to come, one in each place.
Melville (11) (5 home, 6 away)
Feb 2 vs BAT
Feb 4 vs YOR (GX)
Feb 5 @ YOR
Feb 9 vs ND
Feb 11 @ MFT
Feb 12 vs NIP
Feb 14 @ ND (GX)
Feb 16 @ HUM (GX)
Feb 18 @ WEY
Feb 19 vs LAR
Feb 22 @ EST (GX)
Notre Dame (9) (3 home, 6 away)
Feb 1 @ WEY
Feb 5 @ EST
Feb 8 vs EST
Feb 9 @ MVL
Feb 12 @ MFT
Feb 14 vs MVL
Feb 17 @ EST
Feb 19 vs HUM
Feb 20 @ WEY
Few people gave Notre Dame a chance, but after storming back from down 3-0 in Melville a couple weeks ago, to win 4-3 in OT, the Hounds are right in the thick of it. They'll have to win on the road if they want to get in the playoffs, with 6 of their final 9 games away from home. The Millionaires know full well that games in hand mean nothing if you don't win them, but if they take care of business on home ice and get at least a split in their ND games, they should still be favoured to sneak in. Russell Abbott and the Hounds will feel otherwise, and if they stay hot, have every opportunity to make a late-season push.
MJHL SHERWOOD, THE RACE FOR 4th, AND A CROSS-OVER
This one's getting real interesting.
It wasn't long ago that the Wayway Wolverines were staring up at "The Big Five." And, each of the Sherwood Division's top five teams had legitimate shots at finishing on top of the regular season standings. Neepawa fell back a bit and that turned into 4, and with Swan Valley's recent struggles, the Top 3, and Bottom 3 have separated themselves.
Four points separate Portage, OCN and Dauphin, while the Kings are 9 points up on the 4th place Stampeders. From there, 6 points is all that separates 4th from 6th. Swan has 55, Wayway 54 and Neepawa 49.
Swan Valley (11) (4 home, 7 away)
Feb 4 @ NEE
Feb 5 vs NEE
Feb 8 @ OCN (GX)
Feb 9 vs WAY (GX)
Feb 11 @ NEE (GX)
Feb 12 @ POR
Feb 18 @ OCN
Feb 19 vs OCN
Feb 22 @ OCN
Feb 23 vs WAY (GX)
Feb 25 @ WAY
All 11 are in the division, 7 of 11 on the road. Three against Neepawa, three against Wayway, the teams they're now fighting with. Four against a red hot OCN team (3 road), including 3 in a row.
Wayway (11) (7 home, 4 road)
Feb 2 vs OCN
Feb 3 vs OCN
Feb 5 vs WSA
Feb 9 @ SV (GX)
Feb 11 @ SP
Feb 12 @ SEL
Feb 15 vs POR
Feb 19 vs DAU
Feb 21 vs DAU
Feb 23 @ SV (GX)
Feb 25 vs SV
Wayway's done with Neepawa, but play Swan 3 times, and go to Swan River for 2 of their remaining 4 road games. Their home/away breakdown is the most favourable of any of these three teams, and despite being last in the division for almost every one of their first 50 games, they might have the best odds of getting in.
Neepawa (12) (6 home, 6 away)
Feb 2 @ POR
Feb 4 vs SV
Feb 5 @ SV
Feb 9 @ DAU
Feb 11 vs SV
Feb 15 vs DAU
Feb 18 @ WSA
Feb 19 @ WB
Feb 23 vs DAU
Feb 25 @ SEL
Feb 26 vs OCN
Feb 27 vs OCN
6 games against the Sherwood Division's "Big Three," 3 against Swan, and 3 against the other division, all on the road. Maybe the toughest schedule, opponent-wise, of these three teams battling for the final two playoff spots, and those three against the Stamps could determine who's in, who's out. All of these teams work their bags off, and all are capable of first round upsets.
My inspiration for the new poll in the top right.... which two get in? OR... do the Blues get hot and prevent a cross-over?
Obviously there are some other great races going down to the wire in both leagues, but my focus is on our four local teams. But, in summary:
SJHL Sherwood... Race for 3rd, and avoiding the Survivor Series
(Weyburn/Estevan)
SJHL Bauer... Race for 1st
(La Ronge/Melfort)
SJHL Bauer... Race for 3rd, avoiding Survivor
(Battleford/Humboldt/Flin Flon)
MJHL Sherwood... Race for 1st, and home ice in the 2 vs 3 series
(Portage/OCN/Dauphin)
MJHL Addison... Race for 1st
(Selkirk/Winkler)
*How 'bout those Flyers? 6 straight wins to finish January and put the heat on the Steel, who won 4 of 10 games in Jan.
No disrespect intended towards teams like Weyburn and Estevan, but I don't see BOTH Yorkton and Kindersley falling out of this race. Even if Weyburn turns it on down the stretch, they would need both the Terriers and Klippers to come to a screeching halt. So, I think it's fair to say it's a two-horse race for the Sherwood Division pennant.Here's what both teams have remaining as of today (Monday).
Yorkton (8) (3 home, 5 away)
Feb 1 vs BAT
Feb 4 @ MVL (GX)
Feb 5 vs MVL
Feb 8 @ WEY
Feb 12 @ KIN
Feb 13 @ HUM (GX)
Feb 15 @ EST (GX)
Feb 18 vs LAR
Kindersley (7) (5 home, 2 away)
Feb 1 @ HUM
Feb 4 vs WEY
Feb 8 vs HUM
Feb 12 vs YOR
Feb 15 vs MFT
Feb 18 @ BAT
Feb 22 vs BAT
Aside from having one fewer game left, the remaining schedule definitely favours Kindersley. 5 of 7 on home ice, including 4 straight. The Terriers meanwhile, have a game in hand, but play 5 of their last 8 on the road, which also includes 4 in a row. Yorkton could also very likely be without the services of Blaine Tendler, Robbie Ciolfi, and Zak Majkowski... yes, all three of them, for the rest of the regular season. Their final 8 games will be with a depleted roster featuring some AP's... but let's not kid ourselves... they still boast the likes of Boyer, Buzzeo, Struble, Breitkreuz, and company. They'll compete, but they really need those guys back come playoff time, especially Tendler on the backend. Kindersley's had guys out too, but they're getting healthy at the right time, and that COULD give them the inside track on top spot. Again, it could easily come down to February 12th when the two teams square off in Kindersley. The Terriers could still lose that game and get top spot, provided they win their game in hand and just keep pace with the Klippers in their other 6 games.
SJHL SHERWOOD: THE RACE FOR 5th
The Millionaires looked all but assured a spot in the Sherwood Survivor Series, but lo and behold... here come the Hounds!
While the Mils have 2 games in hand, their lead for the 5th and final playoff spot has been cut to just 2 points, with a pair of head-to-head meetings with ND still to come, one in each place.
Melville (11) (5 home, 6 away)
Feb 2 vs BAT
Feb 4 vs YOR (GX)
Feb 5 @ YOR
Feb 9 vs ND
Feb 11 @ MFT
Feb 12 vs NIP
Feb 14 @ ND (GX)
Feb 16 @ HUM (GX)
Feb 18 @ WEY
Feb 19 vs LAR
Feb 22 @ EST (GX)
Notre Dame (9) (3 home, 6 away)
Feb 1 @ WEY
Feb 5 @ EST
Feb 8 vs EST
Feb 9 @ MVL
Feb 12 @ MFT
Feb 14 vs MVL
Feb 17 @ EST
Feb 19 vs HUM
Feb 20 @ WEY
Few people gave Notre Dame a chance, but after storming back from down 3-0 in Melville a couple weeks ago, to win 4-3 in OT, the Hounds are right in the thick of it. They'll have to win on the road if they want to get in the playoffs, with 6 of their final 9 games away from home. The Millionaires know full well that games in hand mean nothing if you don't win them, but if they take care of business on home ice and get at least a split in their ND games, they should still be favoured to sneak in. Russell Abbott and the Hounds will feel otherwise, and if they stay hot, have every opportunity to make a late-season push.
MJHL SHERWOOD, THE RACE FOR 4th, AND A CROSS-OVER
This one's getting real interesting.It wasn't long ago that the Wayway Wolverines were staring up at "The Big Five." And, each of the Sherwood Division's top five teams had legitimate shots at finishing on top of the regular season standings. Neepawa fell back a bit and that turned into 4, and with Swan Valley's recent struggles, the Top 3, and Bottom 3 have separated themselves.
Four points separate Portage, OCN and Dauphin, while the Kings are 9 points up on the 4th place Stampeders. From there, 6 points is all that separates 4th from 6th. Swan has 55, Wayway 54 and Neepawa 49.
Swan Valley (11) (4 home, 7 away)
Feb 4 @ NEE
Feb 5 vs NEE
Feb 8 @ OCN (GX)
Feb 9 vs WAY (GX)
Feb 11 @ NEE (GX)
Feb 12 @ POR
Feb 18 @ OCN
Feb 19 vs OCN
Feb 22 @ OCN
Feb 23 vs WAY (GX)
Feb 25 @ WAY
All 11 are in the division, 7 of 11 on the road. Three against Neepawa, three against Wayway, the teams they're now fighting with. Four against a red hot OCN team (3 road), including 3 in a row.
Wayway (11) (7 home, 4 road)
Feb 2 vs OCN
Feb 3 vs OCN
Feb 5 vs WSA
Feb 9 @ SV (GX)
Feb 11 @ SP
Feb 12 @ SEL
Feb 15 vs POR
Feb 19 vs DAU
Feb 21 vs DAU
Feb 23 @ SV (GX)
Feb 25 vs SV
Wayway's done with Neepawa, but play Swan 3 times, and go to Swan River for 2 of their remaining 4 road games. Their home/away breakdown is the most favourable of any of these three teams, and despite being last in the division for almost every one of their first 50 games, they might have the best odds of getting in.
Neepawa (12) (6 home, 6 away)
Feb 2 @ POR
Feb 4 vs SV
Feb 5 @ SV
Feb 9 @ DAU
Feb 11 vs SV
Feb 15 vs DAU
Feb 18 @ WSA
Feb 19 @ WB
Feb 23 vs DAU
Feb 25 @ SEL
Feb 26 vs OCN
Feb 27 vs OCN
6 games against the Sherwood Division's "Big Three," 3 against Swan, and 3 against the other division, all on the road. Maybe the toughest schedule, opponent-wise, of these three teams battling for the final two playoff spots, and those three against the Stamps could determine who's in, who's out. All of these teams work their bags off, and all are capable of first round upsets.
My inspiration for the new poll in the top right.... which two get in? OR... do the Blues get hot and prevent a cross-over?
Obviously there are some other great races going down to the wire in both leagues, but my focus is on our four local teams. But, in summary:
SJHL Sherwood... Race for 3rd, and avoiding the Survivor Series
(Weyburn/Estevan)
SJHL Bauer... Race for 1st
(La Ronge/Melfort)
SJHL Bauer... Race for 3rd, avoiding Survivor
(Battleford/Humboldt/Flin Flon)
MJHL Sherwood... Race for 1st, and home ice in the 2 vs 3 series
(Portage/OCN/Dauphin)
MJHL Addison... Race for 1st
(Selkirk/Winkler)
*How 'bout those Flyers? 6 straight wins to finish January and put the heat on the Steel, who won 4 of 10 games in Jan.
4 comments:
Great blog today Craig, one of your best!!
1st or 2nd doesn't really matter. Yorkton and Melfort league final!!!!
I kinda think it DOES matter.
Home ice through the Sherwood playoffs will be big, especially in that Conference final, IF it's Terriers/Klippers.
Also, I can see Estevan getting back into 3rd. They're two back of Weyburn with 2 in hand, and I think they're a team built for the playoffs.
If I'm the Terriers, I'd much rather see Kindersley/Estevan go at it in a best of seven. You now how far that travel is?! And they're starting to really HATE eachother! I would think the Terriers would like that matchup and wait for the Survivor winner.
But, as Yorkton/La Ronge showed last year, doesn't matter where you finish, it's how you're playing when you get there. I also think if Yorkton/Kindersley played a Best-of-Seven starting today, the Klippers win. Yorkton needs to get their groove back, and they've got 8 games (without at least 3 key guys) to do it.
It takes a good team to win when you are missing a lot of Regular players, the team is stepping up and doing what is needed to win.
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