Login

***Jexter*** · 04-21-2024, 04:11 PM

Welcome back to the Power Rankings! This time, we will be looking at the SMJHL teams at roughly the midway point of the S76 Season

1. Quebec City Citadelles

Previous Rank: 2
Record: 28-5-1
Quebec City is back on top with a blistering pace, proving why they are the top ranked team in every discipline. The only worry for this team is if they burn too much energy in the regular season and falter in playoffs again. Surely third time is the charm though, right? Frøya Solberg is looking to try and have a repeat MVP season (and succeeding), but the entire team is producing points with the lowest point total of a forward being 20. Song Ju-gong is making incredible saves behind a loaded defense lead by Juan Tymer and Leo Roze. However, with at least 9 players leaving after this season, it really feels like it is now or never (or at least a few seasons) for the Owls.

2. Carolina Kraken Kraken

Previous Rank: 3
Record: 21-6-2
The Kraken have been putting in a defensive masterclass and while the scoring isn’t as high as some other teams, they seem more than happy to rely on their defense. That does not mean that the Kraken are just letting their goalie feel like they are in a shooting range night after night as they average 7 more shots on goal per game than shots against. Jack Keigan has stepped in for Betzee Nickelback (spelt it right again) in the scoring department for the Kraken with a shooting percentage of 25%. With the fantastic (Lobster) Denebor Milasch in net for the last season with them, the Kraken will be losing some great players in the coming offseason, but nowhere near the crippling amount that the Owls are. The Kraken were a team that crept under the radar for the past few seasons, but have built a powerful squad that is very well balanced and extremely sound defensively, allowing the fewest goals against while being fifth in goals for. While they are technically a few points back from the Berserkers, the Kraken have played the fewest games in the SMJHL so far this season, meaning there is plenty of room to get a lot more points.

3. Newfoundland Berserkers

Previous Rank: 1
Record: 25-8-0
The Berserkers have fallen back in the race by a bit, but they are still in line for a very favorable playoff matchup. The Newfoundlanders coming back into prominence (especially with some young talent) spells danger for a lot of teams, especially those standing to lose a lot in the offseason. The first line of Newfoundland has been buzzing with Mac Griddle, Pierre Mailloux and Cracker Pizza who have found some amazing chemistry that has led to them having a combined 60 goals in 33 games. These three are 2 thru 4 on the top points so far this season in the entire league. Alongside them, the Berserkers have had some breakout performances this season and last. One of them is Eric Vanderberg Jr and another is Atlason and both have pedigrees of success. The Berserkers as a whole have been producing well, but I think they need to shore up some things defensively to crack into the top two on the power rankings.

4. San Diego Tidal Tidal

Previous Rank: 7
Record: 20-12-0
The Tidal have to be one of the great surprises of the season, but then again maybe not when you consider the people at the helm of this team. They are still running with the mindset set that offense is the only thing that matters. This has led to some great performances, particularly from their rookies such as Volta and Pinard. With the high scoring play of the Tidal, 8 players (Considerations, Volta, Gilleyes, Jevsejevs, Davis II, Pinard, Calland, Poirot) sit at a point plus per game status through 32 games. What is very scary about this team is that they are built very similarly to the Berserkers in that they are set up for future success with manageable losses in the offseason. You would like more from the defense, but with their current strategies, it does not really call for it. It will be interesting to see if they can make adjustments to their playstyle in a playoff series if a team manages to counter them.

5. The Great Falls Grizzlies

Previous Rank: 4
Record: 17-15-2
The Grizzlies may have dropped a bit in the standings, but I still hold them as one of the top teams in the league and they have fallen one place back from their position in the North. While other teams may have too few goals for or too many against, these bears are just right. What I find appealing about their game style is their ability to play and get wins both at home and away. The main story for the team has been Gibbles and Poiklm running the show on offense with a combined 34 goals and 50 assists in 34 games. Another revelation has been Elvar Gil-Galad in net for the bears with a record of 8-5 and save percentage of .912. While the rest of the team still has a half a season to have a glow up before playoffs, woe to those that doubt the Grizzlies.

6. Maine Timber Timber

Previous Rank: 9
Record: 19-13-1
Maine is continuing their “damn the defense” strategy (which seems to be very popular this season with the SMJHL) and continuing a full attack at all times. Now (much like the Tidal, but a little less successfully) this seems to be working in their favor, but I have serious concerns when they match against teams that can mitigate this offense first plan. They have a new crop of active S77s in their lineup to aid their fantastic top line that are only S75s. This team that finds itself in contention mode seemingly season after season does not show any sign of stopping any time soon thanks to their well-balanced roster. Mia Lavoie continues to shine for the Timber and could perhaps make a run for the overall league points leader this season with a chance to break 100 points. Maine has shown great flexibility in the past in playoff series so we will see if those are needed or viable for them in a few weeks.

7. Regina Elk Elk

Previous Rank: 10
Record: 16-10-6
The Elk have been able to be incredibly scrappy in their games, taking many of them to an overtime or a shootout. I would like to see them win more of them, either in regulation or in extra time. That being said, the ability to get games close and fight for every last point is what currently has them at 3rd in the conference. We would like some more scoring out of the Elk as well, but they are playing as a bit of foil to the high flying offense that we see from the other teams. Troy McClure IiIi has been great on defense for the Elk with 27 points and 61 blocks. The Elk also have a lot of youth in the organization in players like Hollywood and Stoica. If the Elk can hold teams to low scoring games, they should be just fine going forward.

8. Colorado Raptors Raptors

Previous Rank: 6
Record: 18-12-2
Colorado’s title defense is not in any immediate danger, but you do want to make that this team stitches itself back together when playoffs roll around. Their top players are performing well, though they are having to adjust to having new linemates with all the age outs. Leonard Wood is finding twine often with 21 goals on the season and leads the team in points with 41. Looking over this team, they seem incredibly well built with no glaring weaknesses. That being said, it’s hard to pinpoint the major strengths of the team. They are not a defensive powerhouse, and they are not playing full attack unlike other teams. That being said, that might be a great thing, meaning they can make plenty of changes to their strategies in playoffs.

9. Anchorage Armada Armada

Previous Rank: 8
Record: 16-14-1
Anchorage is sailing relatively smoothly when in their home port. They currently have a home record 14-4, but a 2-10-1 away. If the boats want to not sink in playoffs, they will need to shore (or not I guess cause beaching a boat is a bad idea) their ability to play away because while maybe 3rd or 4th in the conference may be in reach, they will not have home ice for long.

10. Nevada Battleborn

Previous Rank: 12
Record: 15-15-4
The Battleborn have been ramping up this season with their high draft picks and are sitting perfectly balanced with their record. Literally Wizard has been magical for them this season with 43 points, but they are not immune from the poor defensive play that is plaguing their team. Only one player (Caspian Leevi) has a positive plus/minus on the Battleborn, but these seem like par for the course growing pains for a very young roster. With the Battleborn only losing (maybe) just their goalie in Just Perfection in the offseason, the young Battleborn are building something potentially amazing in the desert.

11. Vancouver Whalers Whalers

Previous Rank: 5
Record: 15-17-1
Vancouver has fallen back to preseason expectations after a ripping and roaring start to the season. NoNo Jo has been a revelation for the Whalers this season, seemingly taking Lily Jin Morrow’s position as the go to scorer for the Whalers. Vancouver is still in a bit of rebuild and are operating with a new management that is also learning. The Whalers may need some time to get back to the high times of a few seasons ago, but they are certainly on a solid track so far.

12. Detroit Falcons Falcons

Previous Rank: 11
Record: 15-16-1
It was not too long ago that Detroit was considered one of the big three teams in the SMJHL. Unfortunately, age outs, call-ups and the expansion draft have gutted the S74 championship winning team. For some teams, this may be a bleak look into the future, but the Falcons are absolutely making the most out of their situation. Their top players are performing and their starter goalie coming back into form. The good news is that there is not much more that they stand to lose in the offseason, at least nothing preposterous amount that other teams might lose. While the four that they are losing are key contributors to their team, they have enough assets that they can perhaps get some new blood in the draft and continue to build.

13. St. Louis Scarecrows

Previous Rank: 15
Record: 11-21-1
St. Louis has finally started to turn the corner a bit. After a few seasons at the bottom and changes in personnel all over the place, the Crows are rallying around their smart draft picks and first gens. Hats off to the management of the crows in getting their team set on the right path once again. Goals are a bit of commodity there, but it’s not the biggest of deals. St. Louis is building up as their players and more importantly staff get more and more experience. I’m not saying St. Louis will be a major contender in the coming seasons, but their ability to pull themselves out of the downward spiral they were in is commendable.

14. Ottawa Highlanders

Previous Rank: 14
Record: 9-20-2
Ottawa is still finding their footing and honestly, that’s okay. The first season after an expansion for new management can be an adjustment period. They might prefer if their sister team wasn’t making them look bad with their success, but that’s siblings for you. The biggest concern for this team presently is their lack of scoring. They currently sit with the lowest total goals in the league with the only ones close to them being the also struggling Malamutes.

15. Yukon Malamutes

Previous Rank: 13
Record: 10-21-4
There is no real way to sugar coat it. The Malamutes are having a rough (ruff) season after being put in a tough spot by the last offseason. However, the Dogs are making the most of it, securing new waiver claims, and scouting and training for the future. The top line seems to finally be finding their footing with Kove now centering Langston Hardison-Laurent and Squidwardo Tentacles. The Dogs will be losing at least 4 major team pieces in the coming offseason, so a high draft pick may not be the worst thing for this organization, though they certainly would have preferred to make the most out of some their players’ last season. However, if the malamutes and their new rookies continue to fix their chemistry and play style, they still could be far from an easy out in the playoffs, especially since the dogs have gotten more points in away games.

16. Kelowna Knights Knights

Previous Rank: 16
Record: 6-25-3
The Knights are struggling as they have for a few seasons, but it seems like this season may be one to build on. Top and young prospects are filling in leadership positions in the locker room that could lead to a culture change. With the primary amount of their active players on the team being S76 or S77, the Knights can continue to finally pull themselves out of build mode and into contention mode starting perhaps next season, but maybe more realistically the season after.

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY:
In a bit of a playoffs mood at the moment.

Northern Conference:

Quebec City vs. Kelowna

Newfoundland vs. Yukon

Regina vs. Vancouver

Great Falls vs. Anchorage

Southern Conference:

Carolina vs. Ottawa

San Diego vs. St. Louis

Maine vs. Detroit

Colorado vs. Nevada

Reminder, I do not normally do Week 3 Power Rankings so next power rankings will be the end of the season/playoffs power ranking!
Till next time!

WC: 2315

Popol · 04-21-2024, 05:49 PM

Great article! Always fun to read a power ranking

AuggieO · 04-21-2024, 06:00 PM

04-21-2024, 04:11 PMJexter Wrote: NoNo Jo has been a revelation for the Whalers this season, seemingly taking Lily Jin Morrow’s position as the go to scorer for the Whalers.