i have a question regarding who you guys think is the best pure goal scorer in the dub this year. With 2 top contenders out of prince george in nineteen year old Ryan Howse on chilliwack and 18 year old Brett Connolly on Prince George. Howse has 40 goals in 54 games and Connolly with 35 in only 44 games, which i believe is the best goal per game in the entire league. So my question is what do you think the chances of two PG boys going 1 and 2 in goal scoring this year? Even though connolly has played vertually ten games less than every other top 20 goal scorer this year? ps: howse is second with 40 and connolly is in 8th with 35.
Seems like the first round matchups in the East are pretty well set:
1) Saskatoon vs. 8) Prince Albert OR Lethbridge
2) Red Deer vs. 7) Edmonton
3) Medicine Hat vs. 6) Brandon
4) Kootenay vs. 5) Moose Jaw
There could be a little bit of juggling, but all of the teams are separated by 3 or more points with 3 or less games to play. PA seems like they have the inside track on 8th.
That 3 vs. 6 series could get really interesting with the way Brandon has played down the stretch.
I had a chance to see my first-ever junior game last night, as I'm working today in Spokane. It was a really good game with the Chiefs beating the Chilliwack Bruins 2-1 in a shootout. But, the best performance was by goalie Lucas Gore of the Bruins, who made 77 saves. He made a few spectacular saves, but mainly he was just in perfect position all night long. The only regulation goal was on a scramble in front, with the puck bouncing off several people before someone finally shot it in.
The Portland Winterhawks locked up the Western Conference Regular season title last night with a 5-4 win over Seattle and a 6-4 Loss for Spokane against Tri-City. I was kind of hoping to go into tonight with the game being for the West's #1 seed but I will settle on it just being a momentum into the playoffs game. This means that Portland will for sure get Everett and to be honest I am not sure how I feel about this. On one hand we are 9-1-0-0 against them this year but some of the games have been a little too close for my liking. I like the Hawks in 5 though.
I'm from Ontario.....just wondering from any Moose Jaw Warrior fans, what they think of their new GM Alan Millar??? He screwed the OHL'S Sarnia sting and ran them into the ground. can't believe he got another job after what he did with the Sting.
Obviously someone with the Warriors didn't do his homework.
I'm from Ontario.....just wondering from any Moose Jaw Warrior fans, what they think of their new GM Alan Millar??? He screwed the OHL'S Sarnia sting and ran them into the ground. can't believe he got another job after what he did with the Sting.
Obviously someone with the Warriors didn't do his homework.
How was he this season???
I love how the Warriors are built this year, even though many of the players there were there before he was.
He did make atleast one trade that worked out GREAT, the Cody Beach trade has been very good for them.
2. Red Deer (3)
3. Medicine Hat (4)
--------------------------------------
1. Portland (4)
4. Tri-City (3)
2. Kelowna (2)
3. Spokane (4)
=======================
1. Saskatoon (4)
3. Medicine Hat (1)
-----------------------------
1. Portland (4)
3. Spokane (3)
=========================
1. Saskatoon (3)
1. Portland (4)
I really don't see any major upsets happening this season. Maybe Moose Jaw and Kootenay could surprise a few people, but the top teams are very strong this season.
It will be a different playoff season this year.
Calgary missed the playoffs for the first time in ages. For the past decade Calgary have iced serious contenders for the WHL crown.
Saskatoon has a decent chance. To win the Blades really have to cut down on all those trips to the penalty box. Molleken tends to overplay the top end players. In the playoffs where a team is playing or travelling every night and there is little to none prep time even a great team can get worn down.
The Oil Kings could give Red Deer a very tough first round series.
It will be a different playoff season this year.
Calgary missed the playoffs for the first time in ages. For the past decade Calgary have iced serious contenders for the WHL crown.
Saskatoon has a decent chance. To win the Blades really have to cut down on all those trips to the penalty box. Molleken tends to overplay the top end players. In the playoffs where a team is playing or travelling every night and there is little to none prep time even a great team can get worn down.
The Oil Kings could give Red Deer a very tough first round series.
I agree with this. However, the one thing that seems to be setting up in the Blades favour is their matchups. They get to start off against the absolute closest team they could have possibly played, and if Moose Jaw is the only upset, the second round won't be too far to travel either.
The travel distance makes a big difference in the WHL.
Coming Home...Bulmer returning to Kelowna. Great move for the player and the team. Now, if PG can get Connolly back, and Portland gets Johansen back, all will be good. The stars in junior hockey need to be playing junior hockey where they are in very responsible roles. These three will develop big time if they come back and play 25 minutes per game. And the fans win, too.
The Puck Stops Here...Gotta give the Tri City Americans credit, giving 16-year-old goalie Eric Comrie the starting nod. Already a POW award winner after back-to-back shutouts a couple of weekend ago. And don't forget, their backup is Ty Rimmer...a journeyman of sorts who was a 15th round pick in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft.
Please, A Balanced Schedule...Sure would like to see the powers-that-be come up with a way for the fans to see every WHL team each season. Sure, dollars are probably an issue. And, I doubt the city of Portland gets excited about hosting the Prince Albert Raiders. In the US Division, the teams play each other 12 times! That's 48 of 72 regular season games played within the division!
Does Size Matter...Gotta like Brendan Gallagher's start. He's been effective ever since he entered the league, playing bigger than his 5'8, 175-pound frame. If healthy, he should break the Vancouver Giants career scoring record sometime in February.
Kamloops Blazin'...With an 11-3 start so far, the veteran-laden crew has been a surprise, but generally only to those who did not do their research. With 16 returnees from last season, their forward group is deep and their backend is huge. They might still shop for a goaltender. The addition of former Moose Jaw Warriors head coach Dave Hunchak has been a huge plus as an assistant to head coach Guy Charron. I'm convinced Hunchak is bridging the communication gap between the players and the 63-year-old Charron. It's a terrific combination...Charron & Hunchak!
TB announced a week ago that Connolly was not returning to junior and he has played 11 games and counting.
Yep...but they could still return him to junior anytime. They just have to eat his salary, relative to the cap. Tampa did this with James Wright a couple seasons ago...returned him to the Vancouver Giants in January. I know we won't see Connolly in the WHL in the short term.
2. Red Deer (3)
3. Medicine Hat (4)
--------------------------------------
1. Portland (4)
4. Tri-City (3)
2. Kelowna (2)
3. Spokane (4)
=======================
1. Saskatoon (4)
3. Medicine Hat (1)
-----------------------------
1. Portland (4)
3. Spokane (3)
=========================
1. Saskatoon (3)
1. Portland (4)
I really don't see any major upsets happening this season. Maybe Moose Jaw and Kootenay could surprise a few people, but the top teams are very strong this season.
Hopefully the Royals finish 8th so we have a playoff birth in the 1st year here in Victoria, it would be good for both the team and the city.
Hopefully the Royals finish 8th so we have a playoff birth in the 1st year here in Victoria, it would be good for both the team and the city.
I think those playoff predictions that you quoted were from last year 2011??? The list shows Chilliwack and doesn't show Calgary - who officially made the playoffs this year.
The East is still undetermined on order of finish - the order from 3 to 8 is still in limbo on who will play each other.
The West - not sure who will grab the last 2 spots. If there was a cross over the East would easily have those spots.
