Since the CW starts on Thursday, it is time for one and all to handicap the races and make predictions. Predict for as many or as few conferences/divisions as you want!
Here's my CW predictions:
1 Manitoba
2 Alberta
3 Saskatchewan
4 Calgary
5 UBC
6 Mount Royal
7 Lethbridge
8 Regina
Since the CW starts on Thursday, it is time for one and all to handicap the races and make predictions. Predict for as many or as few conferences/divisions as you want!
RANTFTHER picks for the AUS!
1- U d M
2- SMU
3- UNB
4- STU
5-X
6- Acadia
7-UPEI
8- Dal
I believe that the AUS will be super competitive with upsets occurring frequently, positions 4-8 will be hotly contested with ANY reordering that you can imagine.
My only comment on the OUA comes from.watching a tournament at UWO this weekend,
McGill looks as strong as last year as they trashed Western 6-2,Water,love and Concordia will struggle to win games but might be exciting to.Watch as they played "the no defence,no defence,defence.
I will.add more OPINION as I get to view more teams.
RANTFTHER
Here's my CW predictions:
1 Manitoba
2 Alberta
3 Saskatchewan
4 Calgary
5 UBC
6 Mount Royal
7 Lethbridge
8 Regina
This year is going to be a tale of who's hot at the right time. 6th through 10th will be a battle. Toronto is missing Bryan Elloit and Andrew Kizito to graduation, Queen's has a ton of rookies to go with Joey Derochie and Jordan Mirwaldt and Whitlock in net, Nipissing cause of Clarkson, Beard and a few others missing, RMC is 9th because we have been in games with McGill and York WITHOUT our top 6, and have been missing for 3 straight games. Concordia dosen't play defense whatsoever so Champion and Karnivouras have to be on top of their game 100% and their best player, Stanzini left the program. Going to be a battle every night
If history is any indication attendance should be pretty good. Saskatoon has a great track record of hosting and supporting events like this.
To my knowledge the previous Saskatoon tournaments still hold all time records for cumulative attendance (1998-37,121 1999-37,184 and 2000-40,956) and at one point i believe held the single game attendance record.
So the tournament should be well supported!!
#1. Alberta-have been in decline last few seasons, but Head Coach Ian Herbers (who turned down contract extension with Milwaukee in AHL to return to Alberta) has program steered in right direction.
A deep team in every position which seems to have it's work ethic back.
#2. Saskatchewan-loaded up front and playing at home (kinda) for University Cup. I still think tiny Rutherford Rink works against the Huskies at a Nationals level
#3. Manitoba- boast a really good defence but lacked offensive jump in Alberta last weekend...did they miss their window last season?
#4. Calgary- pretty well-coached but wasn't overly impressed with recruiting class. On paper IMO Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have more talent.
#5. UBC- should be a better program than they are, seem to get decent players, but they don't improve there.
#6. Mount Royal-new kids on the block and have some players
#7. Lethbridge-have been taking a pocket knife to a gun fight for about 15 seasons in the CW. Reinforces how great of a job Mike Babcock did back in the mid '90's to win the University Cup. Simply put can't get enough good players there.
#8. Regina- They missed their window too in 1992! A loaded team that featured three 100 point scorers from the WHL: Len Nielson, Darrin McKechnie, Gary Dickie and great 2nd liners from the WHL like Troy Edwards and Greg Hutchings....they would die for a guy like that now...
. . . . that will depend on whether or not any combine demolition derbies are happening in Martensville, just up the road.
that is how they break ties at the old rutherford.
4 on 4 for 5 minutes
3 on 3 for 5 minutes
and then a demolition derby between the team buses, don't have to go to Martinsville.
put your toque back on
refill your pilsner glass and head on out to the parking lot
then walk your cattle home!
No shootouts allowed
I know the season has already started, but here is my AUS List
1) UNB
2) Acadia
3) UdeM
4) SFX
5) SMU
6) DAL
7) UPEI
8) STU
Even though UPEI got 4pts last weekend, I don't think that's going to keep happening. I also thought DAL was pretty good at the end of last year (after Pete left) and might be able to carry that momentum into this year.
I don't think the spots 2-6 will be decided until the last weekend of the season though - pretty tight year.
Top 2 OUA-East (UQTR and Ottawa)
Top 2 OUA-West (Western and Lakehead)
Top 3 CW (MAN, ALB, SASK)
OUA East - I agree with UQTR and Ottawa as the top 2. I think McGill with get themselves straightened out and Carleton and Queen's will also be in the picture.
OUA West - I think this division is up for grabs this year. I have a feeling you're going to be seeing everybody beating everybody.
