DAILY DISH: BCHL RANKINGS, REPORT - Junior Hockey News
Published: Tuesday, 16 Jan 2018
By: Stephen Heisler | Web site: JuniorHockey.com
The BCHL Report is a weekly look at Canada’s British Columbia Hockey League.
The new year is always a good time to bring in new things. In our case, we are going to bring something back. Over the past three seasons we’ve show a letter grade for all teams in the North American Hockey League. From this point forward, we are going to begin to rank BCHL teams the same way as well.
Now for the disclosure… the following is my opinion and not written under the influence of anything or anybody. The BCHL Insider is just that; a coach or employee with incredible insight into the league.
The actual grade scale is based on winning percentage and nothing else. That scale has been established for four seasons. When teams share the save winning percentage, the next tie-breaker is goal differential.
GRADE “B”
#1 Penticton (26-9-2-3 / .713) – Head Coach Fred Harbinson’s Vees are #1 on this list despite getting minimal respect from the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings. I’d put big money on our Top 4 doing serious damage against the others on the CJHL’s Top 20 if ever given the opportunity. In reality, a team like Thief River Falls (SIJHL) would have a hard time winning a game against ANY BCHL team, much less beating one of our top 4. The Vees go to PG Thursday before hosting Merritt and Trail this weekend. INSIDER SAYS: The Vees are getting healthy and hitting their stride. The defending champs won't go quietly.
#2 Vernon (28-10-1-4 / .709) – Head Coach Mark Ferner’s Vipers would be on top of this list if not for that 5-0 loss at Merritt Friday night. That’s just the way it goes in the Interior Division. The next four games are all on the road starting tonight in West Kelowna. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: It was an understandably emotional week in Vernon with the sudden passing of beloved owner Dr. Duncan Wray. Being on the road is probably the best thing right now.
#3 Wenatchee (26-12-3-1 / .667) – Head Coach Bliss Littler’s Wild have always been able to step up for big challenges. One of those opportunities will present itself Friday in the form of the red-hot Victoria Grizzlies. The Wild are at Merritt tonight. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Wild continue to be inconsistent but when they're good, they are really good. After tonight they play seven in a row at home.
#4 Trail (26-13-3-1 / .651) – Head Coach Cam Keith’s Smokies play in what has to be junior hockey’s most competitive division. Nights off in the Interior Division are nonexistent and Trail has learned the hard way. The lesson learned shows with the well-deserved #4 ranking. West K visits Friday before the boys head to Penticton Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Trail hit a rough patch when they were partly disassembled for various reasons but now back together they are looking sharp.
#5 Victoria (24-14-3-2 / .616) – Craig Didmon’s Grizzlies sit atop of the Island Division as one of the hottest teams on the continent. An embarrassing loss at Cowichan Valley back on December 6th sparked an eleven game unbeaten streak that extends to today. The battle royale set for Friday night at Wenatchee is going to be epic. Saturday and Sunday visits to Langley and Chilliwack are going to be dangerous as well. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: It was only a matter of time for this team to get hot. The question is, are they peaking too early?
GRADE “C”
#6 West Kelowna (21-19-1-1 / .524) – Coach Rylan Ferster’s Warriors were ran out of Wenatchee on a rail on Saturday after stealing an OT win there Friday night. Vernon visits tonight before the boys go to Trail Friday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team shows sparks of strength but not enough to do any lasting damage. This will be a long weekend for them.
#7 Powell River (21-13-4-4 / .595) – The Kings have only win to show for the three-game weekend. That’s not championship caliber hockey and unacceptable for a team capable of winning a championship. The Kings can make up for lost opportunities with three winnable games this week at Langley, Merritt, and PG. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: At one point it seemed the Island Division was a lock for the Kings but not so much any more. Home ice could make the difference in the playoffs.
#8 Prince George (21-13-4-4 / .595) – Head Coach Adam Maglio’s Spruce Kings will be facing a less than happy coach this week after back-to-back losses to Salmon Arm and Cowichan Valley. Penticton, Vernon, and Powell River visit this week with every intention of extending Prince George’s slide. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Prince George is a much improved team this year but those four points will haunt them. All three opponents come in with a purpose.
#9 Surrey (22-15-4-2 / .581) – Brandon West’s Eagles are for real on most nights. I’m thinking that embarrassing loss at Coquitlam will be remembered this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Losing to Coquitlam isn't as embarrassing as it used to be. Surrey packs a lot of firepower and have a good chance to earn home ice.
#10 Langley (19-12-10-2 / .581) – Head Coach Bobby Henderson’s Rivermen were blasted Friday at Surrey 5-0. Powell River and Victoria visit George Preston Arena Friday and Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Rivermen have a batch of good players but often don't play as a team and that will be their undoing in the end.
#11 Nanaimo (22-17-3-2 / .557) – The Clips have dropped four straight going into a five-game road swing. There will be no guaranteed success at Coquitlam on Friday. Saturday and Sunday trips to Wenatchee and Surrey could get out of hand in a hurry if Nanaimo can’t get things back on track. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The coaching change seemed to have a positive effect for a couple of weeks but now you have to wonder.
#12 Chilliwack (20-17-2-3 / .536) – Head Coach Jason Tatarnic’s Chiefs are much more than just an average hockey team. The RBC hosts are another underachieving group that appears to often be going through the motions. The Chiefs visit Salmon Arm Friday before Victoria appears at the ProsperaCentre Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Chiefs are looking to make it a four team race in the Mainland after a subpar start. It's time to start acting like a winner before it's too late.
GRADE “D”
#13 Merritt (17-20-2-1 / .463) – Head Coach Joe Martin’s Cents have proven the ability to play with any team on the schedule. That’s not the problem. The issue is the inability to put away the games they are supposed to win. Life in the Interior Division of the BCHL does not allow for many “easy games” and those opportunities have to be capitalized on. The win over division leading Vernon was an eye-opener, but also proves the point. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Cents are one line away from being a real contender but for now, they have to be content to hover around .500.
#14 Salmon Arm (16-23-3-1 / .419) – Head Coach Scott Atkinson’s Silverbacks toyed with us over the weekend with an unexpected loss at Alberni Valley before getting the win at Nanaimo. Chilliwack visits the Shaw Centre Friday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Backs have enough top end talent to steal some games but nowhere near enough depth to go long.
#15 Alberni Valley (12-23-3-4 / .369) – Matt Hughes’ Bulldogs are eleven games under .500 and that number is not expected to get much better. A four game slide was halted with Saturday night’s 5-4 home win over #14 Salmon Arm. Alberni Valley could make up some ground with this week’s three gamer with last-place Cowichan Valley. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: I believe I predicted early in the season it would be more of the same for Alberni Valley. Tough place to draw enough high end guys. They work hard, though. Hard enough to win a few now and then.
GRADE “F”
#16 Coquitlam (10-27-1-3 / .293) – A slow start to the season will not be the story of their year. The fact that these kids are “all-in” with what new Head Coach Jason Fortier is teaching is the real story. Surrey and Nanaimo visit this week before the Express go back to Surrey Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team has to feel good about getting a new lease on life after the last year and half. No longer a doormat, this team shows up knowing they have a legitimate chance to win every night.
#17 Cowichan Valley (8-30-3-2 / .244) – The Caps rough season keeps getting worse. Unable to score in their last two games, the Caps will have to light the lamp if they hope to earn any points in the three-game home-away-home series with Alberni Valley. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This weekend will actually be great to watch. Two hard working teams of similar skill sets going head to head. I like the Caps to take 2 of the 3.
SCALE: A 725+, B 600-724, C 475-599, D 350-474, F 0-349
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