DAILY DISH: BCHL RANKINGS, REPORT - Junior Hockey News
Published: Tuesday, 23 Jan 2018
By: Stephen Heisler | Web site: JuniorHockey.com
The BCHL Report is a weekly look at Canada’s British Columbia Hockey League.
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.
GRADE “A”
#1 Penticton (29-9-2-3 / .733) – Head Coach Fred Harbinson’s Vees continue to roll and remain undefeated in 2018. Trail gave Penticton fits on Saturday; taking the Vees to OT before falling in front of 4342 fans. Those same fans won’t get to see the local favorites again until February 9th. Penticton plays to next six games all on the road starting with visits to Powell River, Cowichan Valley, and Victoria this week INSIDER SAYS: It’s no surprise that the Vees would get hot at some point. After fighting through early season injuries, the Vees are flying high. Can they sustain it?
GRADE “B”
#2 Wenatchee (29-12-3-1 / .689) – Head Coach Bliss Littler’s Wild climb to #2 with three wins last week including the big 10-3 ripping of Nanaimo. Merritt visits for two games this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Wild continue to be hot and cold, but right now they’re hot. If their goaltending stays strong, they have the firepower to do some damage.
#3 Vernon (29-12-1-4 / .685) – Head Coach Mark Ferner’s Vipers move from #2 to #3 after consecutive losses at PG and Coquitlam. Vernon is back at West Kelowna Friday before the Bulldogs visit Saturday. Capping the weekend with a trip to Trail is going to be tough. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Vipers might hit a snag or two along the way but don’t let that fool you. This is a team built to go deep.
#4 Trail (26-14-4-1 / .633) – Head Coach Cam Keith’s Smokies remain at # 4 despite losses in both games against West Kelowna and in overtime at Penticton. The next five games are all at Cominco Arena starting this week when Surrey and Vernon visit. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Smokies have a strong combination of veteran leadership and talented rookies and no matter where they finish in the standings, will be a big challenge in a playoff series.
#5 Powell River (23-14-4-4 / .600) – The Kings climb to #5 after winning two of their three games last week. Penticton and Nanaimo drop in for games at the Hap Parker Arena this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Kings are likely the team that will finish atop their division. Penticton will provide a great test.
#6 Prince George (23-14-4-4 / .600) – Head Coach Adam Maglio’s Spruce Kings continue to impress while moving up to #6. Back-to-back wins over Vernon and Powell River after the disappointing loss to Penticton showed a ton of grit. The boys hit the road again this week with stops at Langley, Coquitlam, and Chilliwack. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Spruce Kings have proved they are a team that can beat anyone and even with their awful travel situation, they’ve been dominant.
GRADE “C”
#7 Victoria (24-16-4-2 / .587) – Craig Didmon’s Grizzlies drop just a spot to #7 despite losing all three games last week at Wenatchee, Langley, and Chilliwack. Did anyone ever imagine that a game between the Grizz and Clips in late January would feature two teams on a combined ten game slide? The Clips and Vees both visit this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Grizzlies will be glad to get home after getting shut down over the weekend on the road. They’ll need to tighten some things up if they hope to come out of that division in the postseason.
#8 Surrey (24-16-4-2 / .587) – Brandon West’s Eagles climb to #8 after home wins over Coquitlam and Nanaimo. There’s going to be nothing easy about this week’s roadie to Trail and Salmon Arm. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: With solid goaltending emerging to support their explosive offense, the Eagles are a legitimate threat to win their division.
#9 Langley (20-13-10-2 / .578) – Head Coach Bobby Henderson’s Rivermen move up a slot to #9 after Saturday’s win over then #5 Victoria. Salmon Arm and PG visit this week before Langley heads to Chilliwack Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: A long weekend with two huge division games awaits. It would be wise to not overlook Salmon Arm, though.
#10 Chilliwack (21-18-2-3 / .534) – Head Coach Jason Tatarnic’s Chiefs climb two spots and break into the Top Ten this week after beating Victoria Sunday. Langley and PG visit this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Maybe it was part of the plan all along, to cruise through the first part of the season with an eye on peaking late heading into the playoffs. Not likely, though. But the Chiefs are close enough to really muddy the waters in the Mainland.
#11 Nanaimo (22-20-3-2 / .521) – The Clips slide extends to seven after losing all three road games at Coquitlam, Wenatchee, and Surrey. Nanaimo is at Victoria and Powell River this week before hosting the Grizz Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The problem isn’t effort, it’s a lot deeper than that. At this rate, the Clippers may actually have to start looking over their shoulders.
#12 West Kelowna (22-21-1-1 / .511) – Coach Rylan Ferster’s Warriors sink to #12 after their fourth straight loss. Coquitlam visits tonight, Vernon and Alberni Valley as well later this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team has speed, hits hard, and plays with intensity. So why are they struggling? No one seems to have the answer.
GRADE “D”
#13 Salmon Arm (18-23-3-1 / .444) – Head Coach Scott Atkinson’s Silverbacks jump up and over Merritt to #13 after winning their third straight game. The Saturday win over Chilliwack was epic. The Backs visit Langley tonight before hosting Alberni Valley and Surrey this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Silverbacks are a decent team, but they’re top heavy and lack depth. They’ll be sore and tired when this weekend is over.
#14 Merritt (17-22-3-1 / .442) – Head Coach Joe Martin’s Cents drop a slot to #14 after dropping their fourth straight. That slide could easily continue this week with a pair of games at Wenatchee this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Cents are always right in the mix but lose a ton of close games. They’re in a very tough division.
#15 Alberni Valley (14-24-3-4 / .389) – Matt Hughes’ Bulldogs picked up wins in two of their three games last week with Cowichan Valley. It’s going to be difficult to earn points from this week’s roadie to Salmon Arm, Vernon and West Kelowna. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Points will be difficult but not impossible this weekend as they tour the Interior. I suspect they’ll run out gas somewhere around late second period at Vernon and struggle the rest of the weekend.
GRADE “F”
#16 Coquitlam (13-28-1-3 / .333) –Head Coach Jason Fortier and the Express have won three of the last four games, and that includes a huge win at home over then #2 Vernon. Coquitlam is at West Kelowna tomorrow before PG visits Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: This team as they sit today don’t deserve an F. No way. This is a C team at worst right now and they’re spanking anyone who fails to show respect.
#17 Cowichan Valley (9-31-4-2 / .261) – The Caps certainly lit the lamp; 13 times in three games to be exact, earning three of a possible six points in the three game set series with Alberni Valley. That’s the kind of offense that Cowichan Valley is capable of producing on a regular basis. Top Ranked Penticton visits this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The little spark the Capitals had for a moment seems to be flickering away, and I’d bet a pop they end up being the only team jilted at playoff time. Maybe next year.
SCALE: A 725+, B 600-724, C 475-599, D 350-474, F 0-349
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