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DAILY DISH: BCHL RANKINGS, REPORT - Junior Hockey News

Published: Tuesday, 13 Feb 2018

By: Stephen Heisler  |  Web site: JuniorHockey.com

The BCHL Report is a weekly look at Canada’s British Columbia Hockey League.

Remember what I said a few weeks back about the predictability of the league once the holiday season has passed. We’ve gone 4-1 in each of the last few Saturdays of picking random BCHL games. In a strange turn of events, only Penticton let us down this past weekend.

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 (35-11-2-3 / .735) – There are 3,000+ people that witnessed Vernon’s domination of the Vees on Saturday night. I’m thinking that’s exactly the wake-up call Penticton needed going into the last two weeks of the season. The Express visit on the 14th before the Vees venture to Coquitlam and Surrey to close out the week.  INSIDER SAYS: These games against the Mainland Division will help restore the Vees’ confidence, and move them a step closer to a division title.

GRADE “B”

#2 Vernon (35-13-1-4 / .708) – The Vipers appear to be at the top of their game at just the right time. The snakes go into this three-game week with wins in four straight games. Vernon is at Powell Rover, Cowichan Valley and Alberni Valley this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Powell River is going to be a tough out, and both of the other opponents have just enough left to surprise someone.

#3 Wenatchee (34-14-4-1 / .689) – It’s a heck of a bus/boat trip from Wenatchee to the islands. It’s an even rougher ride back home after losing two of three on the trip. Give the Wild credit; they did pick up three of a possible six points on the adventure with Sunday’s double overtime loss. I’ll say this, there’s going to be nothing easy about this weekend’s home set with Trail. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Wild are loaded with offensive weapons, but so is Trail. Wenatchee is always tough at home, and will likely be ready to go in front of the home crowd. 

#4 Trail (31-16-4-1 / .644) – I’m thinking that Head Coach Cam Keith can think of more romantic things to do in Valentine’s Day than to have to play up in Prince George. I also think that the wife will forgive him if the Smokies can pour some water on the Spruce Kings fire. Trail closes the week with a pair of games at Wenatchee. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Slowing the Spruce Kings down in something many teams have struggled with this season, especially at the RMCA. If the Smokies can sweep the three games, they’d move up into third place so there’s a lot on the line.

#5 Prince George (29-15-4-4 / .635) – PG will try to continue their hot-streak when Trail visits on Valentine’s Day in the final home game of the regular season. The Spruce Kings visit Surrey and Coquitlam this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: It’s likely that Prince George will be the first Division champion in the league by the end of the week, so watch for them to hit cruise control once that becomes final.

#6 Victoria (29-17-4-3 / .613) – The Grizz have wins in four straight games going into the last two weeks of the regular season. All three games this week are on the road with visits to Salmon Arm, West Kelowna, and Merritt.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Victoria is paddling uphill and expect to see them fall soon. The competition is fierce on the Island and both Powell River and Nanaimo are right on their heels. Victoria may fall to third after being hit with injuries to their captain and also their rookie star.

GRADE “C”

#7 Powell River (27-16-6-4 / .596) – The Kings are looking good with the final three home games of the regular season set for this week.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The schedule has set up favorably for the Kings to overtake Victoria and claim the Island crown. Odds are heavily in favor of this. 

#8 Nanaimo (28-20-3-3 / .574) – The Clips are sailing through with a tailwind and six straight wins. That number should move to eight after the weekend home-and-home set with Cowichan Valley. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Beating Cowichan always seems like a lock on paper, but those pesky Caps continue to scrap. If Nanaimo can stay focused, they should sweep the weekend.

#9 Chilliwack (25-21-3-3 / .538) – The Chiefs are starting to look like a team capable of doing something during the Royal Bank Cup. Back-to-back solid wins and staying up and over .500 may be giving the crew some confidence. Let’s see how it goes this week with four games on the schedule. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: It’s been nervous time around the Wack all year but the locals are starting to feel a groundswell of confidence. Monday’s OT win at Surrey has moved the Chiefs up to second place.

#10 Langley (22-18-10-2 / .538) – The Riv stopped a four game slide with Saturday’s shooting gallery (7-6) win over Surrey. Langley visits Merritt for Valentine’s Day before hosting the Vees and Express later this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: A division title is out of reach now, but opening the playoffs at home is still a possibility. That will provide the motivation, but won’t be enough. Odds are Langley will open their postseason at Chilliwack.

#11 Surrey (24-21-6-2 / .528) – The Eagles have dropped six straight games and are playing as if out of luck. One goal losses to both Chilliwack and Langley were heartbreakers. Can Surrey recover in time to push for a strong close to the season? PG and Penticton visit this week with bad intentions. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Surrey will likely face PG to begin the playoffs, so look for both teams to try to set the tone when they square off this week. The Eagles can stand tall, though, they won’t go far this year but they are vastly improved over last year.

#12 West Kelowna (26-26-1-1 / .500) – Are we done yet? Not so fast West Kelowna. With just four games remaining in the regular season, it looks like the Warriors are thinking about cruise control after losing at Powell River and Chilliwack. Victoria visits Saturday.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Odds are we’ll see the Warriors open the postseason at Trail as the #5 seed. West K can play spoiler by handing Victoria a loss as they try to fend off Powell River for the Island crown. 

#13 Salmon Arm (23-25-3-1 / .481) – The Silverbacks are so close to being a winning hockey team that the city is actually starting to get excited. With the playoffs just around the corner, Salmon Arm is moving into position of being that dangerous team that nobody is going to be excited about facing. Victoria visits Friday before the ‘Backs move to Merritt for Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Two solid games await the ‘Backs this week, and their plan is to tighten up their fundamentals in preparation for the playoffs. They know they’ll open on the road, and they’re OK with it. 

GRADE “D”

#14 Merritt (20-26-4-1 / .441) –The Cents went 1-2 on their Island adventure losing at Powell River and Nanaimo before upending Cowichan Valley. With four games on the schedule this week, Merritt has the numerical possibility of moving to just two games under .500.  Three of those four games are at home. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Even though they’ve clinched a postseason berth, no one wants to finish dead last. With 5 of their last 7 at home, Merritt has a slight chance to overtake Salmon Arm and move up to #6.

#15 Alberni Valley (15-29-5-4 / .368) – The Dogs had a rough week; losing in OT to Nanaimo before being run down against Wenatchee. Chilliwack visits Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Bulldogs don’t have any false pretense, they know they are an extreme underdog in their division and no one expects them to make it past the first round. Maybe they’ll rally around that point, and catch some one sleeping, but pretty unlikely.

GRADE “F”

#16 Coquitlam (14-35-1-3 / .302) – The Express have dropped five straight since pounding Surrey on February 1st. That’s not going to do the trick. This week home-and-home set with the Vees could be interesting. Prince George visits on the 17th before Coquitlam closes the four-game week at Langley on Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Maybe making it to the playoffs is enough to make everyone feel good for a hot minute, but since a Coquitlam playoff spot means a first round series against the Interior Division champs, that euphoria will fizzle quickly. Expect the Express to come up empty in all four this week.

#17 Cowichan Valley (9-37-5-2 / .236) – I get it; there’s nothing fun about losing a dozen games in a row. Obviously, this team is deep into next season mode but let’s hope there’s at least some fight in this group to build from. Nanaimo is in on Valentine’s Day before the Caps visit Nanaimo Friday. Vernon slithers into town on Saturday.  BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Quite simply, the opponents all need these games, and Cowichan Valley does not. Losing skid continues. Better luck next year.

SCALE: A 725+, B 600-724, C 475-599, D 350-474, F 0-349