This is posted on the Juniorhockey.ca website:
DAILY DISH: BCHL REPORT Canadian Junior Hockey News
Published: Tuesday, 30 Oct 2018
By: Stephen Heisler, JuniorHockey.com
The Chilliwack Chiefs’ grip on to the top spot of our British Columbia Hockey League rankings has lost a bit of strength. Regardless, the Chiefs are at #1 for the fourth straight week.
The BCHL Insider is exactly that...a coach, or employee, with incredible insight into the league.
Now for the disclosure… the following is my opinion and not written under the influence of anything or anybody.
1 – Chilliwack Chiefs (15-6-0-0): Chiefs again picked up a pair of wins in three games after Victoria delivered a blow to open the weekend. The Chiefs are in Langley Friday before hosting Salmon Arm and Alberni Valley. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: No shortage of controversy surrounding the Chiefs but they’re picking up valuable points either way. Should be another productive weekend.
2 – Coquitlam Express (13-5-1-0): The Express picked up a huge signature win at Penticton before getting another solid effort in the 5-2 win home win over Cowichan Valley. The frustrating part of this must be the dismal attendance numbers for games at Poirier Centre. Cranbrook’s Western Financial Place looks like a nice place and Kootenay Express does have a nice ring to it. Langley and Vernon visit Coquitlam this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The players don’t care about relocating, they care about winning and right now, it’s happening often enough to keep everyone happy.
3 – Prince George Spruce Kings (12-6-0-1): PG picked up wins in two of their three on the road and have the next four games all at Rolling Mix Arena. The Spruce Kings shut down Trail and Wenatchee before getting stopped by a brick wall at Salmon Arm. Alberni Valley and the Vees of Penticton visit PG this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: PG plays fast and hungry and should have a great run of home games.
4 – Powell River Kings (11-6-0-0): The Kings make another jump after another great weekend that extends their win streak to four-games. Powell River gets back on the bus this week with games at Surrey, Wenatchee, and West K. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Will be interesting to see how the road treats the Kings this weekend. Could be a long haul.
5 – Victoria Grizzlies (12-7-0-1): The Grizz fall one notch despite getting wins in two of three on the road. Trail and Nanaimo visit the Q this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Grizz will see a lot of orange this weekend at the Q but will they see enough flashing red behind the opponents net? Possibly.
6 – Merritt Centennials (12-8-0-0): The Cents drop a spot after getting ripped 6-1 by the Vees at home. Merritt salvaged the weekend with a solid 4-2 home win over Victoria. The Cents visit the Vees before Alberni Valley visits Nicola Saturday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: It’s early in the season still but the Cents have their eye on home ice in the postseason. Bumps in the road won’t slow them down much.
7 – Penticton Vees (9-6-0-2): The Vees slide one peg after losing two of three last week. Merritt will be hungry when they visit Friday. The trip up to PG should produce some fireworks as well. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Penticton will pull out all the stops as they look to regain their stranglehold of the division.
8 - West Kelowna Warriors (10-7-0-1): The Warriors are the big ascenders this week with the leap up to #8. Winners of four in a row, West K is proving to all that they can play with focus despite the hostile atmosphere surrounding the executive. Saturday’s 5-3 win at Penticton was epic. Wenatchee visits tonight before the Warriors return the favor Friday when they visit Town Toyota Center. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: West K is winning games because they’re having fun. But when adversity comes (and it always does), do the Warriors have the patience and leadership to survive it?
9 - Salmon Arm Silverbacks (10-7-1-0): The ‘Backs have wins in four of their last five games after going 2-1 last week. Salmon Arm is at Vernon and Chilliwack this week. INSIDER SAYS: Salmon Arm is slowly improving week by week, as their opponents this week will see first hand.
10 - Vernon Vipers (7-5-4-1): The Vipers climb into the Top Ten despite going 1-0-1-1 last week. Salmon Arm is in for Halloween before Vernon goes to Coquitlam and Langley this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: If the Vipers find their mojo, they’ve got the personnel to do some good things. For now, they are struggling to find themselves.
11 - Wenatchee Wild (9-7-2-0): Wenatchee picked up a pair of wins last week before falling at home to PG. The Wild have a home-and-home with West K this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Is it a Cup hangover? Hard to say, but the Wild are wildly inconsistent this season.
12 - Langley Rivermen (8-8-1-0): The Riverman slide to #12 after dropping two of three last week. Langley has just one win in their last six games. The Riv are at #2 Coquitlam on Halloween Night before hosting Chilliwack and Vernon this weekend. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: Langley can be streaky. They might lose a few in a row, but when they bounce back, they’ll win a handful in a row.
13 - Trail Smoke Eaters (7-8-3-1): The Smokies now are nosediving after dropping six straight. This team has the talent to pull out of the dive and we’re more than confident that can happen this weekend. Trail visits Victoria, Cowichan Valley, and Surrey. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: No one is untouchable and the Smokies may be in the market to upgrade this week.
14 - Alberni Valley Bulldogs (7-10-1-0): The ‘Dogs split the weekend set of home games; shutting out the Clippers Friday before getting shutout themselves by Vernon Saturday. Alberni Valley goes to PG, Merritt, and Chilliwack this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Dogs will be underdogs in all three games but needless to say they’ve shown they can surprise people.
15 – Nanaimo Clippers (6-12-0-0): The Clips have lost three in a row after beating Surrey on the 19th. Nanaimo plays five of the next six games at the Frank Crane Arena. Cowichan Valley comes to town Friday before the Clips sail over to Victoria for Sunday. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The real Clippers are being revealed now after managing a few unexpected wins.
16 – Surrey Eagles (5-13-0-0): The Eagles win one and lose two trend continued this last week after splitting the set with Langley and getting cooked at home by Victoria. Powell River and Trail come to South Surrey Arena this week. BCHL INSIDER SAYS: The Eagles top players are as good as any in the league, but the dropoff from there is pretty steep. That’s why Surrey is having trouble.
No comments:
Post a Comment