With playoffs underway across the country, a few teams have really pressed down on the gas pedal while a couple of others have fallen off the map. One thing you’ll learn after being around sports for a certain amount of time is that coaching and winning pedigree make a huge difference at this time of year.
As we progress into the latter stages of round one and get set for round two; some paths to the Minto are much easier than others. With all that in mind let’s try to make sense of it all in the latest edition of the Jr. A Power Rankings.Â
#1. Orangeville Northmen
It’s a close call between the Northmen and Adanacs for the top spot but I’m going to defer back to the team that right now, I’d take in a head to head on a neutral floor. Especially after last year’s uneven appearance at the Minto I expect the Northmen to have learned a few things from a season ago. Their defence and goaltending combo looks improved and whenever they need a goal they find ways to get it. Now off of a first round sweep of the upstart Kitchener-Waterloo Braves, the Northmen will get a much stronger test from either the Lakers or Athletics in the second round.Â
#2. Coquitlam Adanacs
They suffered a shocking end of season loss to the Salmonbellies but continue to be the overwhelming favorite to represent BC. Now they add Cody Malawsky in one of the more surprising acquisition announcements in years which will help fortify the front gate. It’s not really about the skill he brings but the shear will and determination you don’t really see matched anywhere else. A perfect fit for the Coquitlam culture and mentality where the ball is shared exceptionally well. The strength of this team however remains the back gate and it will need to lead them should they return to yet another Minto Cup.Â
#3. Toronto Beaches
We have long known the star power was there to compete for a Minto spot but they are shutting it down defensively. In their 3-0 first round sweep of Mimico, the Beaches relinquished a paltry combined 12 goals. And that’s not against a weak struggling team either as the Moutnaineers were competitive all season long. That type of performance bodes well for a team that may need NLL netminder Thomas Kiazyk to steal them a game or two in the coming rounds.Â
#4. Peterborough Lakers
By far the most impressive series victory to this point the Lakers made quick work of a dangerous Arrows team dispatching them 3-0. This is a team that’s very physical but plays with discipline and poise. They’ve also shown to have a terrific home floor advantage which could pay dividends as the playoffs move along. Nicholas Roode is a legitimate star and they have multiple threats on the floor offensively at any given time. The ball moves fluidly and they work well together in the two man game. Peterborough will either get the Northmen or Beaches in the OJLL semi-final depending on the outcome of the first round tilt between Whitby and St. Catharines.Â
#5. Raiders Lacrosse Club
After a slight scare in game on against Saskatchewan the Raiders responded by putting their foot down in game two with a 19-2 beat down. What I liked most about this performance is they worked to get to the crease and the middle of the floor as opposed to relying on their superior outside shooting. The defence remains very smart and capable of generating turnovers. In watching game two it was ridiculous how little in terms of quality they gave up towards their net. It almost looked as though they were defending 5-on-2. It was also a great sign if you’re a Raider to see Cash Frijters start to really click. For their sake, they would greatly benefit by being pushed a bit by whoever they inevitably play in the RMLL final
#6: St. Catharines Athletics
It is paramount for their confidence that they don’t simply back into the Minto as hosts and they seem to be aware of that in taking a 2-1 OJLL quarter final lead over Whitby. A clutch finish by deadline acquisition Lukas Nielsen allowed the Athletics to bounce back after getting tied up late on a Lucas Littlejohn marker in the dying seconds. That resiliency will serve them well moving forward as they will continue to be underdogs against the heavyweights. And you can’t talk about the Athletics without mentioning goaltender Ty Wilson who has really improved his play of late and become a force for the kids from the garden city. With goaltending like that St. Catharines will be a threat in their home barn come Minto time.Â
#7. Whitby Warriors
Now on the brink of elimination in their best of five, the Warriors will need to find a way to win on the road to stay alive. Their high octane offence has been somewhat slowed in recent games and they need a bit more from sniper Nolan Byrne who can be dynamic. The defence has been a little hit or miss at times but as a team they’ve continually created turnovers, something their front gate has been exceptional at creating. Game four and their season likely comes down to their finishing and whether or not their powerplay can get flowing. It’s the only OJLL series still going and that won’t be a sweep. Let’s see if the Warriors can force a deciding game five.Â
#8. Nanaimo Timbermen
Yes they dropped their series opener in Victoria but they fought back from an early 3-0 deficit at the first intermission before eventually falling 10-9. However throughout the game I thought they did a better job of generating chances from the middle of the floor and top of the crease. If they continue that trend they will give themselves every chance to win this series. It was Victoria’s outside shooting that was the clear difference in this game and they’ll want to close the gaps a little better and faster up near the dotted line. Ultimately for Nanaimo they have to figure out their road issues as they’ve really struggled away from Frank Crane this season. With that in mind, game two becomes a must for the Timbermen in this best-of-seven BCJALL semi final.
#9. Victoria Shamrocks
Much of what I said in the Nanaimo section can be applied here. Credit to Victoria for making sure they finished off that game one at home. Their shooters were just a bit better than that of Nanaimo’s and they received a couple more high calibre saves from Grayson Manning. Carter Quested was absolutely dialled in the series opener as well delivering lazers with precision into the back of the net. As I said above, game two will be a pivotal one in this series. The home floor advantage Nanaimo blew in their second to last game of the season could prove to be detrimental.
#10. Calgary Mountaineers
Continually going up by four to five goals in their series only to blow the lead, they haven’t made this easy on themselves. Still they hold a 2-0 series advantage as the series shifts to Edmonton. Kayden Yeamen continues to be incredible for the Mountaineers, not just in the faceoff dot but in transition producing all kinds of offence. The power play, while still not ideal, appears improved and Mason Rockley has taken full advantage of his looks in this series coming up clutch. However, if the Mountaineers want to lock this series up and have a real shot to knock off the Raiders they will need better goaltending moving forward and avoid these five to ten minute lapses where easy looks are given up in transition. Game three should be fascinating in Edmonton early Saturday evening as I expect it to be the Miners best punch they’ve thrown all season.Â
With the playoffs in full swing no better time than now to get out to these arenas and take it all in. If you can’t make it, streaming options are usually available including for free on the OJLL YouTube page. Thanks as always for reading and we will talk to you again next week.
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