Midterm Report Card

Golden Horseshoe Jr B Hockey

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Port hockey1
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Midterm Report Card

Post by Port hockey1 »

By Bill Potrecz, The Standard
Tuesday, November 29, 2016 2:23:08 EST PM


It’s the halfway mark of the Golden Horseshoe season which can only mean one thing: Midterm report card time!



It’s always fun to put a grade to a team halfway through the season and see where they end up versus where they are now.

And, keep in mind, the grade is given based on expectations versus just the record. In other words, a .500 record for one team might be looked upon as overachieving which would get them a better grade than a .500 team which is underachieving.

Let the arguments begin!

Caledonia Corvairs

24-3-1

The three-time defending Sutherland Cup champions are off to another outstanding start leading the entire Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League in winning percentage (.875), goals for (169) and penalty minutes (.845).

The Corvairs may not be quite as dominant as last season but are still the cream of the crop, and play a grittier, more in-your-face style this season.

Forwards Brandon Linberg, Adam Craievich and Bailey Fletcher lead the offence while Joshua DeFarias and Zachary Core anchor the back end.

Full props to coach Mike Bullard for another well done job of keeping everyone on the same page, not always an easy proposition.

A fourth straight Ontario championship is a distinct possibility.

Grade: A+

St. Catharines Falcons

20-3-0-3

The Falcons are off to a noteworthy start of their own, putting together a fine 20-3-0-3 record, third overall in the GOJHL in winning percentage behind Caledonia and Listowel of the Midwestern Conference.

St. Catharines general manager Frank Girhiny put together a talented, balanced squad in the off-season and head coach Chris Johnstone has done a good job of moulding together the talent.

Owen Savory (2.03 GAA, .928 save percentage) is as good a goaltender as there is in the league while the offence, led by Lucas Smilsky and Zach Main, is deep and talented.

The defence is also solid and Johnstone has praised the work ethic and chemistry in the room from Day 1.

A run at a league championship and Sutherland Cup appear in the offing.

Grade: A+

Ancaster Avalanche

13-9-0-3

The Avalanche got off to a slow start losing their first three games of the season and were 3-7 through their first 10 games before turning things around.

Ryan Kuwabara is a solid coach and has guided the Avs to a respectable 13-9-0-3 mark, even more impressive considering their start.

Zach Bramwell, Graydon James and Owen Burnell lead the offence while Owen Norton is a threat from the blue-line.

Justin Vertesi has emerged as the No. 1 goaltender with a 2.83 goals-against average and .901 save percentage.

The Avs may not have the firepower to play with the big boys but generally play a smart, solid game.

Grade: B

Welland Junior Canadians

13-12-0-2

The Junior Canadians are anything but flashy and head coach Keith Osborne insists they compete, which they do most nights.

Ryan Miotto is an exciting offensive player who leads the team in scoring with 17 goals and 39 points while captain Patrick Desjardins anchors the defence and is second in the team in scoring with 30 points.

Brandon McCorriston and Blair Coffin give the team a solid tandem in goal.

Overall, the Junior Canadians aren’t scoring quite enough and aren’t a top-notch defensive team, as evidenced by their goals for/against differential (96/92).

The Junior Canadians are right in the middle of the pack and need to get better at both ends of the ice to be considered a legitimate contender.

Grade: B-

Niagara Falls Canucks

12-7-0-4

The Canucks have gone about their business quietly putting together an impressive start which includes an overtime win over the Falcons.

The Canucks have played fewer games that any other team (23) but have a solid .609 winning percentage. They have also permitted just 63 goals, third in the conference behind St. Catharines (57) and Caledonia (61). Adam Dentico (3.11) has played more games but Zach Moore (2.10) has the better numbers in goal.

The Canucks can score, too.

Harrison Cottam, Owen Green, Phillip Chadder, Garrett Downie and Ted Davis are all in double digits while Andrew Barbeau quarterbacks a potent power play which is second overall at 26.4 per cent.

The Canucks could be a very dangerous team come playoff time.

Grade: A-

Thorold Blackhawks

11-11-1-2

The Blackhawks feature the GOJHL’s leading scorer in Brendan D’Agostino (14-38-52) while Ryan Smith, Jake Lloyd, Matt Holmes and Cal Davis can also put the puck in the net.

Defenceman Griffin Roubos (13-14-27) is having a career year while Mitch Rossit was added from Pelham and has provided some much-needed grit.

Kirk Fraser (3.12) and Mathew Blattenberger (3.44) have given the team respectable goaltending.

Head coach Bryan Kelly is anxious to see how his charges respond over the next few weeks to see if they can finally get on a role and play with more consistency.

Grade: C

Fort Erie Meteors

10-15

The Meteors continue to do what they do best: develop players.

Niagara IceDogs draft pick Andrew Somerville leads the team in scoring (6-29-35) while Owen Sound pick Daylon Groulx has played seven games with the Attack and has a goal in seven games.

As usual, the Meteors are offensively challenged scoring an average of just over three per game while permitting 4.36 per contest.

That can make winning on a consistent basis difficult, but head coach Todd Clayton and his staff have managed to keep their record respectable.

The Meteors work hard and can catch at team off guard if they aren’t prepared to compete.

Grade: D+

Pelham Panthers

6-15-0-4

The Panthers had nowhere to go but up after last season’s disastrous 1-45-0-4 record and have made some progress this year under new coach Scott Barnes.

The Panthers have had a terrible time putting the puck in the net with only 59 goals through 25 games and have permitted 109. Those numbers don’t add up for a successful season.

Joel Nagy lead with team with 10 goals but no other player is in double digits.

The Panthers are inching toward respectability but still have a ways to go.

Grade: E

Buffalo Regals

0-26

No rating could convey how dismal this team is.

The Ontario Hockey Association got what it wanted when it overruled the GOJHL and permitted the Regals back in.

Hope they are happy.

No Grade.

BPotrecz@Postmedia.com

twitter@BillPStandard
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Re: Midterm Report Card

Post by GOJHLfan1 »

Id say those are pretty accurate.
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RocketGirl
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Re: Midterm Report Card

Post by RocketGirl »

The OHA has done a midseason review as well, for the entire league.

http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/news/news_465700
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jfvoll
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Re: Midterm Report Card

Post by jfvoll »

I'm surprised the Falcons got an A+ considering the Ice Dogs play Friday night. Hahahaha
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Re: Midterm Report Card

Post by StCathFalcons »

jfvoll wrote:I'm surprised the Falcons got an A+ considering the Ice Dogs play Friday night. Hahahaha
I fell out of my chair reading this!!! ^ Classic!
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