CJHL Playoff Update

Monday, March 7, 2011

The puck has dropped on the 2011 CJHL Playoffs across Canada, below is a brief recap from our member Leagues, each competing for the 2011 RBC Cup!

BCHL

Coastal Conference Semi-Finals
Victoria Grizzlies (4) vs. Powell River Kings (1) - Victoria advances after a 4-1 series win over Nanaimo

Langley Chiefs (3) vs. Surrey Eagles (2) - Langley and Surrey both advance to the next round after sweeps over Alberni Valley and Coquitlam respectively

Interior Conference Semi-Finals
Westside Warriors (4) vs. Varnon Vipers (1) - Westside advances after a grueling seven game series against Trail

Salmon Arm SilverBacks (3) vs. Penticton Vees (2) - Salmon Arm and Penticton both advance to the next round after sweeps over Merritt and Quesnel respectively

Who's Hot
Penticton is unbeaten in their last 10 games heading into their series against Salmon Arm. Their last regular season loss came to Vernon on Feb 5th, 2011 and after sweeping Quesnel in the playoffs, this team looks poised to keep the streak alive.

Langley is on a seven game winning streak dating back to February 8th during the regular season. After a first round sweep over Alberni Valley, this team will be in tough against rival Surrey, a team which has had Langley's number this year winning seven out of 10 matchups against the Chiefs during the regular season.

Brett Knowles (Salmon Arm) is averaging 2.5 points a game after putting up 10 points in four games in Salmon Arm's first round sweep of Merritt.

Leading Scorers
1. Alex Grieve (Westside) GP- 7, G- 7, A- 4, PTS- 11, PIM- 4
2. Brett Knowles (Salmon Arm) GP- 4, G- 3, A- 7, PTS- 10, PIM- 4
3. Joel Lowry (Victoria) GP- 5, G- 3, A- 7, PTS- 10, PIM- 4

Top Goaltenders
1. Karel St- Laurent (Surrey) GP- 4, W- 4, L-0, 1.25 GAA, 0.957 Sv %
2. Joel Rumple (Penticton) GP- 4, W- 4, L- 0, 1.97 GAA, 0.906 Sv %
3. Wyatt Galley (Langley) GP- 4, W- 4, L-0, 2.48 GAA, 0.936 Sv %

That's Interesting

• Four first round sweeps
• One series went to seven games (Trail- Westside, Westside in 7)
• Heated regional rivalry in the 2nd round (Langley vs. Surrey)

AJHL

In the Hunt
Round Two of the 2011 AJHL Enerflex Cup Playoffs opened on Saturday night in the South Division. Over 1,000 fans filled the arenas in both Game One match-ups.

The Bonnyville Pontiacs stole a win on the road in Fort McMurray on Monday to tie the series 1-1, and guarantee a Game Five in the North Division Semi-Final Series. The best-of-seven series will return to Bonnyville for Game Three and Game Four beginning Wednesday. Game One of the series required overtime to determine the Oil Barons as the winner, and another one goal game on Monday resulted in a 3-2 Pontiacs win. The Oil Barons and Pontiacs swept the St. Albert Steel and Sherwood Park Crusaders respectively to advance their post-seasons.

The Spruce Grove Saints took a 2-0 series lead with a 1-0 shutout versus the Lloydminster Bobcats on Monday. The Saints have allowed just one goal in the series thus far. The Saints are 100% on the penalty kill in the series (0/14). The series will now move to Lloydminster for Game Three and Four of the series on Wednesday / Thursday. The Saints earned a first round bye, unlike their opponent who defeated the Grande Prairie Storm in Game 5 of the first round divisional playoffs.

The South Division Semi-Finals will continue with Game Three and Four on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Okotoks Oilers lead the Calgary Mustangs 2-0 as the series now switches to Calgary. The Okotoks Oilers exploded with 7 goals to defeat the Calgary Mustangs 7-1, following a 5-1 victory on Saturday night. The Oilers received a first round bye to advance to Round Two. The Calgary Mustangs defeated the Olds Grizzlys in three straight games to advance to Round Two.

The Brooks Bandits and Camrose Kodiaks are tied 1-1 heading into Game Three in Camrose on Tuesday. The series will return to Brooks for Game Five on Friday night. Matt Wilkins had a 4 point night on Sunday, including the game winning goal, and leads the Playoff Scoring race with 12 points in 5 games. The Brooks Bandits swept the Canmore Eagles in Round One while their opponent, the Camrose Kodiaks, defeated the Drumheller Dragons in four games to earn their spot in the Divisional Semi-Finals.

Who's Hot
Nine of the Top 13 scorers in the post-season are participating in the North Division Series between Fort McMurray and Bonnyville.

Matt Wilkins of the Brooks Bandits had a 4 point game on Sunday, including the game winning goal, and leads the Playoff Scoring race with 12 points in 5 games.

Top Scorers
1. Matt Wilkins, Brooks Bandits (7G, 5A, 12Pts)
2. Ryan Kearns, Bonnyville Pontiacs (3G. 6A, 9Pts)
3. Brock Maschmeyer, Fort McMurray Oil Barons (1G, 8A, 9Pts)

Top Goaltenders
1. Vincenzo Marozzi , Spruce Grove Saints (0.50GAA)
2. Michael Tadjdeh, Okotoks Oilers (1.00GAA)
3. Jesse Kallechy, Fort McMurray Oil Barons (1.90GAA)

That's Interesting
On Sunday night, AJHL President Craig T. Cripps presented goaltender Vince Marozzi of the Spruce Grove Saints with the 2011 RBC Junior A Scholarship. Marozzi received $1,000 towards his post-secondary education and will be eligible for the $5,000 National RBC Junior A Scholarship, which will be announced at the 2011 RBC Cup.

The Camrose Kodiaks will host the 2011 RBC Cup National Junior A Championship.

SJHL

The hunt for the Credit Union Cup has reached the 2nd round with the conference semi-finals underway.

The Yorkton Terriers have jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Estevan in one Sherwood semi-final after posting a 4-2 win in Yorkton to open the series and then following it up with a 5-4 win in Estevan. The Bruins advanced to the semi-finals in dramatic fashion. After losing in triple overtime to Melville in Game 3 of their first round best of 5 series, the Bruins forced a Game 5 with an overtime win in Melville and then after trailing 2-0 in the 2nd period rallied to tie the game and win it in overtime on Dominic Perreault's 2nd goal of the game five and a half minutes into the extra frame.

The Kindersley Klippers have taken a 2-0 lead in their Sherwood semi with Weyburn after a pair of wins in Kindersley. The Klippers big three of Johnny Calkins, Andrew Dommett and Braeden Adamyk are leading the way as Calkins had 5 points in the two wins with Dommett and Adamyk having four each.

In the Bauer Conference, the La Ronge Ice Wolves have taken a 2-0 lead over rival Flin Flon with the next two games going at the historic Whitney Forum. In the other series, the Humboldt Broncos and Melfort Mustangs are even at one game apiece with each team winning in the other teams rink.

Scoring Leaders (GP, G, A, Pts)
1 Troy Hunter, Estevan Bruins 7 3 7 10
2 Dylan Smith, Estevan Bruins 7 2 8 10
3 Jonathan Ceci, Estevan Bruins 7 2 6 8
4 Ian McNulty, Melville Millionaires 5 5 2 7
5 Michael Rogoschewsky, Melville Millionaires 5 4 2 6
6 Ryan Fox, Flin Flon Bombers 6 3 3 6
7 Mark Cross, Estevan Bruins 7 3 3 6
8 Deven Stillar, Flin Flon Bombers 6 0 6 6
9 Corey Tyrell, Flin Flon Bombers 6 4 1 5
10 Andrew Johnston, Flin Flon Bombers 6 3 2 5

MJHL

In The Hunt
Of the four series underway, a pair of teams hold a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series: Portage Terriers and Waywayseecappo Wolverines.

Portage lost a 2-1 decision to Swan Valley, while Wolverines won on Sunday to give them a one-game edge in their best-of-seven Sher-Wood Division playoffs.

At this point, theWolverines are the big winners of the crossover format of the MJHL. While the club finished fifth in the Sher-Wood Division, they moved over to the Addison Divison playoffs by virtue of having more points than the Addison's fourth-place team (Winnipeg Blues). Wolverines are taking on Winkler Flyers, who finished first in the Addison.

Winnipeg Saints and Selkirk Steelers are deadlocked 1-1 in their Addison Division series, while OCN Blizzard and Dauphin Kings (defending MJHL champions) are tied up 1-1.

Who's Hot
T.J. Constant (OCN Blizzard), Shane Goodrunning (Wayway) and Josh Daley sit atop the playoff scoring race with 5 points apiece. Jake Romback of Winkler Flyers has been hot on the powerplay reflected in two goals.

That's Interesting
Fans have been treated to some intense playoff action thus far with five games being settled in overtime.

OJHL

2nd Round N-W Conference:
Newmarket (1) vs. Stouffville (5) - 0 games to 2
Burlington (2) vs. Oakville (3) - 0 games to 1

2nd Round S-E Conference:
Wellington (1) vs. Villanova (5) - 1 game to 0
Vaughan (2) vs. Kingston (3) - 1 game to 0

Who's Hot

Leading Scorers:
1. Jesse Healy (Markham) - 16 points
2. Matt Neal (Stouffville) - 16 points
3. Chris Carr (Burlington) - 14 points

Top Goaltenders:
1. Wendell Vye (Kingston) - 0.80 GAA
2. Jordan Ruby (Wellington) - 1.00 GAA
3. Victor Adamo (Vaughan) - 1.39 GAA

• Wellington Dukes - Undefeated thus far in playoff action
• Stouffville Spirit - Take early 2-0 lead on regular season champion Newmarket Hurricanes
• Matt Neal (Stouffville) - OJHL Most Improved Player continues to hold the hot hand
• Christian Finch (Stouffville) - Scored two shorthanded goals
• Tyler Stothers (Vaughan) - Has scored three game-winning goals in the Vipers' four victories
• Jordan Ruby (Wellington) - Leads the way with two shutouts

That's Interesting

• Kingston Voyageurs downed the persistent Cobourg Cougars in game seven of 1st round series after leading the series 3 games to 1
• Brian Perrin, head coach of the Newmarket Hurricanes, named OJHL Coach-of-the-Year
• Both #4 seeds (Markham & Peterborough) eliminated during 1st round of playoffs
• Rivalry - Neighbouring Town of Oakville and City of Burlington square off in 2nd round match-up - last met in 2009 with Oakville winning series 4 games to 1

CCHL

The Central Canada Hockey League is embarking on the first round of the playoffs - the first round starts March 8th with Nepean at Brockville. Pembroke finished first overall and will take on Smiths Falls.

• Pembroke vs. Smiths Falls
• Cornwall vs. Kanata
• Brockville vs. Nepean
• Gloucester vs. Carleton Place

QJAAAHL

The QJAAAHL playoff series continued this week with the presentation of the quarter final series. Eight teams are still in the run for the Napa Cup Championship.

Series - Joliette vs Terrebonne
The Joliette Traffic already take a 2-0 lead in their quarter final series with a 7-3 victory in Terrebonne March 4th and a 5-0 win in Joliette March 6th. Forwards Nicholas Pard leads the team in scoring with 14 points including 7 goals. The League best scorer in the regular season, rookie Alexandre Côté is also doing well with 4 goals and 7 assists in 5 games while goalie Jean-Philippe Gagnon continues his excellent work in the net with 4 wins including one shutout and only one loss so far in series with a 2:40 goals against average.

Series Sherbrooke vs Sainte-Agathe
The Collège Champlain de Sherbrooke began the defense of their title with a 4-3 victory over the Sainte-Agathe Montagnards Sunday March 6th in Sherbrooke to take a 1-0 lead in their quarter final series. Forward Marc-Étienne Drapeau led the team in scoring during that game with one goal and one assist.

Series Longueuil vs Princeville
The Collège Français de Longueuil are leading their series 2-0 following wins of 4-2 in Longueuil Friday March 4th and a 6-1 victory in Princeville Sunday March 6th. Left winger Maxime Charrette led the team in scoring so far with 3 goals and two assists in 2 games while goaltender Marc-André Corbeil has compiled an excellent 1:50 goal against average in those two games.

Series Saint-Jérôme vs Valleyfield
This series is now tied 1-1. The Saint-Jérôme Panthères won the first contest 4-0 Friday March 4th while Sunday March 6th, in Valleyfield, Samuel Lachance scored at 7:21 of the third overtime period to lead the Braves to a 4-3 win over the Panthères.

Who's Hot

League Leading Scorers:
Nicholas Pard - Joliette - 14 points in 5 games (7-7-14)
Alexandre Côté - Joliette - 11 points in 5 games (4-7-11)
Dominick Leduc - Valleyfield - 9 points in 4 games (2-7-9)
Mathieu Leduc - Valleyfield - 9 points in 4 games (1-8-9)
Vincent Couture - Sainte-Agathe - 8 points in 3 games (1-7-8)

Top Goaltenders
Loïc Boivin - Saint-Jérôme - 2 GP - 1:08 GAA
Marc-André Corbeil - Longueuil - 2 GP - 1:50 GAA
Jean-Philippe Gagnon - Joliette - 5 GP - 2:40 GAA

SIJHL

The Superior International Junior Hockey League's postseason is nicely underway with each of the three first-round series all having played at least two games.

In the SIJHL showdown between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds it is the top ranked Wisconsin Wilderness who have taken the opening leg of their two, 2-game total-goal series against the second place Fort Frances Lakers.

After dropping the opener 3-2 on home ice Wisconsin bounced back in game two with a convincing 4-0 victory to take the initial 2-game, total goal affair by a 6-3 margin.

The Lakers will now return home to host their two-game portion of the series March 10-11 at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances.

The overall showdown winner will then have the choice of opponents in the semi-final round.

In quarter-final action the Dryden Ice Dogs have the Duluth Clydesdales on the brink of elimination following a 2-1 victory in double overtime in game three of their best-of-seven series Sunday evening.

Dryden will look to round out the series Monday night.

The other SIJHL quarter-final set sees the two-time defending champion Thunder Bay North Stars taking the first two games of their best-of-seven vs. the Sioux Lookout Flyers winning by scores of 5-0 and 7-5.

Sioux Lookout will try and hold serve with games three and four at March 9-10 at Memorial Arena.

WHO'S HOT

Leading Scorers (Player Team GP G A PTS)

• Thomas Greene Dryden 3 6 1 7
• Ben McClellan Dryden 3 1 5 6
• Len Pelletier Dryden 3 2 2 4
• Sam Dubinsky Thunder Bay 2 2 2 4
• Spencer Hogan Thunder Bay 2 1 3 4
• Rylan Henley Thunder Bay 2 1 3 4

Leading Goaltenders (Goaltender Team GP W L AVG. SV% SO)

• Jake Hebda '91 Wisconsin 1 1 0 0.00 1.000 1
• Ian Perrier '90 Dryden 3 3 0 0.93 .943 0
• Tyler Ampe '91 Fort Frances 2 1 0 2.40 .947 0

Despite their opening night playoff setback to Fort Frances the Wisconsin Wilderness, tabbed 13th in the final CJHL top 20 rankings, have gone an impressive 30-1-0-3 in their past 34 games overall.

SIJHL performer of the month for February Jake Hebda recorded the second shutout of the SIJHL playoffs over the weekend. The 19-year-old Firestone, Colo., native has gone a perfect 16-0 in his last 16 starts.

Dryden forward Thomas Greene leads all players in the league with six playoff goals to his credit in just three games. He is also tops in overall offensive production with seven points.

The Thunder Bay North Stars have been firing at a 50% clip on the power play striking seven times with the man advantage in 14 opportunities. Dryden has also been sharp with the extra man notching eight goals in 21 chances for a success ratio of 38.1%.

That's Interesting
The Thunder Bay North Stars have the most playoff wins of any team in SIJHL history with 57. Dryden is second with 38.

In the first nine years of the league the North Stars have won a SIJHL-high five Bill Salonen Cup playoff titles. The Ice Dogs of Dryden are next with two.

The North Stars have been in the SIJHL finals a record seven consecutive years.

The Dryden Ice Dogs are a perfect 7-0 in playoff overtime games dating all the way to 2006.

Of all the players in the 10-league CJHL Dryden's Thomas Greene's six goals put him in a tie for sixth in postseason goal production. He has also amassed his totals in fewer games than any of those players currently ahead of him. Jesse Healy (Markham-OJHL-9g-6gp), Alex Grieve (Westside-BCHL-7g-7gp), Matt Wilkins (Brooks-AJHL), Lukas Ciotti (Kingston-OJHL-7g-8gp) and Nicholas Pard (Joliette-LHJAAAQ-7g-5gp) are the only ones ahead of Greene based on the statisticslisted on the other CJHL member league websites.

Wisconsin Wilderness forward Wilson Housley is the son of former NHL standout defenceman Phil Housley. He saw action in nearly 1,500 NHL contests and amassed 1,234 points in a 21-year NHL career.

Dryden Ice Dogs defenceman Ian Schachte is the son of long-time National Hockey League linesman Dan Schachte. He is a veteran of over 2,000 NHL games including playoffs.

Duluth's general manager is former NHLer Butch Williams. He saw time with the St. Louis Blues and California Goldens Seals as well as a stint in the World Hockey Association. He also played for the U.S. in the 1976 Canada Cup.

Fort Frances head coach and general manager Wayne Strachan was a member of two NCAA championship teams. The three-time SIJHL coach of the year recipient won two national titles during his four-year career at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., in the 1990s.

Wisconson coach and G.M. Rod Aldoff played four years of NCAA hockey at Minnesota-Duluth before going on to a 15-year professional career.

Former Thunder Bay North Stars standout netminder Carter Hutton is currently with the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. Hutton is in his first season of professional hockey following a standout collegiate career at UMass-Lowell of Hockey East.

There are currently over two dozen former SIJHLers playing collegiate hockey in the U.S. and Canada.

Other SIJHL alumni currently committed to attend NCAA schools include Marcus Perrier, (Bowling Green, CCHA), Ryan Faragher, (Dartmouth, ECAC), Graeme McCormack, (Bemidji State, WCHA) Mitch Cain, (Bemidji State, WCHA) and Kelin Ainsworth, (Lake Superior State, CCHA)

MHL

In the Hunt
After the first week of playoff action in the MHL, the outcome of the Bent Division mini-series sees the exit of the Metro Marauders. The CIBC Wood Gundy Lumberjacks defeated the Marauders 2-1 in the best of three game series. The Lumberjacks moved on to face the Weeks Crushers. Game one of that series saw the Weeks Crushers take a 1-0 lead after a 5-1 win on Sunday night. In the other Bent semi-final, The Yarmouth Mariners are facing the Truro Bearcats. The Mariners took game on on Saturday by a score of 8-2 to take a 1-0 series lead in their best of 7.

In the Meek Division, the league-leading Woodstock Slammers have a 2-0 series lead over the Campbellton Tigers. The Summerside Western Capitals took game one of the other Meek semi-final between the Capitals and the Miramichi Timberwolves.

Who's Hot
Top Scorers (Team Name GP G A PTS)

• YM Kyle Campbell 1 3 2 5
• MM Andrew Wigginton 3 1 4 5
• MM Justin Belanger 3 1 4 5
• BL Andrew Wigg 4 1 4 5
• BL Matt Stoddard "A" 4 2 3 5
• BL Tyler Noseworthy 4 3 2 5

* Six players tied at 5 points

Notable: Kyle Campbell of the Yarmouth Mariners had a hat trick and two assists in game one of the Bent Semi-final between Yarmouth and Truro.

Top Goaltenders (Team Name SV% GAA)

• WS Alex Scola 0.967 1.00
• WC Justin Collier 0.971 1.00
• SWC Paul Dorsey 0.941 2.00
• YM Charles Grant 0.926 2.00