|
The Tornado launched themselves to the top of this list with a pair of strong performances in Corpus Christi. Where did everybody else end up? #1 Texas
Tornado 8-0-0 / Last
Week #3
Tony Curtale's Tornado continues to impress us with the
successful transition to a tough, but non-nonsense, style of play. Texas was 3-0 this
past weekend. Topeka goes to Frisco on Thursday and Saturday.
#2 Amarillo Bulls 5-1-1 / Last
Week #5
The Bulls continue to make progress and embarrassed Wichita
Falls this past weekend. Newcomer Gage Christensen has contributed after being traded to Amarillo from Johnstown. Odessa visits Amarillo on
Thursday and Saturday. Expect the Bulls to turn in another pair of
dominating performances.
#3 Wenatchee Wild 9-1-1 / Last
Week #1
Bliss Littler's Wild faced the hard realities of Fairbanks' Big Dipper
Arena this past weekend but still managed to come away with another three
points with the effort. They travel to the Kenai Peninsula for
the final three games of the road-trip that started in Blaine.
#4 Topeka
RoadRunners 8-1-1 / Last
Week #2
RoadRunners coach Scott Langer turned Friday's stunning loss, in
the final minute, into a positive with wins on Saturday and Sunday
against Odessa. Topeka will need to get a much stronger effort this week when
they face the Tornado.
#5 Fairbanks Ice
Dogs 8-3-0 / Last
Week #6
The Big Dipper has been a haunted house for visiting teams since
it was converted from an airplane hangar back in the 1960's. The opponents
change but the results seldom vary. Expect that trend to continue this weekend
when the Ice Dogs host the Fresno Monsters.
#6 Brookings
Blizzard 6-2-0 / Last
Week #4
Splitting this past weekend's series with Coulee Region has sent
the Blizzard down this list. Brookings hosts Austin on Friday and goes to
Coulee Region on Saturday.
#7 Port Huron
Fighting Falcons 9-3-0 / Last
Week #7
Steve Shannon's Fighting Falcons gave up three points to the Soo
Eagles at home this past weekend, something that a first place team should not be
doing. The scheduling Gods gave Shannon another chance to inflate his ego this
week when the team travels to Springfield. For the record, anything less than a
full four point effort will be an embarrassment.
#8 Kalamazoo
K-Wings 7-3-0 / Last
Week #11
The Zoo took care of
business against Moe Mantha's Warriors this past weekend and should come away
with four points this weekend when they host the Janesville Jets.
#9 Kenai
River Brown Bears 5-3-3 / Last
Week #8
The Brown Bears have very little time to celebrate their series
win over Fresno with the powerful Wenatchee Wild in town for three games this
week. The good news is that Peninsula fans are in for a heck of a treat; this
is going to be a fun series to watch.
#10 Austin Bruins 5-2-0 / Last
Week #12
The Bruins sent the Wings home pointless this past weekend. Austin
and Brookings should both capture wins at home this weekend in their two-game
set.
#11 Johnstown Tomahawks 4-3-3 / Last
Week #16
Johnstown dominated Janesville this past weekend and looks to
continue their success at the Soo (Friday and Saturday) and Michigan (Sunday). Tomahawks
netminder Chris Truehl would love to get a shot at his former team but Johnstown
coach Jason Spence may stick with Bodhi Engum who is riding a three game
winning streak.
#12 Soo Eagles 5-4-2 / Last
Week #14
The Eagles have turned in a string of strong performances since
the NAHL showcase, getting points out of every game with the exception of one.
The Tomahawks visit the Soo this weekend and will do well to escape with a pair
of points.
#13 Jamestown Ironmen 6-2-2 / Last
Week #13
Everybody is talking about the Ironmen this week and I have to
question why. They were supposed to dominate a hapless Springfield team and the
fact is that neither of the games were easy wins. The suddenly over-rated
Ironmen travel to Flint this weekend to face the Warriors and I have a feeling
that the result is going to be disappointing for Jamestown fans.
#14 Fresno Monsters 5-5-1 / Last
Week #9
Fresno needs to buckle
down after a pair of questionable performances at Kenai River. Monsters' coach
Eric Ballard knows that there are very
few easy road wins at the Big Dipper in Fairbanks and will need to do something
special in order to come out of the weekend with points.
#15 Janesville
Jets 4-4-2 / Last
Week #10
The Jets were dominated by Johnstown this past weekend and are
at serious risk of coming out of this weekend series at Kalamazoo with a
four game losing streak.
#16 Wichita Falls
Wildcats 3-5-2 / Last
Week #15
The Wildcats played dead in two losses to Amarillo over the
weekend before taking the Tornado to a shoot-out on Sunday in Frisco. This
weekend Paul Baxter busses the Wildcats down to the beach when they visit
Corpus Christi.
#17 Odessa Jackalopes 3-5-1 / Last
Week #17
Odessa did well to get the win on Friday night in Topeka but
will have a difficult time getting even a point out of Amarillo this weekend.
#18 Corpus Christi
IceRays 2-5-3 / Last
Week #18
The IceRays desperately need to find a #1 goalie before this
weekend's series against Wichita Falls.
#19 Coulee Region
Chill 2-4-1 / Last
Week #22
The Chill got a big performance from Mac Jansen on Friday night
in Brookings (6-5 Chill win) and followed that up with another great team
effort on Saturday despite the loss. This weekend both Bismarck (Friday) and
Brookings (Saturday) visit the Omni Center and I would not be at all surprised
to see Coulee Region come away with 3 or 4 points.
#20 Bismarck Bobcats 3-5-0 / Last
Week #20
The Bobcats visit Coulee Region and Austin this weekend and
should be able to come away with at least a pair of points.
#21 Aberdeen Wings 2-6-0 / Last
Week #19
The Wings were swept on the road in Austin this past weekend but
can look forward to a home and home set against Minot to ease their pain.
#22 Michigan Warriors 2-7-0 / Last
Week #21
Moe Mantha must be scratching his head to come up with a
successful formula. Things did not go well at the Zoo and he does not have much
time before the hard-charging Ironmen come to town on Friday and Saturday.
There is also the added bonus of the Johnstown Tomahawks visiting Flint on
Sunday.
#23 Springfield
Blues 1-7-2 / Last
Week #23
Springfield was competitive at Jamestown this past weekend, even
managing to bring home a point for the effort. I'm not sure if the result is a
sign that the Sharks are getting better or if Jamestown is just not that good.
#24 Minot Minotauros 1-6-1 / Last
Week #24
So, did Minot party or prepare this past off weekend? Let me
answer that question after this weekend's series against Aberdeen.
We are going to be able to answer a ton of questions after this
weekend's games.
JuniorHockey.com is the premier website dedicated to
delivering the latest news and developing stories from junior hockey across
North America, as well as providing online tools for junior hockey players and
prospects. With over 225,000 views each month Juniorhockey.com is the
internet's leading source of junior hockey news and information.
Stephen Heisler resides in Puerto Penasco, Mexico with his
wife, Maria, and their two children, Sonia and Tomas. Follow him on
Twitter @StephenHeisler for up to minute updates from the world of junior
hockey.
| 
