Enough talk about teams beating out VR and ST. It's just not going to happen. Both teams are very strong in the front end but VR is stronger in their backend. Goaltending has not been a problem for the two teams so far so I don't see how that will change. My guess is that it will be a hard fought series that could go either way. I'm giving Vaughn the upper hand though because every line on the team can score whereas ID rely on two to three great players to pull them through. Will be fun to watch!

ST will take it no doubt

Should we bother playing the rest of the season or just go straight to the division final?

I think Rangers forget that if you take Glynn out, team is average at best, would like to see them play with him. In the playoffs games get a tougher, and bigger teams like HH wll take care of busines

and thats when the VRangers prove that they're the best!

"Bigger" teams like HH, I hope that is not a reference to size. Smallest team. All 95 teams are small. Wait to silver stick to see how they match up against 94s. That will be the real challenge

Eagles seem to be doing fine in the 94 loop

No doubt VR has the number 1 goalie but Streetsville Free Riders have the scoring punch. Should be a good match.

No doubt VR has #1 goalie?????????

Yeah there is lots of doubt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12:29 does any one really care buddy?

you're right nobody cares.

besides HH goalie outplayed him in
both the games they played.

So much for #1

Seems to me everybody's out to beat him. So that proves that the VR goalie is the top goaltender to me in the loop!

responding to 3:52---you said it right. everyone commenting and competing with VR goalie, so that must mean hes the run everyone is trying to beat every game. enough said. And VR/HH game, second match up was a tie, and VR was shorthanded most of game. HH had more scoring chances , so you cant say HH goalie outplayed him both times when each match up he was'nt even tested.

Suppa top in loop.

Both VR goalie & Tigers goalie
haven't won ****. Get back to
me when they win something.

you could not give me all the money in the world to have my kid play for this coach

Suppa lost to VR goalie last year in first round.

Funny beacuse only one that has won is the HH and HC goalies, neither of these other two have come close to winning anything

Is that the HH goalie who got the hook tonight?

One game means nothing cann't wait to play you in playoffs, we all know ST will fold when the real preasure is on. Enjoy the win last night and move on

Mercy hook. Team fell apart around
him.

As I recall it was two games. HH haven't even come close to ST. Come on now. They are clearly the better team. You guys are good, but you can't keep saying wait till playoffs, or next time until you finally prove you are capable of beating them

If you recall what happend to ID last year where they rolled along and when playoffs hits got blown out by Eagles, playoffs are definitely different and reason for wait and see regaualr season mean very little for better teams

Eagles were the superior team, ID didn't beat them in the regular season.

huskies are full of excuses face it youll be 5th by the end of the year

No excuses, we got are butts kicked.

Tigers best team in loop at the moment. The deciding game will be when they play VR in January but as of now it looks as if their firepower up front will be unmatched

kewl, ST are self proclaimed champs of the West. Pretty awesome guys.

st will choke

Choke on this!

and Merry Christmas!!!!

You filthy animal

VR goalie and ST goalies havent had a supporting cast prior years unlike HH goalie. that would explain why they haven't won anything. past 3 seasons VR finished: 8th, 6th, 4th. ST also never finished top 3. and those prior years, VR was knocked out by the team who ended winning the championship: 08/09 season they faced stacked sharks team in first round, they won it all....09/10 season they were knocked out by ice dogs in first round who ended up winning it all...10/11 knocked out by ice dogs in second round who went to west finals but lost to eagles.

Knocked out of the Brampton Silver Stick by the mighty Georgetown Raiders ?Oh yea, you guys are great.

This just shows that they can only play with Jr. clubs.................if that! tied Goulding!!

Also beat Newmarket 7-2. And Newmarket beat GPR. When they are on their game, they can beat anybody.

Georgetown also tied Goulding tells me Georgetown not all that great and lets not forget Gergetown did not go thru looks to me that goon hockey from small hick town just does not work

any other excuses!oh great team Streetville, shut your trap and play the game....your not that good!!!

Let the Bull$hit stop...
Here's the Top 10 Teams


1 Toronto Eagles Midget AA 30-6-5 13.75 2.07 11.68
2 Etobicoke Canucks Midget AA 21-3-4 13.65 2.35 11.30
3 North York Knights Midget AA 24-6-1 13.27 1.70 11.57
4 Streetsville Tigers Jr Midget AA 29-2-3 13.25 3.73 9.52
5 Richmond Hill Stars Midget AA 35-5-3 13.11 1.95 11.16
6 Mississauga Jets Midget AA 25-9-3 13.00 1.64 11.36
7 Streetsville Tigers Midget AA 19-9-10 12.98 1.57 11.41
8 Georgetown Raiders Midget AA 24-6-3 12.94 3.09 9.85
9 Ajax Knights Midget AA 24-9-2 12.81 1.85 10.96
10 Vaughan Rangers Jr Midget AA 28-5-5 12.81 2.71 10.10

Quiet in tigertowm......rating will drop now!!!!after this tournament!

who really cares about midget AA - players are not good enough to make AAA - losers players AA

Players are fine........Loser parents !

1:34 Your Kid didn't get drafted?
maybe its you?

Georegtown exploited ST weakness ... shoot from anywhere and pick up the sloppy rebounds. Neither kid has a clue on how to direct the puck.

Oh yes. There we go again. Blame the goalies.

we are more than confident with either goalie we have
first loss since late september
haters love to hate

Could be like the Leafs,great start, then hit the skids...... hard and fast. Oh !!!!!

That's what happens when you talk like you are the best and can beat every team, serves you right, whatch what you say before you play!

Still can't touch the Eagles. They rolled through this tournament 5-0 with a nifty 17 GF and 2 GA. Good thing you stayed in JR loop so you can win something. Good luck tigers!

Suppa = Sloppy

Eagles had a weak pool
Pickering 22nd
Barrie 19th
Burlington 57th

Lets see what happens in Playoffs....

They'll get their feathers plucked.....then deep fried

Who is free riding at Streetsville?

Boy were you wrong!
Looks like the Eagles took it to Newmarket, not like last year
Congrats to the Eagles!

The Eagles take it in the Ace pally.

I hear that scouts are out looking a coaches kid .. may offer a ncaa scholarship to him. I cannot believe it

If you read it on here........ Believe it....... Money in the bank !!!!

do you also believe in pigs that fly!

I don't know if your wife can fly, but she sure squeals like a pig.

Eagles coach has done everything JUST! to showcase his kid, the rest of the players are only along for the ride and to finance the team

Agree can't blame just the goalie at Streetsville for the poop showing. But sometimes the goalie has to be more to the team then just someone who won't lose a game they should win. Being solid against lesser teams is not really goalie job description --- especially on ST team.

Every time there is an important game, close game, or game where goalie needs to steal one, what kind of goaltending does the ST team get? In those situations goalie unfortunately provides soft goal, late goal, or just not up to it, resulting in a loss where it is "not just the goalies fault".

who said anything about a "lesser team" ?

why do you people really care about AA, your kid is a loser if not playing AAA, midget AAA is the best

AA = House League Stars

last two posters, if you really don't care, why do you keep coming on this thread???

I love to laugh at delusional parents !!!! Keep up the good work !!!

"Georgetown also tied Goulding tells me Georgetown not all that great and lets not forget Georgetown did not go thru looks to me that goon hockey from small hick town just does not work"

OK, Georgetown is just fine, just because they beat you guys does not mean that the boys are "goons". Also, if you were there you would notice that the boys chanted "piece of cake" as skating off the ice which was not directed to your players but to you coach, who was very vocal in the hallway saying the Georgetown is crap and this will be a piece of cake.

We beat you fair and square, shut up and get on with life, and if it has not become apparent to you, your kid is not going anywhere.

One more note for Georgetown players, maybe it is a small town but the advantage from your Streetsville team is that they are all friends!

You wish you could live in Georgetown, but yeah, you probably can't afford it. LOL

Sure I want to live in a hick town, no thanks,

I got a garage with a floor drain for a pisser you can rent real cheap ya city slicker.

Yep
Good comebacks LOL

But you still can't afford to live there, no worries, we don't take people like you

ST you have not got enough D and no goaltending. Maybe 5 real good forwards and 3 good D. The rest of em and your goaltending are just riding the coat tails of your top kids. But the drop off is evident real quick. Won't ever beat a top team without a strong back end.

9:21

You have no idea what you are taking about.

Like it better by the lake.

Georgetown KKK of Ontario Love it...

Georgetown won one game in tourney and played teams with only 95's, this from team that thinks they are all that should not be boasting about a lucky win



Enough said!!!!!

no boasting by georgetown ... your "piece of cake" got shoved right thru your 5 hole is all

LOL
You guys are such (ST) loosers! And I mean loosers!!!!
And the parents are just top class LOL

Yeah we won one game
But you also tied Goulding Park, so don't think too highly of yourselves.

Again, did any NHL team call you yet :)

GO TIGERS GO!!

The Leafs are always looking for more loosers and LOSERS..... Try giving them a call.

Do you have their number?

guess Sam cut your kid previous poster

Hey 1:33..... everyone has the Leafs number..... they suck....total collapse.

GO TIGERS GOOOOOOOOO!!

loose or lose?
goo tigers goo.

VR 1
ST 0

GOOD GAME ALL AROUND
vaughan makes it 3 games to 1 on year , 2-0 in regular season

No issue just remember who is in first

1st 2nd 3rd

doesn't matter

all will make it through 1st round as nobody else will beat them in a multiple game series.

only matters who has who's number past that.

Vaughan Rangers will win it this year. Just accept it and move on! No one else has a chance.

ST will win it all. You heard it here first!

HH will win it all

Whose Da Silva? Over hearing quiet ST coffee clatch after the game not thinking too much of him. Or the penalty.

Whose Da Silva? Not mine. Mines the Gold!

I'm sorry, I just had to make fun of someone who feels its necessary to name names.

It should be 'who is' not 'whose'.

Can somebody remind me the last time the Huskies won anything. Ah, never!

The Huskies beat the Jets. Doesn't that count?

Hey Hockey Fan

Can somebody remind me the last time the Tigers won anything. Ah, never!

Can somebody remind me the last time the Rangers won anything. Ah, never!

Can somebody remind me the last time the Lightning won anything. Ah, never!

Huskies as much chance as anyone right nw and definitely on a role

After losing back to back games to the Terriers and the Tigers you guys played 3 of the bottom 4 teams in the west and the 2nd last place team in the east. Yup, you're on a roll! Go Huskies

Huskies no match for the Tigers or VR. Itès a two dog race.

2 ohl scouts were at the game last week looking at a couple of ST players

sure...I bet Don Cherry was there too

Yep......and it was a BEAUTY.

I think 4:47 meant girl scouts...... it's the cookie sale drive

This team needs a fund raiser?

Look forward to HH playing ST, HH ready for playoffs

to the HH superfan. You are either a delusional idiot or an ex-player or parent looking to stir up sh*t. Nobody on HH thinks their team is going anywhere. NOOOOBBODDDDY !

Yet Streetsville falling apart 2 top coaches do not agree.

The one coach is trying to get players to go down to A and try to start up the famous all star provincial " A " team.

ST only has one head coach, stop trying to stir the pot.

Ask around and find out who is coaching Applewood Senior A next season?

To January 24 2012, 7:40 PM

Why would anyone want to play competitive if not expect to win, or at least hope to win, what is wrong with you hopefully you and your kids plays for someone else. You play to win, otherwise why waste everyones time

You also have to be realistic.

Doubtful that anyone on the Columbus Bluejackets thinks they will win the Stanley Cup this year, but they could adjust their winning expectations and get a thrill out of finding a way to win 20 games this season.

Yes, remain competitive, but don't be delusional, and be willing to compromise, and willing to be creative in setting goals.

Well said!

The real person who coaches ST, the guy responsible for their success has quit and is taking some of the players with him to A.

He is the new head coach there next season.

Good Luck to everyone going you should kick *** there.

A little extreme to suggest he's the one responsible for their success.
The kids are responsible for their own success.
All the coaches do is manipulate and scheme to find the best players, then brag about their coaching skills if the team wins.
If the team loses, coaches fins a way to blame other factors like the player's "commitment" or player's "attitude."

Amazing how often coaches will preach about all the sacrifice and hard work they put into a team when many of them do it only to guarantee their own kid gets maximum ice time, even though the kid should be playing on a lower level team.

Nothing much anyone else can do about it. Head coach wears the crown.

Will you little girls shut the hell up!

Sorry BR

Sounds like a toxic environment brewing at ST. Their undoing will be VR's victory.

tick tick tick kaboom!

There are several of this teams best players leaving after this season
A group of disruptive players and there idiotic parents, not to mention the moronic coach are to blame

The aggressive recruiting has started for next year by ST coach, unfortunately it doen't seam to be working

Same old story ... decent guy loses his mind over kids AA hockey ... screws over his friends and good kids trampling his was to what? Hopefully a few years from now when it is all over he'll look back and see what an *** he was. And yes BR I am talkin about you.

he should learn when to play his kid
putting him on the powerplay and penaltykill is embarassing
stop trying to prove a point BR your kid is below average and hurts the team on defence

ST will implode. Lots of problems in the dressing room and the Coach is the main issue.

not really any problems at all
just he isn't playing the right players at the right time
aka sit your kid and all will be fine

actually no real issues in the dressing room - all kids great group and get along fine. problem is, the rumblings are starting about the coaches kid - as play gets tighter the non-level play of coaches kid affecting team. and when coach doesn't see this, that's when teams implode. coach could have had a good thing going if he wasn't so selfish with his kids ice time

There are a couple kids in the room they cud do without --- same with the parents in the stands. Coaches kid one of the best teammates any player could have, just a great kid. He'd be fine. The hanger on from the "A" days who's Dad thinks he is a "coach" shouldn't be there. Maybe one other. They are more of an issue.

Rangers all the WAY!!!!

With most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

Buddy, you've lost it ! Get help ........ Now !

With most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined With most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

4) Willowdale Blackhawks: Probably the least talented of the top five teams, WBH have achieved some success by playing an aggressive, in-your-face style of hockey that has at times confounded some of the "higher-ups" (witness wins against Hillcrest and NT , a tie against Leaside). That said, if the Hawks want to avoid being the 5th man in a 4 man race, they need to get better on their own side of the puck. Disorganized play in the defensive zone and some shaky netminding has led to the second worst GAA in the east.

Strength: Size and aggressiveness; particularly on special teams
Weakness: Defensive play in general; from the goalie on out needs to improve.

5) Goulding Park Rangers: I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that this is will be the sleeper team of the loop. A squad that is far better than its numbers indicate, GPR may not have the most talent but are easily the best balanced. Crafty forwards who know how to score, a disciplined defensive core and solid netminding; it all adds up to a team that can take it all if they can just get it all together. And this brings me to their biggest issue: INCONSISTENCY. After some pre-season tournament success, they stumbled out of the gate, then went on a 6 game rampage, outscoring their opponents 31-7 (!!!) including an eye-popping upset against the western powerhouse Huskies. Since then they're 0-2 and have been outscored 6-1. Puzzling to say the least.

Strength: A balanced lineup that can beat you any number of ways.
Weakness: The poster boy for inconsistency.

At the risk of opening myself up for ridicule, here's a quick review & prediction for upcoming matches this week:

Saturday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Toronto Aces: It won't be a 9-0 romp like the last time, but even with the rust following a long layoff, GPR should be able to put the brakes on their mini-slide and take care of business. Rangers by 3 goals.

Saturday, Leaside Flames vs Toronto Royals: I'm going to predict a high scoring affair here with the Flames coming out on top. 5-4 for Leaside.

Sunday, North Toronto vs Humberview Huskies. A gallant effort by NT will come up short. Dogs by 2 goals.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Tuesday, Leaside Flames vs Goulding Park Rangers: This one should be well worth the six dollar admission and again I'll go out on a limb and predict a low scoring win by the Rangers say, 3-2.

Wednesday, Goulding Park Rangers vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Busy week for the Rangers and I'll predict a successful one too. GPR by 2 or 3 goals.

Friday, North Toronto vs Willowdale Blackhawks: Again, I'm not sure why but I'm going to predict a very close game; possibly a tie or a 1 goal win for NT.

Saturday, Toronto Aces vs Mississauga Jets: The two last place teams of each division go head to head. I'm calling for the Aces to pick up their second win of the season with a 2-1 triumph over the hapless Jets.

Saturday, Markham Islanders vs Hillcrest Canadiens: HCC will be rusty after not playing for almost 2 weeks. They’ll win, but it might be closer than you think. Canadiens 2 Islanders 1.

To all the kids on all the teams, I say thank you for some great hockey so far. We're all looking forward to what's to come and good luck the rest of the waWith most teams now having passed the one third mark of the season, let's see how things look in what is shaping up to be a fascinating campaign for the Midget Jr. AA East loop. Before I begin, here's a few general observations:

a) Normally, I restrict my observations to teams currently sitting in a playoff position but with the East Division down to seven teams, this becomes a real challenge. Under GTHL rules, only four teams will see post-season action and when one looks at the top five teams, there is no runaway favourite and nor is there any longshot also-ran. As of today, any one of these five teams has a chance to finish first, or be the odd-man-out come playoff time.

b) I must agree with an earlier poster who pointed out that consistency has been an elusive quality for the eastern teams thus far. That said, it's a bigger problem for some teams than for others.

c) Speaking of consistency, the biggest frustration for players, parents and coaches has been the frequency and unpredictability of the penalty calls; particularly those for head contact. I fully agree that head-hunting has no place in the game and stronger enforcement is warranted. However, in their zeal to crack down on offenders, the GTHL may have let the pendulum swing too far the other way. The new rules are not being consistently applied; possibly because the officials themselves are having difficulty adjusting. This has led to a sharp upturn in penalties (many marginal at best) that have killed the flow and momentum of the games and resulted in everyone becoming frustrated.

Now that I've got that off my chest, here's a team-by-team review of the East as at November 12th. Remember that this is the opinion of one humble observer after seeing each team play at least once. I`d be interested in hearing the comments/critiques of other posters.

1) Hillcrest Canadiens: A team on a roll. Boosted by stellar netminding and a stingy defence, HCC are the only team in the east that gives up fewer than two goals a game. Not the most talented team but they make up for it by hard work and gutsy determination. Scoring was a challenge early on but they seem to have solved that problem; outscoring their opponents 14-4 in their last four games. The missing ingredient could be toughness and physical play which could cost them down the stretch. If it's true that defensive play wins during the playoffs, then HCC could be a force to be reckoned with.

Strength: goaltending: probably the top two tenders in the loop.
Weakness: Lack of physical play that allows attacking teams to take liberties

2) Leaside Flames: Lots of speed up front and an unmatched killer instinct once they have the lead. If you give them room to skate they can hurt you as evidenced by their gaudy offensive stats (scoring 4½ goals a game). After a roaring start which saw them winning five of their first six, they seem to be plagued by the inconsistency bug of late going 3-2-2 in their last 7 which includes lopsided losses to the Braves and Aces (!).

Strength: Explosive offence that can blow any game wide open.
Weakness: Goaltending can be suspect at times.

3) North Toronto: A team that’s shown itself to be a true competitor while facing some daunting challenges. Despite several serious injuries and the "retirement" of a key offensive contributor, the depleted NT squad have gone 6-2 since October 9th. They have a very quick and effective transition that can create opportunities and may be responsible for their respectable offensive numbers. Some challenges on the back end where "soft" play results in too many scoring chances.

Strengths: A gutsy, determined work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.



work ethic combined with some admirable speed and skill
Weakness: Occasional lack of aggressiveness; particularly in the defensive zone.

Tigers have no dressing room problems. Everyone gets along great. Everybody is just looking for a finger to point at because their in first place

Where is other coach has not been there in a few games,heard he quit which does not sound like him. He is a good guy.

Sure they have no problem, lol

3 former icedogs looking for new team

They may have found a team, and that team is going to surprise alot of people next year!

Did they get the same deal as with ST?

players on this team make coach look good, every time we play these guys coach is not sure on what he is doing ... can you say clown

3 former icedogs staying on the team with old icedog captain coming from AAA and old icedoge assistant captain

And the coach?

Therein lies the problem.

I hear there are more fomer Icedogs
coming.

VR 6
ST 5

3 IN A ROW FOR VR REGULAR SEASON
MAYBE ST THINKING TOO MUCH OF NEXT YEAR AND NOT ENOUGH THIS YEAR

6-5 ... another stellar night for defense.

Call it as you like but that game could have just as easily went ST way. Both teams top players showed up, ST a little more so than vaughns. Too many mental lapses on ST back end is what ultimately found then on the losing end of this one. Great game to watch. Can't wait for the playoffs.

You were obviously not at the game if you think that. VR skill and puck movement defaulted ST's defence. But ST came from behind and showed a lot of heart and desire to tie it up, with a couple great goals by 91, 17, and 12. After Vaughan pulled ahead by 1, ST put the pressure on in the last three minutes and got a penalty shot with 30 seconds to go and they just missed. Great game by both teams. Depth on Vaughan seemed to be the difference tonight. Goaltenders both a little shaky though i might add.

ST can keep one goalie, but they need one who won't continually fall just short of what is needed in a big game. Very few big games a year for ST but goalies failed to answer bell in every single one, when they were needed. Tonight just another example.

What are you talking about best goaltending in the division

sT defense sucks. VR will win it all.

That's teh problem, in the end VR best balanced team, may not have same superstars, but look what all the superstars did for ID last year, Eagles cleaned up with superior team game

this game had everything you could ask for
short handed goals, pp goals, a penalty shot, some spectacular saves, really good goals, and 5on5 goals
if these two teams do make the west finals it will for sure be a great final
ST was a little shaky in the first 2 periods whereas VR were solid and aggressive
it was 4-2 after 2 periods and in the 3rd it seemed as though ST finally woke up but came up just short
with some GREAT saves made by gambacorta in the final 3 minutes while VR had 2 men in the box
congrats to both teams

VR goalie stood tall in the final minute and half when they rangers were down two players and facing a 6 on 3 attack. The best showing was when heartwell had a chance to tie it up on a penalty shot with only 18 seconds remaining in the game. One of the leagues top players going in on the top goalie. Needless to say Gambacorta held his ground and gave Heartwell nothing to shoot at. Final score VR 6 and ST 5.

why are players leaving ST when they are at the top?

go ask

Gambacorta easily best goalie in this loop, and VR glad to have him, also does not go around bragging how great his is like some other goalies parents in same division, and we all know who that is

VR Rules

What a dumb whop you are!!

They can't stand how bad things are in the dressing room and their not alone
At least half of this team is leaving for that reason, just watch!

Great game to watch last night. ST top two players definitely the class of the league. They pass together like no one I've seen in AA. However small Vaughan is though, their passing and quickness is extremely dangerous. They can exploit any defence, especially a weak one like St's. What its gonna come down to is how ST defence play, because yesterday they didn't play especially well.

3:17

You have no idea what you are talking about!!

they are ALL staying

Who Cares Midget SR AA....really

1:46 and that would be who???

Suppa been best in class for a long time. Passed over AAA opputunity to stay at ST.

Sure he did.

Suppa has never played VR, its always been the other guy in net.

Suppa going down to play with CV.

I ask my wife everyday....What's for suppa ?

suppa hasn't even played 15 games this entire season yet for the tigers

Okay Dad ... he is the "class of the league",could have played AAA, he doesn't get to play VR though, and the other kid has coughed it up every time.... good summary?

Not sure anyone wanted hom in AAA, otherwise would be there now goaltending will be issue for ST once playoffs begin

Why isn't the Suppa kid playing???

Fomer Icedogs players staying, bringing in
some more fomer Icedogs....thats great.
What are they doing for goalies? The ones
they have have not shown they can
do the job in the big games...Vaughan
will do in the Tigers in the playoffs.
Goaltending the big difference, Vaughan
has the best and the Tigers no where close.

11:37... Thanks for the input VR goalie dad.

Defence for ST not where they should be either, not sure ST wil be able to close the deal this year, or next without major changes to defence and goalies, forwards are good, but small, and will not be able to produce at currnet clip, when games mean something.

Lets all agree that Vaughan
has the best goalie. Can we move
on now.

How can we when everybody is trying to compare there goaltending to him. I'm gonna go out on a limb here when I say, you beat him, you beat the VR's!

Nobody can beat him, thats
why the Rangers will win it
all.Go Rangers Go

ST have two good solid defencemen that are consistent and can play in every situation , 3 average defencemen that on most nights get the job done , and 1 below average defenceman that well

The difference between the goaltending between these two teams are that
Gambacorta can steal games away for VR on any given night and keeps them in the game
Johnston the backup is much less reliable hence why he never is seen in the big games against top end teams

Hanna and Suppa for streetsville are two good goalies that can win games for streetsville and keep them in it

Gambacorta is the best in the league hands down followed by either st goalie based on GA so far this year

DIDN'T JOHNSON GET MVP IN EARLYBIRD WIN OVER STREETSVILLE?

both are great when hot, sometimes they just arn't hot, you can say the same about every player on every team, only the players can hide, goalies can't.
can we stop talking about goalies now.

Gambacorta is the best in the league, nobody
even close, especially the HH goalie.

Gambcorta obviously isn't that good, when ST scored 5 goals against them. Im not saying ST goalies are good, by any stretch of the imagination, but with the skill that ST has up front, they should beat him 2-3 times on a consistent basis. Also, ST forwards are not small. They are one of the biggest in the league. VR small quick forwards, small D, but good positioning, whereas ST D are just big and slow.

Remove the first four commas from the posting above and see how much better it reads.

GO TIGERS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Defene not so strong with any of them on ST, I would bet most would have a hard time making VR squad, however ST has the better goalie tadem in the league, check the stats speak for themseleves

Go ST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blah, blah, blah, ok ST has the best goaltending. There I said what you wanted to hear. You happy now? Key reason VR's win that game was that they shut the door in the final minute down two. And , the stop penalty shot.

To the post at 4:07p.m. You make it sound as if your team stinks. You lead the league in goals for and least let in. You state you team is bigger, so whats the reasoning behind your stupid comments.

Must have been a special on lobotomies because there are certainly a lot of brain-dead people posting on N54.

Why has the great Suppa only played 15 games?

Because he sucks, andwill all come out in playoffs, assuming ST makes it out of first round

Does he suck worse then the kid who played on Sunday? Really?

Gambacorta is the best in the league.
He will win it all for Vaughan.
This team would not make the playoffs
without him.

Funny, heard was not good enough for HH, VR has never won anything, and not so sure they will this year either, you guys are forgetting thier are a couple of teams, other thean ST and VR

VR has one good player the others well, nothing special

Huskies all the way baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's jr midget AA hockey people! Goalies are not that good