PowerPlay Magazine

A continuation of the pre-season prediction article posted here.

Before the season I made some predictions as to how the season would play out. Let's have a look at how each team stacks up.

Currently 1st, Predicted 1st [Even] – Kenora Stingers
Prediction: 90+ points.
On Pace:  110 points.
Comments: Predicted a title win and well on pace for another league title. Frenette is once again leading the scoring charts with 21 goals in 19 games. With 59 goals for and 7 against how could anyone see them blowing this 10 point lead. The only thing that could close the gap is exterior-to-the-league play. Stingers are still in the National Cup and the Champions' League competitions. Sooner or later all the energy consumption will level the playing field.

Currently 2nd, Predicted 2nd [Even] – NK Divlje Jagode
Prediction: 85+ points.
On Pace: 90 points. 
Comments: OAP are close on their heels with 0 points and 1 GD separating the two clubs. With HL Football leaving the picture NKDJ are likely a lock for a 2nd spot and representation on the international stage next season. 

Currently 3rd, Predicted 10th [Up 7] - Ontario Alpha Particles
Prediction: 65+ points.
On Pace:  90 points.
Comments: Perhaps the biggest surprise mid-season, OAP are pushing for international contention riding the best defensive performance in the league.  Surrendering 7 goals over 21 games, GK Rod MacNeil leads the CS table with 13 in 19 appearances and is on a streak of 887 minutes without conceding. With Michal Himper performing well offensively (17 goals in 20 games) the only thing that could hurt OAP is their energy consumption. However, being out of the SuperLeague Cup and National Cup means OAP can focus solely on league play.

Currently 4th, Predicted 7th [Up 3] – Brutal Deluxe
Prediction: Lots of wins when they have less than their share possession, 70+ points.
On Pace: 88 points.
Comments:  An up-and-down season so far but it appears they have stabilized in the top-7. Nobody in the top-10 for goal scoring should not come as a surprise as they consistently win by committee. It is this team setup that ensures a steady performance and title challenge through the rest of the season. They have made the final 4 in the National Cup alongside NKDJ, Kenora Stingers and Loser Patrol meaning there is a strong chance Brutal Deluxe will represent Canada next season internationally.

Currently 5th, Predicted 6th [Up 1] – HL Football
Prediction: 75+ points.
On Pace: 86 points.
Comments: Team is folding. Will be close as to whether or not it will fall into the promotion/relegation zone.

Currently 6th, Predicated 11th [Up 5] – Reflex de Montréal
Prediction: 65+ points.
On Pace: 82 points. 
Comments: With Fang Shizhen challenging for the scoring title with 21 goals in 20 games. The 52 goals scored is second only to Kenora Stingers. If they can tighten up defensively and in the second half surrender less than the 19 goals they surrendered in the first half, Reflex should have no problem moving up a spot or two.

Currently 7th, Predicted 3rd [Down 4] – Loser Patrol FC
Prediction: 85+ points.
On Pace: 82 points.
Spending energy on the National Cup will likely see Loser Patrol FC onto the international stage next season. However, the price has been the first half of their season. They were trending upwards from 13th to 4th up until match day 16, but have slid since. Former OAP GK Vlastimil Vcelicka has performed well in net challenging for the CS crown while Daniel Arsenault has been highly efficient up front scoring goals. Look for Loser Patrol to have a better second half but regardless of their final standing, earning a berth in the Cup Winners' Cup should call this season a success.

Currently 8th, Predicted 8th [Even] – Bow Valley AFC
Prediction: 70+ points.
On Pace: 78 points.
Comments: Nobody in the top-10 in scoring and have been in a bit of a slide since early in the season. After sitting 2nd after match day 5 and 3rd after match day 13, Bow Valley have started to slide of late. GK Sammy Rupp will be relied on heavily should they hope to stay in the top half of the table.

Currently 9th, Predicated 9th [Even] – Muffin Fighters FC
Prediction: 70+ points.
On Pace: 70 points.
Comments: For what I coined the "toughest team to call" they have performed very much up to expectations. Finished 9th in season 8 with 69 points. Predicted 9th at 70+ points and currently are 9th on pace for 70 points. Seems to be a model of consistency if you ask me. Alvaro Dryden is doing much of the scoring but The Muffins need to defend better or risk another middle-of-the-table finish.

Currently 10th, Predicted 4th [Down 6] – Ragateene Rabbits (6th I.1, 23-6-13, 75pts, +26)
Prediction: 80+ points.
On Pace: 68 points.
Comments: When you're a week away from an 80,000 seat stadium and you're selling out every game, it's only a matter of time before the money coming in turns your fortunes around. The Rabbits have been a bit of a surprise this season, struggling to keep pace and maintain a top-half finish. They have stayed cozy in the 9th or 10th position for three weeks now. They're burning a lot of energy some games, but points now are worth just as much as points later in the season. The Rabbits are built for the future regardless of what this season brings.

Currently 11th, Predicated 13th [Up 2] - Dinamo Montreal (8^th I.1, 20-10-12, 70pts, +38)
Prediction: 60+ points.
On Pace: 68 points. 
Comments: Been in a tail-spin since match day 13 sinking from 5th to their present position. No standout players stats wise and having played 1,080 minutes on Normal or higher importance, it could be a long second half of the season for The Dinamo.

Currently 12th, Predicted 5th [Down 7] - Shinodas (4th I.1, 22-13-7, 79pts, +28)
Prediction: 75+ points.
On Pace: 60 points.
Comments: Last season's I.1 defensive team of the year is having a hard time keeping the ball out of their net. Add some scoring trouble and times are tough which is why they're down the most in my opinion. Match day 8 say them 5th and they've dipped as low as 17th but have climbed recently. They have the potential to turn things around and if they do things could get very interesting very quick.

Currently 13th, Predicted 12th [Down 1] - Coal Harbour Captains (1st II.2, 36-3-3, 111pts, +158)
Prediction: 60+ points.
On Pace: 58 points.
Comments: The "tough-luck team" have been having another nominal season. Not scoring much but when they do it is likely Jules Cummins. Ales Brouka has posted 12 clean sheets in 21 games but with 17 goals surrendered on the season, if you score on The Captains, you'll likely get a couple.

Currently 14th, Predicted 14th [Even] - Melchester Rovers (1st II.3, 37-4-1, 115pts, +211)
Prediction: 55+ points.
On Pace: 56 points. 
Comments: At 34 goals for and 34 goals against, The Rovers are sitting just above the promotion/relegation zone where they have been since the 2nd or 3rd week of the season. They do have two consistent scorers up front, whom they'll be asking more from down the stretch.
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Currently 15th, Predicted 19th [Up 4] - L'Impact du Mont-Royal (1^st II.1, 32-7-3, 103pts, +135)
Prediction: 40+ points.
On Pace: 52 points. 
Comments: The team I gave the least chance this season has caught my eye. They had no 900 OR players at the start of the season. They have nobody in the top-20 for goals. Their only saving grace after surrendering 33 goals in 21 games is their 1.3 G/G pace. They've done exceptionally well and have been managed flawlessly. Should they be able to move up out of the promotion/relegation zone it'll do wonders for the franchise.

Currently 16th, Predicted 16th [Even] - Vancouver FC (2^nd II.4, 35-2-5, 107pts, +197)
Prediction: 50+ points.
On Pace: 50 points.
Comments: Last season's II.4 scoring title winner Damon Connor is likely the main reason Vancouver FC haven't performed above expectation. After 75 goals last season he has 2 in 20 games this season and as such are scoring less than a goal a game with 19 for over 21 games. Connor needs to start finding the net or Vancouver FC could find themselves back in the second division.

Currently 17th, Predicted 15th [Down 2] - 77777 (12th I.1, 17-10-15, 61pts, +21)
Prediction: 55+ points.
On Pace: 46 points.
Comments: Was the lowest ranked season 8 I.1 team and is the lowest I.1 team from last season in the standings. Graham Lough is about the only bright spot. Last season he scored over a third of their goals while this season he has 14 in 18 games out of the team's 29 total (48%). Someone else needs to step up for The Five Sevens should they want to climb out of the promotion/relegation zone. They have not surrendered many goals with less than one per game, so if others can contribute offensively they can reclaim their former status in I.1.

Currently 18th, Predicted 17th [Down 1] - Xenons (2nd II.1, 32-6-4, 102pts, +139)
Prediction: 50+ points.
On Pace: 42 points.
Comments: No players in the top 40 of league scoring. They've notched 23 goals over 21 games and have done so by committee with no player having more than 4 goals on the season. The real issue comes with defending as The Noble Gasses are the lowest ranked active team in terms of defence, surrendering 37 goals thus far.
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Currently 19th, Predicted 18th [Down 1] - The Flying Frenchmen FC (2nd II.3, 37-3-2, 114pts, +227)
Prediction: 50+ points.
On Pace: 30 points.
Comments: Struggled out of the gate and never really found their stride. Giovani Milne is about their only offensive threat with 7 goals in the 14 matches he's featured in. They've yet to really make any noise but have the potential to do so. They have ample energy and could make a charge should the decide to. However, they may be eyeing up II.4, which is where they are bound for in their current position.

Currently 20th-22nd, Predicted 20th-22nd [Even] - Bordeaux†, Grassmen† and The cKs†

Thanks for reading. Good luck in the second half everyone!