I figured it might be fun to do some completely unscientific 100%-opinion-based rankings for the West. No idea if I'm going to keep doing these after every game or not... we'll see.
And no, I'm not doing these for the East. Do 'em yourself.
1.) Winnipeg Wildcards - 3-0
Of the four undefeated teams, Winnipeg has probably faced the toughest schedule so far, absolutely wrecking #4 Syracuse (2-1) from the East in their out-of-conference game and then demolishing two newcomers. They've done everything they've been asked to do so far, but their game with the South Manitoba Shady Devils could tell us a lot about Winnipeg.
2.) Ontario Coyotes - 3-0
Their out-of-conference game wasn't as tough, but they won by 26 and then dispatched two newcomers easily, with another one coming up. It's entirely possible they'll be the only undefeated team after Wednesday's games. But sooner or later, they're gonna have to beat someone worth beating to prove themselves.
3.) Kodiak Bears - 3-0
We won our out-of-conference game by 1 point over a team that has gone 0-3 so far... not too impressive. In fact, all 3 of our wins have been against winless opponents, though the next two were by much larger margins. Still, I just can't put my own team at #1 yet, not until we beat someone worth beating. Paging the Quebec Eh's...
4.) Prince Edward Island Royalty - 2-1
They started out with a loss to a strong East opponent, then bounced back with a solid win over Niagara Falls and thrashing a new team. PEI also sports a good roster and has a consistent history of fielding solid teams. And Tuktoyaktuk is next on the schedule, so look for the Royalty to notch another win.
5.) Queensland Exiles - 2-1
I'm still scratching my head over how they managed to blow their opener with Windsor Armin's Excuses, but they bounced back with a big win over the Shamans and then smothered the Quebec Eh's. Queensland's coaching staff is among the best as well. Their next game against Vancouver will be a challenge, but it's one I think they're up to.
6.) Heartbreak Ridge Recons - 3-0
After last season's embarrassing performance, the Recons are much improved and looking to return to their winning ways. But they squeaked by with two close wins over weak opponents and followed that with a solid (but not dominating) win over Calgary. They may be undefeated so far, but I'm just not convinced that means much right now.
7.) South Manitoba Shady Devils - 2-1
Two solid wins over quality opponents and a close loss to the Quebec Eh's lands the Shady Devils here. I have questions about their defense, though. It'll be very interesting to see if they can handle the Winnipeg Wildcards in their next game.
8.) Quebec Eh's - 1-2
Quebec's record is deceptive... both of their losses were within reach and came against respectable teams, and their win over the Shady Devils showed they're capable of getting a big win. Can they get another one? The Kodiak Bears are next, and I can tell you, I'm not taking the Eh's lightly.
9.) Niagara Falls Barrel Riders - 1-2
Niagara's had some bad luck, starting out against two good teams who absolutely pounded them, but then bouncing back with a dominating performance against Tuktoyaktuk. The Barrel Riders always field a solid squad, so nobody should ever underestimate them.
10.) Vancouver Hailstorm - 2-1
Vancouver still has a lot to prove to me... they started off with a big win over a weak East team, but then struggled to beat an A-league newcomer and then dropped a bad one to the Shady Devils. I think their 2-1 record is a mirage right now, but they have the roster to prove me wrong if they can get more consistent with their level of play.
11.) Calgary Jaguars - 0-3
Their first 3 games have been brutal all coming against teams that are currently 3-0. Calgary is better than 0-3, and their luck has to turn at some point...
12.) Great Bear Lake Shamans - 0-3
The Shamans' offense is not doing their defense any favors so far. If they can get more consistent with moving the ball more effectively, I could still see them turning things around. But with Heartbreak Ridge as their next opponent, this might not be the game where that happens.
13.) BC Knights - 0-3
Winless, but they looked respectable against a tough Eastern opponent and then almost knocked off Vancouver before getting pounded by Winnipeg. Still, BC looks capable of surprising a couple of teams this season.
14.) Borderland Lightning - 0-3
They also looked respectable against a tough Eastern opponent in their first game, but since then their offense has collapsed. And Niagara Falls looms large for their next game.
15.) Satanic Kings - 0-3
They came within 7 points of knocking off Heartbreak Ridge, but I'm still not sure if that truly means much. And they got torched in their other two games and have a weak roster riddled with sub-30 players, plus Chemistry issues on top of it all. I think this will be a rough year for the Kings.
16.) Tuktoyaktuk Trunk Monkeys - 0-3
Their resume so far leaves nothing to brag about, unless you want to brag about only losing by 8 to the #7 team in the East. It also looks like they held on to most of their roster from BBB, which could pay off in terms of Chemistry later, but it'll hurt like hell for now. And seriously, what the hell is a Trunk Monkey anyway?
Okay, guys, rip it to shreds.
I fully expect Wednesday's games to make me look enormously stupid for a variety of reasons, but we'll see.
And no, I'm not doing these for the East. Do 'em yourself.
1.) Winnipeg Wildcards - 3-0
Of the four undefeated teams, Winnipeg has probably faced the toughest schedule so far, absolutely wrecking #4 Syracuse (2-1) from the East in their out-of-conference game and then demolishing two newcomers. They've done everything they've been asked to do so far, but their game with the South Manitoba Shady Devils could tell us a lot about Winnipeg.
2.) Ontario Coyotes - 3-0
Their out-of-conference game wasn't as tough, but they won by 26 and then dispatched two newcomers easily, with another one coming up. It's entirely possible they'll be the only undefeated team after Wednesday's games. But sooner or later, they're gonna have to beat someone worth beating to prove themselves.
3.) Kodiak Bears - 3-0
We won our out-of-conference game by 1 point over a team that has gone 0-3 so far... not too impressive. In fact, all 3 of our wins have been against winless opponents, though the next two were by much larger margins. Still, I just can't put my own team at #1 yet, not until we beat someone worth beating. Paging the Quebec Eh's...
4.) Prince Edward Island Royalty - 2-1
They started out with a loss to a strong East opponent, then bounced back with a solid win over Niagara Falls and thrashing a new team. PEI also sports a good roster and has a consistent history of fielding solid teams. And Tuktoyaktuk is next on the schedule, so look for the Royalty to notch another win.
5.) Queensland Exiles - 2-1
I'm still scratching my head over how they managed to blow their opener with Windsor Armin's Excuses, but they bounced back with a big win over the Shamans and then smothered the Quebec Eh's. Queensland's coaching staff is among the best as well. Their next game against Vancouver will be a challenge, but it's one I think they're up to.
6.) Heartbreak Ridge Recons - 3-0
After last season's embarrassing performance, the Recons are much improved and looking to return to their winning ways. But they squeaked by with two close wins over weak opponents and followed that with a solid (but not dominating) win over Calgary. They may be undefeated so far, but I'm just not convinced that means much right now.
7.) South Manitoba Shady Devils - 2-1
Two solid wins over quality opponents and a close loss to the Quebec Eh's lands the Shady Devils here. I have questions about their defense, though. It'll be very interesting to see if they can handle the Winnipeg Wildcards in their next game.
8.) Quebec Eh's - 1-2
Quebec's record is deceptive... both of their losses were within reach and came against respectable teams, and their win over the Shady Devils showed they're capable of getting a big win. Can they get another one? The Kodiak Bears are next, and I can tell you, I'm not taking the Eh's lightly.
9.) Niagara Falls Barrel Riders - 1-2
Niagara's had some bad luck, starting out against two good teams who absolutely pounded them, but then bouncing back with a dominating performance against Tuktoyaktuk. The Barrel Riders always field a solid squad, so nobody should ever underestimate them.
10.) Vancouver Hailstorm - 2-1
Vancouver still has a lot to prove to me... they started off with a big win over a weak East team, but then struggled to beat an A-league newcomer and then dropped a bad one to the Shady Devils. I think their 2-1 record is a mirage right now, but they have the roster to prove me wrong if they can get more consistent with their level of play.
11.) Calgary Jaguars - 0-3
Their first 3 games have been brutal all coming against teams that are currently 3-0. Calgary is better than 0-3, and their luck has to turn at some point...
12.) Great Bear Lake Shamans - 0-3
The Shamans' offense is not doing their defense any favors so far. If they can get more consistent with moving the ball more effectively, I could still see them turning things around. But with Heartbreak Ridge as their next opponent, this might not be the game where that happens.
13.) BC Knights - 0-3
Winless, but they looked respectable against a tough Eastern opponent and then almost knocked off Vancouver before getting pounded by Winnipeg. Still, BC looks capable of surprising a couple of teams this season.
14.) Borderland Lightning - 0-3
They also looked respectable against a tough Eastern opponent in their first game, but since then their offense has collapsed. And Niagara Falls looms large for their next game.
15.) Satanic Kings - 0-3
They came within 7 points of knocking off Heartbreak Ridge, but I'm still not sure if that truly means much. And they got torched in their other two games and have a weak roster riddled with sub-30 players, plus Chemistry issues on top of it all. I think this will be a rough year for the Kings.
16.) Tuktoyaktuk Trunk Monkeys - 0-3
Their resume so far leaves nothing to brag about, unless you want to brag about only losing by 8 to the #7 team in the East. It also looks like they held on to most of their roster from BBB, which could pay off in terms of Chemistry later, but it'll hurt like hell for now. And seriously, what the hell is a Trunk Monkey anyway?
Okay, guys, rip it to shreds.
I fully expect Wednesday's games to make me look enormously stupid for a variety of reasons, but we'll see.
