Hedgehog’s Power Rankings – Week Nine
Going over the rankings and some stats for this season; I like how the different the Western and Eastern Conferences are in terms of play-style.
-The top six teams in passing yards belong to the Western Conference, led by the Saskatchewan Sasquatches.
-The top six teams in rushing yards belong to the Eastern Conference, with the Queen City Black Cats leading.
Movers and Shakers:
Best Risers: Halifax Hashishim (+4)
Biggest Drops: Vancouver Vindicators, Hillsburgh Hillbillies, and Destruction Bay Dragons (-4)
Week Eight Power Rankings
The Contenders
1. (2/+1) – Saskatchewan Sasquatches – (9-0)
-Sasquatches finally take the top spot in these rankings as they beat off a stern challenge by the Hillbillies. The class acts of Canada A6 showed their extra quality this week as their #2 Western Conference rush defense proved to be the factor in their victory. They face the inferior Vindicators next, then one of the easiest six-game series in the conference for their last third of the season.
2. (1/-1) – Queen City Black Cats – (9-0)
-The Black Cats go down a notch as they won against the much weaker opponent, the Quebec Boreal, 93-to-zip. With the most dangerous rushing duo in the entire league, the Destruction Bay Dragons should provide the Black Cats with a warm-up for the bigger challenge in the form of the St. John’s Salty Dogs in Week 11.
3. (7/+4) – Halifax Hashishim – (8-1)
-The Hashishim move up four spots in the #3 position, after punishing the Montreal Canadiens in a near-shutout. And they’ve above the Nebraska Husker Maniacs this week on the virtue of beating them Week 3 and having a tougher recent schedule. Their #2 Eastern Conference rushing game in yards goes against the division leading passing game of the Sudbury Spartans Week 11 to see who will come out on top.
4. (6/+2) – Nebraska Husker Maniacs – (8-1)
-The Huskers move up to forth with their win against the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force utilizing an effective passing game and suppressing their opponents. They should handle their next opponents with ease before they face the Sudbury Spartans and see who has the best aerial attack in the Eastern Conference – The Husker Maniacs have the #2 pass attack in the East, and the Spartans the best.
5. (8/+3) – Sudbury Spartans – (7-2)
- Spartans go up three spots as Western Conference teams fall below them. This isn’t so much because of their dominating performances against the Boreal or the Tropics but much more to do with their close loss to the Black Cats, the only team so far to force the Black Cats to a very close margin of victory. The next seven games feature a two-week pressure cooker as they go up against the Hashishim and then the Husker Maniacs back-to-back in Weeks 11 and 12.
6. (5/-1) – Cheyenne Mountain Air Force – (7-2)
-The loss sends the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force down a notch as they lose to the Husker Maniacs, again due to their passing game being limited to less than 200 yds/game. Look for this team to exercise their aerial dominance once more as they go up against the Red Deer Blue Elk next week, then a three win guarantee against the worst in the Eastern Conference.
7. (3/-4) – Hillsburgh Hillbillies – (7-2)
-The Inbreds just could not catch up against the Sasquatches this week after trailing ten entering half-time; they’ve given the Sasquatches the best fight so far, as they’ve racked up the most points per any team so far against the Western Conference leaders. This team will bring on the #2 passing game in yrds of the entire league versus the up-and-coming Winnipeg Warriors next week.
8. (4/-4) – Vancouver Vindicators – (7-2)
-The Vindicators get a rude awakening for the start of the season’s second half, losing out 24-35 against the Manitoba Icemen. That game had the Vindicators running rough-shod over the Icemen for most of the first-half to suddenly get shutdown during the second. Going to next week, the Vindicators have allowed the second least amount of points scored against in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, the leader in that category is the Vindicators’ next opponent: the Sasquatches.
The Dark Horses
9. (10/+1) – Vinland Vikings – (7-2)
-The Vikings get a “W” against the Calgary Thunder this week to jump a spot to #9, their division leading rushing game nabbing them both their touchdowns for that game. They travel cross-town to face the Wrestlers next week. Interesting factoid: this is the most successful rushing team in the pass-happy Western Conference.
10. (13/+3) – Manitoba Icemen – (6-3)
-Good win against the Vindicators leave the middle-of-the-road Manitoba Icemen the top 6-3 team in these rankings; they’re middle-of-the-road because this team is pretty much in the average in passing and rushing yards, plus yards allowed/game. The Icemen had a harder first half and managed to leave that with a winning record. Now, this team looks to the rest of the second half with their biggest challenge at the very end of it –an inter-conference battle against the Nebraska Husker Maniacs
11. (11/-) – Cold Lake Wolverines – (6-3)
-I’ll harp on what I’ve said the past couple of weeks: to date, the Wolverines have not beaten any team they’ve faced that has come in with a winning record (the Beavers has a losing record when they lost to the Wolverines Week 2). And now they’ve lost to the Winnipeg Warriors in a close one. All signs point to a loss next week against the Thunder if their current curse continues.
12. (9/-3) – Montreal Canadiens – (6-3)
-Another team with another disturbing trend the Canadiens once again get blown out by better competition, this time actually putting some points on the board as they lose 3-59 against the Halifax Hashishim. They need to figure out what’s going wrong or else they’ll face another spanking by the Husker Maniacs next week.
On the Bubble
13. (14/+1) – St. John’s Salty Dogs – (5-4)
-This team keeps on rising; easy win next week before a big challenge with the Queen City Black Cats.
14. (15/+1) – Saskatchewan Beavers – (5-4)
-The “W” gets them a winning record which should continue next week; if they go 3-and-3 in their last six they should make it to the playoffs.
15. (12/-3) – Calgary Thunder – (5-4)
-Tough four game stretch continues for the Thunder, but the Wolverines should provide easier competition than the Vikings next week
16. (16/-) – Red Deer Blue Elk – (5-4)
-This team’s quietly moving up the rankings and standings. A big test for them awaits vs. Cheyenne Mountain Air Force next week.
17. (20/+3) – Winnipeg Warriors – (4-5)
-Proved their win against the Vikings was not a one-off by beating the Wolverines. Can they three-peat their 4th quarter miracles against the Hillbillies?
18. (21/+3) – Iqaluit Arctic Wolves – (4-5)
-An average team that only wins against those below them; losses for the next two weeks.
The Longshots
19. (18/-1) – Saskatoon Guerillaz – (4-5)
-Brutal last three games means they have to start winning NOW to make to the playoffs.
20. (19/-1) – Calgary Wrestlers – (4-5)
-Things will only get tougher and bleaker as they come up to their toughest four-games this season starting with the Vikings.
21. (17/-4) – Destruction Bay Dragons – (4-5)
-Predictably lost big to the St. John’s Salty Dogs – will repeat against the Queen City Black Cats next week.
22. (24/+2) – In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy – (3-6)
-Good mid-season performance so far has them rise in the ranks; I agree with Dan here – this team will be a competitor next season.
Better Luck Next Season
23. (25/+2) – Revelstoke Revolution – (3-6)
-They pick up an important win against the Wrestlers. Have they figured it out yet? The answer comes Week 11 vs. the Vikings.
24. (22/-2) – Portsmouth Cavaliers – (3-6)
-They need to upset at least once to have any chance of being playoff-bound.
25. (23/-2) – Flint Tropics – (3-6)
-They’ll pick up a win against the Boreal next week. Who knows about their next one.
26. (26/-) – Quebec Boreal – (2-7)
-Could compete next season if this team recruits well.
27. (27/-) – Kelowna Outlaws – (1-8)
-Just bad – I can’t say if they’ll win their games against the Smoke and the Boreal.
28. (30/+2) – Toronto Smoke – (1-8)
-Go over the Crusaders by winning against them; hopefully this team won’t be in transition come next year.
The D-League
29. (31/+2) – Barkmere Bulldawgs – (1-8)
30. (28/-2) – Bloodweiser Bugle All-Stars – (0-9)
31. (29/-2) – Castlegar Crusaders – (0-9)
32. (32/-) – Peterborough Preachers – (0-9)
Going over the rankings and some stats for this season; I like how the different the Western and Eastern Conferences are in terms of play-style.
-The top six teams in passing yards belong to the Western Conference, led by the Saskatchewan Sasquatches.
-The top six teams in rushing yards belong to the Eastern Conference, with the Queen City Black Cats leading.
Movers and Shakers:
Best Risers: Halifax Hashishim (+4)
Biggest Drops: Vancouver Vindicators, Hillsburgh Hillbillies, and Destruction Bay Dragons (-4)
Week Eight Power Rankings
The Contenders
1. (2/+1) – Saskatchewan Sasquatches – (9-0)
-Sasquatches finally take the top spot in these rankings as they beat off a stern challenge by the Hillbillies. The class acts of Canada A6 showed their extra quality this week as their #2 Western Conference rush defense proved to be the factor in their victory. They face the inferior Vindicators next, then one of the easiest six-game series in the conference for their last third of the season.
2. (1/-1) – Queen City Black Cats – (9-0)
-The Black Cats go down a notch as they won against the much weaker opponent, the Quebec Boreal, 93-to-zip. With the most dangerous rushing duo in the entire league, the Destruction Bay Dragons should provide the Black Cats with a warm-up for the bigger challenge in the form of the St. John’s Salty Dogs in Week 11.
3. (7/+4) – Halifax Hashishim – (8-1)
-The Hashishim move up four spots in the #3 position, after punishing the Montreal Canadiens in a near-shutout. And they’ve above the Nebraska Husker Maniacs this week on the virtue of beating them Week 3 and having a tougher recent schedule. Their #2 Eastern Conference rushing game in yards goes against the division leading passing game of the Sudbury Spartans Week 11 to see who will come out on top.
4. (6/+2) – Nebraska Husker Maniacs – (8-1)
-The Huskers move up to forth with their win against the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force utilizing an effective passing game and suppressing their opponents. They should handle their next opponents with ease before they face the Sudbury Spartans and see who has the best aerial attack in the Eastern Conference – The Husker Maniacs have the #2 pass attack in the East, and the Spartans the best.
5. (8/+3) – Sudbury Spartans – (7-2)
- Spartans go up three spots as Western Conference teams fall below them. This isn’t so much because of their dominating performances against the Boreal or the Tropics but much more to do with their close loss to the Black Cats, the only team so far to force the Black Cats to a very close margin of victory. The next seven games feature a two-week pressure cooker as they go up against the Hashishim and then the Husker Maniacs back-to-back in Weeks 11 and 12.
6. (5/-1) – Cheyenne Mountain Air Force – (7-2)
-The loss sends the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force down a notch as they lose to the Husker Maniacs, again due to their passing game being limited to less than 200 yds/game. Look for this team to exercise their aerial dominance once more as they go up against the Red Deer Blue Elk next week, then a three win guarantee against the worst in the Eastern Conference.
7. (3/-4) – Hillsburgh Hillbillies – (7-2)
-The Inbreds just could not catch up against the Sasquatches this week after trailing ten entering half-time; they’ve given the Sasquatches the best fight so far, as they’ve racked up the most points per any team so far against the Western Conference leaders. This team will bring on the #2 passing game in yrds of the entire league versus the up-and-coming Winnipeg Warriors next week.
8. (4/-4) – Vancouver Vindicators – (7-2)
-The Vindicators get a rude awakening for the start of the season’s second half, losing out 24-35 against the Manitoba Icemen. That game had the Vindicators running rough-shod over the Icemen for most of the first-half to suddenly get shutdown during the second. Going to next week, the Vindicators have allowed the second least amount of points scored against in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, the leader in that category is the Vindicators’ next opponent: the Sasquatches.
The Dark Horses
9. (10/+1) – Vinland Vikings – (7-2)
-The Vikings get a “W” against the Calgary Thunder this week to jump a spot to #9, their division leading rushing game nabbing them both their touchdowns for that game. They travel cross-town to face the Wrestlers next week. Interesting factoid: this is the most successful rushing team in the pass-happy Western Conference.
10. (13/+3) – Manitoba Icemen – (6-3)
-Good win against the Vindicators leave the middle-of-the-road Manitoba Icemen the top 6-3 team in these rankings; they’re middle-of-the-road because this team is pretty much in the average in passing and rushing yards, plus yards allowed/game. The Icemen had a harder first half and managed to leave that with a winning record. Now, this team looks to the rest of the second half with their biggest challenge at the very end of it –an inter-conference battle against the Nebraska Husker Maniacs
11. (11/-) – Cold Lake Wolverines – (6-3)
-I’ll harp on what I’ve said the past couple of weeks: to date, the Wolverines have not beaten any team they’ve faced that has come in with a winning record (the Beavers has a losing record when they lost to the Wolverines Week 2). And now they’ve lost to the Winnipeg Warriors in a close one. All signs point to a loss next week against the Thunder if their current curse continues.
12. (9/-3) – Montreal Canadiens – (6-3)
-Another team with another disturbing trend the Canadiens once again get blown out by better competition, this time actually putting some points on the board as they lose 3-59 against the Halifax Hashishim. They need to figure out what’s going wrong or else they’ll face another spanking by the Husker Maniacs next week.
On the Bubble
13. (14/+1) – St. John’s Salty Dogs – (5-4)
-This team keeps on rising; easy win next week before a big challenge with the Queen City Black Cats.
14. (15/+1) – Saskatchewan Beavers – (5-4)
-The “W” gets them a winning record which should continue next week; if they go 3-and-3 in their last six they should make it to the playoffs.
15. (12/-3) – Calgary Thunder – (5-4)
-Tough four game stretch continues for the Thunder, but the Wolverines should provide easier competition than the Vikings next week
16. (16/-) – Red Deer Blue Elk – (5-4)
-This team’s quietly moving up the rankings and standings. A big test for them awaits vs. Cheyenne Mountain Air Force next week.
17. (20/+3) – Winnipeg Warriors – (4-5)
-Proved their win against the Vikings was not a one-off by beating the Wolverines. Can they three-peat their 4th quarter miracles against the Hillbillies?
18. (21/+3) – Iqaluit Arctic Wolves – (4-5)
-An average team that only wins against those below them; losses for the next two weeks.
The Longshots
19. (18/-1) – Saskatoon Guerillaz – (4-5)
-Brutal last three games means they have to start winning NOW to make to the playoffs.
20. (19/-1) – Calgary Wrestlers – (4-5)
-Things will only get tougher and bleaker as they come up to their toughest four-games this season starting with the Vikings.
21. (17/-4) – Destruction Bay Dragons – (4-5)
-Predictably lost big to the St. John’s Salty Dogs – will repeat against the Queen City Black Cats next week.
22. (24/+2) – In San Jose Pimpin Ain’t Easy – (3-6)
-Good mid-season performance so far has them rise in the ranks; I agree with Dan here – this team will be a competitor next season.
Better Luck Next Season
23. (25/+2) – Revelstoke Revolution – (3-6)
-They pick up an important win against the Wrestlers. Have they figured it out yet? The answer comes Week 11 vs. the Vikings.
24. (22/-2) – Portsmouth Cavaliers – (3-6)
-They need to upset at least once to have any chance of being playoff-bound.
25. (23/-2) – Flint Tropics – (3-6)
-They’ll pick up a win against the Boreal next week. Who knows about their next one.
26. (26/-) – Quebec Boreal – (2-7)
-Could compete next season if this team recruits well.
27. (27/-) – Kelowna Outlaws – (1-8)
-Just bad – I can’t say if they’ll win their games against the Smoke and the Boreal.
28. (30/+2) – Toronto Smoke – (1-8)
-Go over the Crusaders by winning against them; hopefully this team won’t be in transition come next year.
The D-League
29. (31/+2) – Barkmere Bulldawgs – (1-8)
30. (28/-2) – Bloodweiser Bugle All-Stars – (0-9)
31. (29/-2) – Castlegar Crusaders – (0-9)
32. (32/-) – Peterborough Preachers – (0-9)
Last edited Aug 19, 2008 14:04:07
