Post by Citris on Sept 11, 2019 18:39:38 GMT -4
A new season of Major Midget in Nova Scotia is starting this week, so I'll try to throw out some predictions, if for no other reason just to see how wrong I can be by the end of it.
I do want to point out that even the teams I put last are going to be pretty strong compared to the bottom of the league a few years back. The competition overall looks pretty good this year.
1 - Halifax Macs
The Macs are stacked, and should run away with 1st place. A good mix of returning players, and some outstanding rookies, including Leighton Carruthers who could tear this league up. They have a great pair of goaltenders, 3rd year Grant Stafford and 1st year Sebastian Lever, along with a good looking, mobile defense, they should score lots and be tough to score against.
2 - Cole Harbour Wolfpack
The Wolfpack should ice another strong team, plenty of promising rookies, and returning veterans from a strong team last year. Blake Chasse has returned from prep school to join the squad, and should be a big boost, along with Ben Boyd, Brody Fraser, and Landon Miron this won't be an easy team to play against physically. They have a drafted goaltender in Gio DiMattia, and some great leadership in Matt Power. Should be an exciting team to watch, grit, speed, skill.
3 - Weeks Major Midget
After dressing about 15 1st years and 16 rookies overall, Pictou should be ready to break out and be very competitive. Tanner Greatorex will be a great leader on D, and Sam Arcibald, Merle Putnam, and Ryan Greene should all take big steps forward to lead this offense. But the Weeks will also get a big boost from the rookies, Bryson Currie is exceptionally talented, and Landon Sim, Lucas Canning and Kiefer Avery should all be able to chip in offensively as well. Solid goaltending in returning Oliver Arnfast, and 3rd year Marcus Pettipas coming over from Minor midget.
4 - Dartmouth Steele Suubaru Major Midget
Losing Ben Allison and Sonny Kabatay is a big blow to their offense, which relied heavily on the pair last season. Kiam Bell is a good pickup for them, but I worry about their ability to score goals. But that said, Dartmouth is always very well coached and this team has the talent to win games, the scoring will likely have to come from committee, but I don't question their ability to keep pucks out of their own net.
5 - South Shore Mustangs
The Mustangs have been building toward this for a few years now, but they should be very competitive this year. Their official roster is not out yet, but it does appear they will loose Ben Charles and captain Ryan Semple to jr. A, which will be a blow, but they can return the majority of a fairly competitive team with an extra years experience under their belts. They have good 3rd year leaders in Ewan Keays, Mason Beck and Jeremy Robar, and guys poised for breakout seasons offensively in Lawson Cooke, Will Chisholm and Konnor Benjamin. What makes me put them at the top of the lower half tho, is the rookies coming in. Luke Woodworth is a potential first round (QMJHL) talent, and Will Cook and Ryan Hopkins should make immediate impacts as well.
6 - Valley Wildcats
The Wildcats look to have an exceptional pair of net-minders, Conor Blackwood and Connor Juurlink is one of the best pairs in the league. They have a lot of returning players, but it's yet to be seen where the bulk of the goal scoring will come from. Like Dartmouth, they'll need to score by committee. Aiden MacLeod up front, and Carter Ansems are two rookies to watch. They'll miss Cam Whynot, Brent Levy and Evan Weir on D tho, it's going to be an inexperienced blueline, despite picking up Ethan Black from Cole Harbour.
7 - Cape Breton West Islanders
I'll throw it out there that I haven't seen much of the Cape Breton teams yet, so these are a bit more guesswork. That said, The West has a lot of first years on the roster and appears to be rebuilding after a few strong years. Not a lot of goalscoring back, and while they should have excellent goaltending in Kenzie MacPhail, who can single-handedly win them a few games, they already struggled to put pucks in the net last year, and with Darren Waterman, Sam Grant and Matt Ellis gone, I'm just not sure they have the firepower to climb the standings.
8 - Sydney Mitsubishi Rush
The former Cape Breton Tradesmen will likely be in rebuild mode for next season. They actually do have a fair number of returning 2003's, and should be able to take games from good teams, but I do see them as having the weakest team overall this year. I do think they have a bunch of 2003's that should be back for next year tho, and if their 2004 and 2005 groups are good, they may have a good showing hosting the Telus Cup
Notes: 4-6, and maybe even 7 should be a tight battle. It's possible I overestimate Pictou, but I'm fairly confident about the top 3.
I do want to point out that even the teams I put last are going to be pretty strong compared to the bottom of the league a few years back. The competition overall looks pretty good this year.
1 - Halifax Macs
The Macs are stacked, and should run away with 1st place. A good mix of returning players, and some outstanding rookies, including Leighton Carruthers who could tear this league up. They have a great pair of goaltenders, 3rd year Grant Stafford and 1st year Sebastian Lever, along with a good looking, mobile defense, they should score lots and be tough to score against.
2 - Cole Harbour Wolfpack
The Wolfpack should ice another strong team, plenty of promising rookies, and returning veterans from a strong team last year. Blake Chasse has returned from prep school to join the squad, and should be a big boost, along with Ben Boyd, Brody Fraser, and Landon Miron this won't be an easy team to play against physically. They have a drafted goaltender in Gio DiMattia, and some great leadership in Matt Power. Should be an exciting team to watch, grit, speed, skill.
3 - Weeks Major Midget
After dressing about 15 1st years and 16 rookies overall, Pictou should be ready to break out and be very competitive. Tanner Greatorex will be a great leader on D, and Sam Arcibald, Merle Putnam, and Ryan Greene should all take big steps forward to lead this offense. But the Weeks will also get a big boost from the rookies, Bryson Currie is exceptionally talented, and Landon Sim, Lucas Canning and Kiefer Avery should all be able to chip in offensively as well. Solid goaltending in returning Oliver Arnfast, and 3rd year Marcus Pettipas coming over from Minor midget.
4 - Dartmouth Steele Suubaru Major Midget
Losing Ben Allison and Sonny Kabatay is a big blow to their offense, which relied heavily on the pair last season. Kiam Bell is a good pickup for them, but I worry about their ability to score goals. But that said, Dartmouth is always very well coached and this team has the talent to win games, the scoring will likely have to come from committee, but I don't question their ability to keep pucks out of their own net.
5 - South Shore Mustangs
The Mustangs have been building toward this for a few years now, but they should be very competitive this year. Their official roster is not out yet, but it does appear they will loose Ben Charles and captain Ryan Semple to jr. A, which will be a blow, but they can return the majority of a fairly competitive team with an extra years experience under their belts. They have good 3rd year leaders in Ewan Keays, Mason Beck and Jeremy Robar, and guys poised for breakout seasons offensively in Lawson Cooke, Will Chisholm and Konnor Benjamin. What makes me put them at the top of the lower half tho, is the rookies coming in. Luke Woodworth is a potential first round (QMJHL) talent, and Will Cook and Ryan Hopkins should make immediate impacts as well.
6 - Valley Wildcats
The Wildcats look to have an exceptional pair of net-minders, Conor Blackwood and Connor Juurlink is one of the best pairs in the league. They have a lot of returning players, but it's yet to be seen where the bulk of the goal scoring will come from. Like Dartmouth, they'll need to score by committee. Aiden MacLeod up front, and Carter Ansems are two rookies to watch. They'll miss Cam Whynot, Brent Levy and Evan Weir on D tho, it's going to be an inexperienced blueline, despite picking up Ethan Black from Cole Harbour.
7 - Cape Breton West Islanders
I'll throw it out there that I haven't seen much of the Cape Breton teams yet, so these are a bit more guesswork. That said, The West has a lot of first years on the roster and appears to be rebuilding after a few strong years. Not a lot of goalscoring back, and while they should have excellent goaltending in Kenzie MacPhail, who can single-handedly win them a few games, they already struggled to put pucks in the net last year, and with Darren Waterman, Sam Grant and Matt Ellis gone, I'm just not sure they have the firepower to climb the standings.
8 - Sydney Mitsubishi Rush
The former Cape Breton Tradesmen will likely be in rebuild mode for next season. They actually do have a fair number of returning 2003's, and should be able to take games from good teams, but I do see them as having the weakest team overall this year. I do think they have a bunch of 2003's that should be back for next year tho, and if their 2004 and 2005 groups are good, they may have a good showing hosting the Telus Cup
Notes: 4-6, and maybe even 7 should be a tight battle. It's possible I overestimate Pictou, but I'm fairly confident about the top 3.
