It's going to be a re-run of last year's playoff between the Helena Bighorns of the America West Division of NorPac and the Seattle Totems of the Pacific Division of NorPac. It's also a battle of the 88's, that is 1988 birth year players. Helena with Parkhouse, Boyle, and many others. Seattle with Schulze and Stombaugh, and many others. Last year the Bighorns won in 3 games. This year I think it will be Helena all the way again. Why? Because I just plain dislike Seattle. They're a bunch of goons and show-offs. Okay, you want more reason than personal dislike, here's goes with my prognostications...First of all, there is the All Star Pacific Division team that played the NAHL Junior A Tier II team - Wenatchee Wild, they lost 0-3. However the America West All Star team beat the Wenatchee Wild 5-3. The America West Division used to be Junior A Tier II teams. Most Pacific Division NorPac players will agree that the America West Division is a tougher and better league. Several players from the America West Division have been traded to NAHL or other higher level leagues. Advantage - Helena with experience and talent.
Secondly, Helena goaltending is much better than Seattle goaltending. Tuurala was #1 in the season with a 1.90 GAA and a 0.924% save percentage. The Big Horns back up goalie, Sutliffe has a 2.39 GAA with a 0.901% save percentage. In the playoffs Klingenberg was the #1 Seattle goalie. Season-wise Cafrelli was the better goalie. Advantage -Helena with goaltending.
Thirdly, if you look at the stats, Seattle has more players with higher point scores as compared to Helena, but the same look at the stats show that all top Helena players have percentage-wise more assists than goals. This shows that they're willing to make the pass to get the goal. I confirmed this through a bit of asking around I found out that Helena plays a very balanced passing attack. I also heard that Helena works on speed. Moving players down the ice. Seattle does neither, rather Seattle players are opportunists. They send in the goons - Carpenter, English to get in front of the net while their forwards take shots. The Puget Sound game I watched was typical Seattle hockey - rough up the goaltender, get in their head, then come in and take shots. I guess you could say whatever wins is good. Puget Sound played Seattle tough because of speed and a balanced spread-out attack. If you get in behind Seattle's "D" then you have some good scoring chances because Seattle's "D" isn't that good. I think the Jags lost to Seattle because they tried to play a tough physical game with Seattle. Advantage - Helena with a balanced spread-out attack.
Well, this season is just about over and again I'll be glad when it is.
