Deep Dive #2: The Northern SMJHL Conference Statistical Breakdown - Printable Version +- Simulation Hockey League (https://simulationhockey.com) +-- Forum: League Media (https://simulationhockey.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=610) +--- Forum: Deep Dive (https://simulationhockey.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=432) +--- Thread: Deep Dive #2: The Northern SMJHL Conference Statistical Breakdown (/showthread.php?tid=140484)

Deep Dive #2: The Northern SMJHL Conference Statistical Breakdown - Inf1d3l - 12-24-2024 While my first Deep Dive fully went into a large dive on the Southern conference of the SMJHL, my second (and final) Deep Dive will focus on the Northern Conference. While my statistical analysis may be mildly skewed more so now that more than 20 games have been played, my TPE statistics all come from the same date (the 17th of December) and should line up appropriately with the Southern Conference TPE values I focused on with my last Deep Dive. Unlike the Southern conference however, the roster sizes seem much more even, making this an more interesting take in my eyes. Starting with the Anchorage Armada, they are a well balanced team going into season 80. They rank third in total TPE (6319) in the North, third in average TPE/player, third for forwards, first for defensemen, and third in goaltending. They should see a generally strong and successful season with good coaching. Next the Great Falls Grizzlies rank seventh overall in the North with 4364 total team TPE, seventh in average TPE/player, sixth in forwards, seventh in defensemen, and last place for goaltending. The team itself is very young, having the majority of it's players season 80 or 81 draftees which means they have ample chance to grow and compete more as the season progresses. The Kelowna Knights rank sixth overall in total TPE (4677) and average TPE/player (275). They are seventh in forward TPE, sixth in defenseman TPE, but are top of the league with the best goaltending duo in all of the SMJHL. How will this pan out in the long run...? The Newfoundland Berserkers rank second overall in both player TPE (6414) and TPE/player (377), having one of the more veteran cores in the entire league, let alone the Northern Conference. They are second in forwards, second in defensemen, and fifth in goaltending, but don't let any of that fool you, they are dangerous with a capital D. Not to be outdone, the Quebec City Citadelles rank second in total player TPE (6321), a mere 93 total TPE behind Newfoundland. They average 372 TPE/player, also second, first overall in TPE/forward, third in defensemen, and second in goaltending. They have a strong core and no season 81 draftee players, leaving them in a make or break season. The Walleye rank fifth in overall player TPE (4969) and also rank fifth in average TPE/player. They are fourth in forwards and also fourth in goalies, but rank last in defense. They will have to rely on that offense to carry them here. The Vancouver Whalers rank last in total player TPE (4170) and TPE/player (232). They have the worst forward core and seventh goaltending duo, but have the fifth best defensive core, giving them some defensive hope. They have a lot of growing to do this season to compete going forward. Finally, the Yukon Malamutes have the fourth best TPE overall (4996) and TPE/player (294). They rank fifth in forwards, fourth in defensemen, and sixth in goaltending, giving them a pretty balanced and well rounded roster to work with. That being said here are my final rankings for the Northern SMJHL Conference for S80. The Armada will start the season slow but fight their way to a good spot in the league, and their strong goaltending will carry them to a third place finish in the regular season and find themselves reaching the second round of the playoffs with relative ease. The Grizzlies will struggle the majority of the season as their young core matures and will work to do their best to compete with them. They will manage to hold a sixth place finish in the league but face a strong Anchorage team in the first round that is ready to pounce on them. The Knights have an opportunity to lean on strong goaltending and play upsetter all season, and I think they will. They will solidify a strong fifth place finish in the regular season and will use that netminder duo to get a big upset in the playoffs as well. The Berserkers will make the Northern Conference finals, looking to place themselves in the Cup Finals but will likely fall short, However they will still have a strong regular season, finishing a close second, and putting up very good numbers all around. The Citadelles will be the team to beat this season in the East, and possibly in the entire league. They will likely find themselves against Newfoundland to reach the Finals and I believe they will make it the entire way there, facing a Southern Maine team that I believe the Quebec team will defeat to win the cup. The Thunder Bay Walleye have ample opportunity to grow their team as the year progresses and will likely find themselves in a seventh place spot overall facing a very robust Newfoundland squad in the first round, and hope to make my predictions incredibly wrong with an upset win. The Whalers will likely stay at the bottom of the rankings in season 80 but don't let that fool you, they will be a threat as the season progresses, growing a young roster into an underdog team who wants to make other teams suffer. They may not see true success until season 81, but they aren't going to give up. Finally the Malamutes of Yukon will fight their way to a tight fourth place regular season finish and smash mouths with a Knights team who want to compete. This will be the best first round series this season and the two teams will have multiple overtime games to conclude the first round with a big home game win by... someone. So there you have it, more TPE statistical analysis with Infy, and some more charts to follow. Thank you for reading, following along, and generally humoring me as I have fun with my Deep Dives and wish everyone a great season and career!