<div align="justify">Complete S25 Preview

The new SMJHL season is almost upon us, and fans and players alike are eager for the first puck drop of S25. There has already been much guessing and speculation as to how the expansion teams, Colorado and Halifax, will fare, and indeed as to who will be crowned Four Star Cup champions come the season’s end. In the following article we will take a cold, analytical view of the eight teams involved in this season’s title hunt, and I will offer my own insights into who may be celebrating come the end of the post-season.

Quote:Originally posted by Author’s notes

1) The ratings given here are based upon the attributes in the sim at the end of preseason. They have been arrived at by first totting up the total attributes for each team (goaltenders excluded) and then dividing that by the number of skaters on the roster. e.g. Kelowna’s total in skating is 1,499 / 19 skaters = 78.89 average.
2) The face-off ratings are unique; it is not an average of the entire team, but only of the four centres on each team who have the highest FO rating.
3) Averages in checking, skating, strength, endurance, puck handling, face-offs, passing, scoring, and defence have been added to provide a total rating.
4) Averages in goaltending are completely separate, and have simply been arrived at by adding the TPE total of each of a team’s top two goalies and then dividing by two.
5) What follows does not take the balance of lines or attributes into account in anyway. Please help yourself to a pinch of salt.

Eastern Conference</div>

<div align="center">HALIFAX RAIDERS
</div>

<div align="justify">Neither of the expansion teams will be expected to do much in their debut seasons, least of all the Halifax Raiders. GM Valterri Bottas has assembled a roster consisting primarily of rookies and middling others, and they are undoubtedly a team that will be in better shape at the start of next season than during S25. First round pick Conall MacLeod will be expected to provide the main thrust of the Raiders’ offensive unit alongside Petr Koleznikovs, who lead the team in preseason scoring with five goals and seven assists. At the other end it will be a baptism of fire for second round pick Brett Broadway, who may pip expansion draft acquisition Emmett Roy to the starting spot in goal.

Strengths and Weaknesses
With so many rookies on the roster it is inevitable that the Raiders will be one of the weaker teams on many areas of the ice, but one thing that they do have on their side is energy. They rank second of all SMJHL teams in endurance, something that may prove crucial in cutting down on mistakes late in the game as they look to pick up as many debut season upsets as possible. This is, however, the only area in which they rank in the top four teams. At present they are the weakest skaters, puck handlers, passers, and defenders, and also the most lacking in physical strength.

Predicted finish: 4th (8th overall)</div>


<div align="center">DETROIT FALCONS
</div>

<div align="justify">The S23 champions had an abysmal preseason, recording just two wins from ten games and letting up an average of 4.4 goals per game. The loss of S24 point leaders Bjorn Knutsen, Alex Mack, and Brandon Girard will hit them hard, and it will be up to the likes of Jasper Clayton and Michael Burch—both top six selections in the S25 SHL Entry Draft—to step up and lead the team. The duo posted nineteen points between them in preseason (six goals and five assists for Burch; one goal and seven assists for Clayton), but that average of 1.9 points per game equates to just .95 PPG each, compared to the 1.13 PPG put up by the trio of Knutsen, Mack, and Girard (who together averaged 3.38 PPG in S24). Goaltender Austin Lemieux will also be expected to up his game once again following an impressive freshman outing in S24. While the Falcons are a side that can never be discounted, they may have their work cut out for them in trying to make it out of the East in the new season, with both Montreal and St. Louis looking in good shape.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Detroit rank second among all SMJHL team in scoring, and third in checking, skating, and puck handling, and despite the loss of Knutsen will pose an offensive threat to the best of teams. They rank fifth in both defence and goaltending, but their main problem could prove to be possession and stamina. They rank seventh in endurance, and sixth in both face-offs and passing, indicating that they could have issues winning and keeping the puck.

Predicted finish: 3rd (5th overall)</div>


<div align="center">ST. LOUIS SCARECROWS
</div>

<div align="justify">Despite the loss of Damien Wert, Derek Underscore, and 3rd overall selection in the SHL Entry Draft, Robb Wind, the Scarecrows have posted a remarkable preseason record of nine wins and one loss, racking up forty-four goals on the way and letting in just half of that. No team in the SMJHL scored as much in the build up to S25, and no team conceded so little. Nevertheless, the Scarecrows have much to prove after an abysmal postseason in S24, and with players like Wert, Wind, and Underscore gone to ply their trade in the SHL, it will be up to the likes of Wick, Leier, and Windsor to prove that this St. Louis side can perform better in the playoffs than the last. Sergei Kozar returns in net, and first round draft pick Clayton Goode will have the likes of Windsor and The Carl Mountain to learn from. As much as they would love to maintain their blistering preseason form into the regular season, one suspects that they would settle for a copy of Vancouver’s S24 record: preseason champs, regular season chumps, Four Star Cup champions.

Strengths and Weaknesses
St. Louis rank best at nothing, and in fact their roster does not seem as capable on paper as they have proven on the ice. They rank second in checking and third in strength, making them one of the most physical teams in the league, and their status as being the worst team in the league in terms of scoring may cast a dubious light on this entire article. Nevertheless there are areas in which they can improve, and the most glaring of these are scoring and face-offs (in which they rank seventh).

Predicted finish: 2nd (5th overall)</div>


<div align="center">MONTREAL IMPACT
</div>

<div align="justify">Last season’s runners-up look set to be competitive again in S25, though like conference rivals Detroit they have lost a number of players who contributed offensively in S24. Players like Killington, Burton, Wagner, and Lidstrom are gone, but the good news for fans of l’Impact is that they have retained offensive trio of Flacko, Fälk, and captain Evandrus Jesster. The first overall pick in the S25 SHL Entry Draft will be expected to lead his team to the finals once more, and will be backed up by a strong defensive line Alexander Wolff and Roman Morenov (perhaps the best out and out defenceman in the league). Star goalie Earnest Ciarelli returns as well for the Impact, and will be backed up by rookie Robert Andersson. If Montreal’s other rookies—the likes of Karpotsev, Mack, and Grundmanis—can step in and make an impact, Montreal may be able to go one better than last season.

Strengths and Weaknesses
With players like Jesster, Flacko, and Fälk (who racked up thirty-five preseason points between them) it is no surprise that Montreal ranks amongst the best in skating (second), puck handling (second), and passing (first). What is a surprise is that they are ranked seventh in scoring, though only St. Louis scored more preseason goals than the Impact. Ciarelli and fourth round pick Andersson represent the strongest goaltending pair of any team in the league, and there are only three areas in which Montreal do not rank in the top four: checking, strength, and scoring. All of this gives the impression of a technical team who will pose a formidable threat to any team in the SMJHL.

Predicted finish: 1st (3rd overall)</div>


<div align="justify">Western Conference</div>

<div align="center">COLORADO MAMMOTHS
</div>

<div align="justify">Colorado, home of the Pellegrino Trio, and first overall selection in the S25 SMJHL Draft, Kristoffer Ruud. The Mammoths have gotten off to a good start in building a competitive team, and the acquisition of veterans like Volchenkov, Chleb, Wong, and goaltender Lee Bowden can only help them in the short term. Nevertheless, they are—like Halifax—a team that will be focused primarily on the future. Nobody stood out miles amongst the rest in preseason but they did get goals from all over the ice, not least from Sigge Clausson, Craig Wall, Sum Ting Wong, and that number one pick, Kristoffer Ruud (who contributed eight assists in ten games). The acquisition of Bowden in particular was a shrewd move from GM Walrus, and ensures that whatever happens, they will at least have an experienced starter in net.

Strengths and Weaknesses
With a little more experience comes a little more ability; surprisingly, the Mammoths rank second in the league in passing the puck, fourth in scoring, and fourth in checking. They have the worst face-off ranking of any team, however, look defensively frail (ranking seventh), and are ranked seventh in both skating and strength. How they come together as the season (and their rookie core) develops will be interesting to see, but for the time being they must hope that the presence of Bowden makes up for what could otherwise be a leaky defence.

Predicted finish: 4th (7th overall)</div>


<div align="center">VANCOUVER WHALERS
</div>

<div align="justify">Vancouver: home to oysters, the best weed in North America, and the most opinion-dividing coach in the SMJHL. Most recently, home to the Four Star Cup. Stoned or sober, few but those on the Whalers’ roster will profess to having much love for GM Heimer-Schmidt, but nevertheless it was his Whalers team who clinched a thrilling final series with Montreal at the end of S24. Going into S25 Vancouver have managed to retain many of their best players, and with a fresh core of rookies joining their ranks they could well have a shot at retaining their title. Captain VLAD McZehrl remains in the SMJHL for another season along with playoff hero Patrikov Bure. Beau Ballard has departed after becoming the latest in a growing line of players to fall out with Heimer-Schmidt, and Zack Hoover has made the step up to the SHL with the New England Wolfpack. Rookies Wøllker and Orlov should provide good defensive cover, and McZehrl, Bure, and sophomore Geoffrey Allen will be expected to lead the team up front. In goal, Tyler No Nerves will step up to replace the departed Erik Lundqvist, and is expected to fill in comfortably.

Strengths and Weaknesses
The Whalers rank as the worst checkers in the league, and the second worst in terms of passing. What they do have on their side is energy (they rank third in endurance) and the ability to score goals (ranking first). The stats paint them as a middle of the road team with a potentially shaky defence, but with Wøllker and Orlov expected to develop quickly they should less problems there than might be expected. They should be a more competitive team in this regular season than they were in the last, and the West looks to be as fiercely competitive as the East promises to be.

Predicted finish: 3rd (4th overall)</div>


<div align="center">PRINCE GEORGE FIREBIRDS
</div>

<div align="justify">Heading into their second season after returning to Prince George, the Firebirds have had a very promising preseason. Mirko Antonio Scuderi, Shea Robinson, and DJ Stanley have all been productive in preseason (notching up thirty-seven points between them), and with Kyle Prince in goal they should be in line to make a run at the Four Star Cup. First round selection Eoin MacGregor should provide some grit in defence, but the loss of Patrick Brumm and Travis Kudleychuk is something they will need to overcome. Nevertheless, they stand to reap the benefits of a good S24 draft, with the likes of Stanley, Fleming, Webb, Taylor, and Nyquist all returning as better players than last season.

Strengths and Weaknesses
The Firebirds are without a doubt one of the most physical teams in the league, ranking first in checking and second in strength. They have the second highest defensive rating of any team, are second in face-offs, and third in scoring. If there is a weakness in this team it must be their ability to last the three periods; they rank eight in endurance. Combine this with the second worst puck handling rating, and the third worst skating ranking, and Prince George’s biggest stumbling block this season could prove to be third period mistakes.

Predicted finish: 2nd (2nd overall)</div>


<div align="center">KELOWNA KNIGHTS
</div>

<div align="justify">Two seasons have passed since Kelowna’s back-to-back Four Star Cup wins, and their fans and players will be hungry for further success heading into S25. The loss of starting goaltender Igor Ogorodnikov and top scorer Adam Abodobe to the SHL will certainly hurt them, and considering the fact that at least one recently published article criticised their performance in the S25 Entry Draft one might quickly conclude that a painful season lies in wait for the Knights. However, the good news for Kelowna is that they have retained the services of their talismanic captain Randy Randleman, as well Russian duo Maria Maximova and Ivan Koroviev, both of whom were selected in the top seven of the S25 SHL Entry Draft. Would-be sophomore Nikolaus Scholz has departed to play his hand in the SHL with the Portland Admirals expansion team, but—like Prince George—they stand to benefit from their previous year’s draft picks with the development of players like Maximova, Koroviev, Lundberg, and Vilhjalmsson into elite SMJHL players. In the SMJHL Entry Draft Kelowna addressed their goaltending issues with the selection of rising star Christoffer Björnsson, and picked up some solid players in later rounds: Mainio Mäkinen and Niall Brannan have been likened to Koroviev and Vilhjalmsson respectively, and are expected to continue GM Sorenson’s excellent record in the draft.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Looking at the rankings, Kelowna’s only weakness is in goal (where they rank last in the league), though GMs Sorenson and Carlsson will argue that the addition of Björnsson—who impressed in the Prospects tournament—has already addressed that issue. The Knight’s rank first in no less than six of the ten categories, and one has to assume that come the postseason they will be a force to be reckoned with. Björnsson is already on his way to being as good as—if not better than—Lemieux was at the same point in his career, providing the final piece in what could be a championship winning puzzle for the Knights.

Predicted finish: 1st (1st overall)

Final Rankings by Category
Checking
1. 62.38
2. 61.10
3. 60.50
4. 58.78
5. 57.84
6. :impact: 57.50
7. 57.14
8. 55.55

Skating
1. 78.89
2. :impact: 77.00
3. 76.35
4. 75.84
5. 75.27
6. 75.21
7. 75.11
8. 73.86

Strength
1. 68.89
2. 67.50
3. 66.84
4. 66.55
5. 66.16
6. :impact: 65.20
7. 61.67
8. 60.52

Endurance
1. 73.79
2. 73.74
3. 73.60
4. :impact: 70.55
5. 69.32
6. 69.06
7. 69.00
8. 68.42

Puck Handling
1. 75.42
2. :impact: 74.65
3. 73.60
4. 72.61
5. 72.10
6. 70.47
7. 71.21
8. 70.10

Face-Offs
1. 79.25
2. 77.75
3. :impact: 76.25
4. 76.00
5. 70.50
6. 69.50
7. 68.75
8. 68.00

Passing
1. :impact: 75.05
2. 75.00
3. 73.63
4. 73.57
5. 71.79
6. 71.50
7. 69.72
8. 68.52

Scoring
1. 73.10
2. 72.70
3. 70.79
4. 70.78
5. 70.58
6. 69.90
7. :impact: 69.05
8. 63.63

Defence
1. 75.47
2. 73.25
3. :impact: 72.75
4. 72.00
5. 71.90
6. 71.72
7. 68.94
8. 68.10

Goaltending
1. :impact: 269.50
2. 261.50
3. 252.50
3. 252.50
5. 237.50
6. 213.50
7. 196.50
8. 183.00

(Word count: 2480; rankings section not included)</div>