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Wearingabear · 06-21-2020, 11:31 AM

Today we're going to be breaking down the race for the Jared Hanson award, the leagues top points getter, for S54. It's a fairly hot race this year with only about 10 games left in the regular season. Last year's winner, Edward Williams of the Detroit Falcons who scored 64 points, has seen a pretty sharp decline this year in his production, with only 25 points(10g, 15a) on the year. We'll be analyzing who are currently the top 5 in the race.

Ryuuji Minamino 44 GP, 23 Goals, 24 Assists, 47 Total Points, Newfoundland Berserkers

This veteran Japanese winger is having a career year in the SMJHL. He's already outpaced himself from last year, where he finished with 17G, 19A, 36P. Originally drafted 56th overall, he's become a huge points getter on a stacked Berserkers team that sees them currently at the top of the East with a 30-9-2 (62 points) record on the year. He leads his team with 23 goals, and 47 points, and only trails Matthew Forrester in assists, who has 33 on the year. Minamino also leads the team in power play goals this year with 8 on the season, and has 144 SOG. His 12 power play goals are an impressive first the league, with 3 players tied with 8 power play goals coming in behind him. With over half his goals on the Power Play, it's no wonder he's putting up spectacular numbers.

We asked our local beat reporter out of Newfoundland, Edward Patrick Henry, about Minamino and he had this to say:

Quote:Ryuuji Minamino, the Power Forward from Japan, nicknamed "Godzilla" by his teammates (he currently stands at an impressive 6'3" and 210 pounds) is having one last hurrah in the 'J this year before making the jump into the big show. The Chicago Syndicate obviously knew what a special they were getting taking him 11th overall in the S53 SHL draft. Godzilla has stomped over the competition this year, edging out every one in his way. Being the top scorer on the top team in the East, you're going to have a target on your back, and he's still managed to come through in the big moments this year. The Berserkers are going to be counting on him to continue this play going into the playoffs.

We're going to be keeping a keen on Godzilla as the season closes out. He's got a short lead with only 6 games left on the year, will he continue to produce while the others catch up?

Jimmy Wagner, 42 GP, 19 Goals, 24 Assists, 43 Total Points, Carolina Kraken

The Kraken's Captain is putting up his best numbers of his career in the SMJHL. Already putting up 9 more goals and 2 more assists than last year, in 8 less games, it's obvious that Wagner has put in the hard work during the off season to make sure his team is in prime playoff position. The Kraken are 2nd in the East, with 26-13-3 record for 55 points this year. Jimmy has really shown through on the Power Play this year, earning 8 PPG, first on the team, and 7 PPA, only trailing Vitek Vitecek in that stat, he holds 15 power play points on the year. The captain sits in the top 5 on the Kraken for Goals, Assists, plus/minus and SOG. Captain is proving himself worthy of that title with an OGR of 71, first on the Kraken.

We checked in with local Carolina reporter, Ted Tippett, who spoke highly of the Kraken's Cap.

Quote:The Carolina Kraken knew exactly what they were getting with Jimmy Wagner, who drafted him 6th over all. They've done a fantastic job developing this player into a world class player and getting him ready for the Los Angeles Panthers, who drafted him 5th overall. He's still looking to get his chance at the Four Star Cup before making this jump. Will this year be the year?

Wagner is pushing hard to be an all around player and wants to get that Four Star Cup. With 43 points right now, he's 2nd in the race. Will we see a late push? Will he be the driving force for the Kraken in this year's play offs?

Rotticus Scott, 42 GP, 15 Goals, 27 Assists, 42 Total Points, Kelwona Knights

Rotticus Scott is coming this year having a breakout year. He finished last year's campaign playing in 48 games, and scoring 1g, 7a, 8p and sporting a -3. So it's really impressive to see him come into his own this year and be a leader on the Kelwona Knights who are first in the West right now, sporting a 28-9-5 (61 points) record. What's impressive for Scott is not necessarily his goal scoring ability, but his prowess to get himself in the right time and right place and make the key passes to get the assist. He's currently 2nd on the team in Goals with 15, trailing only Jaska Seppala (21G). He leads the team in assists, points, PPG and PPP and is in the top 3 in goals and plus/minus. His 27 assists on the year are good enough for 2nd in the league.

Our reporter from Kelwona, B.C., Leo Kelonta had this say about Rotticus Scott

Quote:Rotticus, known by team as The Rainmaker, has proven himself a leader this year on the Knights. A few were wondering what this year would like look after the Knights finished lower in standings last year, but with the contributions by players like The Rainmaker, this team has taken off and proved themselves worthy of being first in the West. It's no wonder that the Chicago Syndicate took him 8th overall in last year's draft.

Chicago is setting themselves up with 2 players in the top 3 of this year's point race. The Rainmaker is going to be a force to reckon with coming up and you'll want to see how he progresses and moves up in the SHL. He still has 8 games to compete in this year, and if he continues to play like this, he could finish at the top of the race this year.

Rocco Berni, 42 GP, 14 Goals, 27 Assists, 41 Total Points, Kelwona Knights

Yet another player on the Knights who is having a career year. The Coaches in Kelwona are doing something right this year having 3 players in the top 5 in the race for the Jared Hanson award. Rocco has already doubled his goals from last year, and upped his assists by 2. Rocco is demonstrating his offensive prowess by being in the top 3 for almost every category. He currently leads the team in Power Play Assists, and is tied for the lead in Power Play Points and Assists. The 'RJR' line (Rotticus Scott, Jaska Seppala, and Rocco Berni) has proven themselves as one of the top lines in the league.

We checked in again with Leo Kelonta:

Quote:Rocco Berni, or Rocky Balboa as the Knight's fans call him, is having one of those break out years that sees him climbing the stats board every time he steps on the ice. The Minnesota Chiefs saw a huge amount of potential in him, taking him 20th overall in the S53 SHL Draft. The Knights will be looking for him and the rest of the 'RJR' line to take the lead in offensive production in this year's playoffs.

The Knights have put themselves in a commanding lead in the West, accumulating 61 points in only 42 games. Barring any injuries or major slumps, they should be a shoo-in for the play offs and will attempt a major push to win the Four Star Cup this year.

Jaska Seppala, 42 GP, 21 Goals, 20 Assists, 41 Total Points, Kelwona Knights

The final piece to the Knights' 'RJR' line this year is this Finnish sniper. Growing up idolizing Teemu Selanne, he's stepped up it seems right where the Finnish Flash left off. This is another great year for Jaska, he's outpaced himself in Assists and Points from last year, and is only trailing by 2 Goals. With 8 games left in the year, it would be a surprise if Seppala doesn't have his best year yet. He's the current leader in goals, plus/minus for the Knights, and is in the top 3 with his line mates for seemingly every other offensive category. He's only two goals beind Ryuuji for the league lead in goals this year, and Jaska has 2 games in hand.

Leo Kelonta might be tired of talking to us at this point, but here's what he had to say:

Quote:You know you have something special happening in Kelwona when your entire top line is in the race for the Jared Hanson scoring title. The Buffalo Stampede recognized Jaska's special abilities early on, taking him 7th overall in the S53 SHL draft. He's been one of the top point getters for the past two years and there should be no doubt that once he's in the big show, he'll be climbing up and poised to be one of the best scorer's in the league.

At this point in time, Ryuuji Minamino is the most likely candidate to be taking the Jared Hanson award this year, performing at 1.06 point per game average, there's no slowing Godzilla down. It'll be a tight race down to the last game, but with the production that we've seen from the Kelwona Knights' 'RJR' line, we could see one of those 3 jumping up into the lead. Make no mistake, these are all world class players, who will no doubt make huge impacts on their teams in the SHL. No matter what happens, all of these players will be fighting hard when the playoffs roll around. They're all looking to raise that Four Star Cup before making their jumps into the SHL.

(1871 words)

***sve7en*** · 06-21-2020, 11:55 AM

@Nhamlet
>1 ppg gang

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