The MVP race for this season in the SMJHL should most certainly be an interesting race. There are many worthy candidates who come from many successful teams across the entire league; once could easily make a solid argument for any such players. However, after analyzing the list of possibilities, it has come to my attention that the odds strongly factor that a player from the Newfoundland Berserkers will more than likely take home the award. To some, this might not be much of a surprise as the Beserkers were the very best team in the SMJHL during the regular season, as they accumulated a league leading 76 points during the 50 game span. That being said, it's not always a lock that the top team in the league has the best odds of having a player on their team winning the MVP award. This article will analyze why it happens to be that this season the very best team has the best odds of a player on their team to win the MVP award and who specifically they are and why.

Mats Marner: Marner would seem like the obvious front-runner for the MVP award right off the bat. He not only led the entire league in points with an impressive 62 points (6 more than any other players), but he also lead the entire league in goals, as well, with 32 goals scored during the regular season (which is 5 more scored than any other player in the league). All of these statistics combined with the fact the Beserkers led the entire league in points make him t he obvious front-runner to win the award, but he alone isn't the only reason why the Beserkers have a great chance of having the MVP be selected from their squad.

Ryuuji Minamino: Here is the other players who has a strong case for the award and doubles the Beserker's already terrific odds. Minamino was tied for second in the league in points with 56 earned, but he led the league in assists during the regular season with 35, which makes him the play-making king on the season. Scoring goals is obviously super important for any team, but there is an argument to be made that Minamino's efforts on the ice might have had a larger impact offensively all around and resulted in more players earning their goals on the team. Minamino also scored 21 goals on the season in his own right, so it's not as if he didn't put the puck in the net in his own right and was solely a play-maker during the regular season.

In sum, what we see here is that the Beserkers have everything working in their favor to have a more than a very good chance at the MVP award coming from a player on their team. Marner would appear to be the front-runner by all accounts and statistics we typically look for in granting the award to a specific player. If that's not enough, however, Minamino makes a good case in his own right, and if he doesn't win the award, he might very well finish 2nd in the voting anyways. Therefore, not only are the Beserkers doubling their odds with two fantastic candidates, but then you factor in they were the best team in the regular season, and it just creates a perfect storm of probability in this case. Anything is possible, but I'd be stunned if the MVP award for this season wasn't granted to a player that proudly wears the Beserker jersey on the ice.

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