Login

spooked · 08-26-2022, 01:15 PM

Round 3 of Season 65 saw the Nevada Battleborn eliminated from the playoffs, losing a 4-2 series to the Newfoundland Berserkers. The result was not surprising really, Newfoundland had the edge in the regular season standing, but after finishing in the top 5 for a few seasons and never getting further than the second round prior during that time, it would have been a disappointing result to not overcome that series. Who knows what could have happened in the final as Newfoundland ended up taking the final to 7 games.

This season Nevada clearly came to play. As I speak now, the Battleborn have dominated the regular season, being the only team above 100 points, with 49 wins from 66 games, and finishing with the second most goals and least goals against. Nevada can score, but they also have the best team defence clearly, making the challenge much harder for any team they play. You can’t beat Nevada if you can’t score against Nevada.

Not only was the team dominant, but they did it in a unique way. No player on Nevada was in the top 10 in points overall, which is odd for a team so dominant, but they were present in the defensemen leaders. With 3 D-men in the top 10 for goals from the blueline, and having 3 also in the top 10 for assist from the blueline. They also had their 2 goalies firmly leading the league in goals against average, with Valerian Sauveterre leading the league with 2.21, and Dexter Harrison just behind with 2.25. It is very clear Nevada hockey is being players with a focus on playing through their strong blue line and helping their goalies out to be impenetrable.

Their forward core isn’t a slouch either, with 7 forwards above 50 points, and 6 of those with more than 60 points. It is clear they are scoring goals by committee, and with 5 20+ goal scorers, I don’t think it is hurting them at all. They are just strong from top to bottom, with great goalie performances, a strong and skilled blueline, and more than a handful of goal scorers who can net winning goals when asked.

Nevada’s league leading performance earned them a bye in Round 1 of the playoffs this season, but in Round 2, they matched up against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season, Newfoundland. This season, Newfoundland have been a shade of themselves, but Nevada wasn’t going to take it easy on them. Revenge was easily earned, with Nevada sweeping the series with wins scoring 4-1, 4-3(OT), 6-0, 4-3. Close at times, but dominant at home and good enough away.

Round 3, for the second season in a row, saw Nevada play the Colorado Raptors, who they had knocked out the season prior with a sweep, but who had also improved this season up to second in the standings in their own right. Unfortunately for the raptors, Nevada clearly has their numbers, in what should have been a close series between the leagues top 2 teams, Nevada swept Colorado again, for the second straight season, with scores of 6-1, 5-3, 4-0, and 6-1, it wasn’t even close really.
Now, Nevada is in the finals playing a Quebec team that has been the final four 2 years running, but hasn’t won a cup since Season 58. At the time of writing, they are already up 2-0 in the season, taking games 1 and 2 with scores of 4-1 at home, and 4-3 (OT) away. I cannot see Nevada losing this series at this point, and they should likely easily walk to a cup potentially without dropping a game in the playoffs, a feat which has not happened in the current era of the SMJHL, if ever. This will either be one of the most dominant SMJHL performances of all time, or the biggest collapse of a sure win of all time. We will see shortly.

*CptSquall* · 08-26-2022, 02:50 PM

Approved, +5 TPE to @spooked

Froste39 · 08-26-2022, 03:55 PM

This shapes up to be such a jinx :D

Go Battlebabies though Battleborn

Navigation

Extra Menu

About us