NOJHL playoff picture

By Randy Russon
March 15, 2018
Tweet

Share

It’s a game of crazy eights now. The cards are on the table. There are eight teams spanning four playoff series of chance in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.

With Blind River Beavers and Timmins Rock having emerged from the qualifying rounds of the respective West and East sides of the NOJHL, it is semi-final time in the northern loop.

Following are one writer’s views as they pertain to the upcoming showdowns.

Keep in mind that my choices to win are neither scientific or analytic. They are, simply, who I think is going to win the particular series.

WEST DIVISION

Soo Thunderbirds (no. 2 seed) v. Soo Eagles (no. 3 seed.) If you can’t dance to this one, then you just can’t dance.

The latest installment of the cross-river border battle includes no shortage of hockey hostility. This is not passionate love between old friends.

Flip a coin and you may net the winner. But who is heads and who is tails?

Injuries could well decide this one, with the Thunderbirds nursing hurts to key forwards. Then again, good teams can come up with ways to overcome injuries.

There is much to like about the Eagles and what they are capable of. And what they are capable of is winning this series. But…

My pick to win: Thunderbirds.

—

Rayside-Balfour Canadians (no. 1 seed) v. Blind River Beavers (no. 4 seed.) Plenty of grit and grind to both teams and the towns that they represent.

I like the Canadians. I like the Beavers. How’s that for being stuck in the middle? Ha!

The coin has already been flipped but it landed on its edge.

So, how do I call this one now? Let’s see, Blind River is less of a road trip for me.

My pick to win: Blind River.

EAST DIVISION

Powassan Voodoos (no. 1 seed) v. Timmins Rock (no. 5 seed.) A mismatch of major sorts, it would appear.

After all, Powassan finished 50 points — yes, 50 points — ahead of Timmins during the regular season.

But if one is going to take a chance and make a bet that does not involve any hard-earned cash, why not take a walk on the wild side?

My pick to win: Timmins.

—

Cochrane Crunch (no. 2 seed) v. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (no. 3 seed.) If you are a friend of a coach whose name is Ryan then you can’t go wrong.

Ryan Leonard coaches Cochrane and Ryan Wood is the coach in Kirkland Lake.

Regardless of which life of Ryan you choose, these are two evenly-matched teams who are separated by mere miles of bumpy roads.

On one hand, I like Cochrane. On the other hand, I like Kirkland Lake.

So, here we go again with my wishy-washy ways, you say? Not a chance.

My hand inside my pocket, I reach for a solitary piece of paper and draw the winner.

My pick to win: Cochrane.