Stretch run in the NOJHL
As the 2017-2018 regular season heads towards the finish line, there are a number of placings that are still to be determined in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
There is a torrid race going in the NOJHL West.
Rayside-Balfour Canadians are in first place with 70 points, Soo Thunderbirds are second with 67 and Blind River Beavers are third with 66. And still in relative range are the fourth-place Soo Eagles with 59 points.
The Eagles are home to Rayside-Balfour on Wednesday night, while the Thunderbirds and Blind River face off in a home-and-home series this weekend.
Already determined are that the Elliot Lake Wildcats will finish fifth and the Espanola Express will end up last in sixth spot and miss the playoffs.
In the East Division, Powassan Voodoos have secured first place, Cochrane Crunch will finish second and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners are poised to place third.
Meanwhile, Hearst Lumberjacks are fourth with 45 points, which is five more than fifth-place Timmins Rock.
French River Rapids are in last place with 31 points and have a mathematical shot at catching Timmins for the fifth and final playoff spot.
All teams play a 56-game, regular season schedule.
As of now, all teams have played at least 49 games.