MSL Power Rankings: Week Four

The Lakers proved they could score, and score in bunches in their first two games of the 2015 season, picking up 32 goals in their wins over Brooklin and K-W. This past week the Lakers continued their winning streaking, picking up three consecutive wins, in defeats of Brooklin and Oakville twice. While the winning continued, the way the Lakers won changed, as their defense and goaltending proved to the be difference in a trio of low scoring games, where the Lakers failed to reach double digits in goals in all three wins.

Evan Kirk has been phenomenal for the Lakers in his three starts, allowing just 17 goals, while recording a 5.67 goals against average. But to put in perspective how good the Lakers defense and goaltending has been, Matt Vinc’s numbers are even better, as he sits with a 2-0 record and a 5.50 goals against average. With 16 points over the three game span, Shawn Evans has stayed scorching hot to open the MSL season, after breaking the NLL scoring record this past season. Evans’ four goals and 12 assists, combined with 11 points in the Lakers first two games give him a total of 27 to lead the Lakers and MSL in scoring. The Lakers prized offseason acquisition Curtis Dickson has lived up to the hype, as he picked up nine points this past week on five goals and four assists.  While the Lakers offense runs through their right side, Adam Jones and Corey Vitarelli have quietly put together a solid start to the season, as the pair has combined for 13 goals and 25 points this season. With the loss of Mark Steenhuis for the rest of the season, the right side gets a tad thinner, however we saw Scott Evans make his season debut on Monday against Oakville. Evans along with youngsters Matt Crough and Josh Currier should be enough to pick up the offensive production the Lakers lose with Steenhuis out of the lineup.

The defending Mann Cup Champions have yet to ice their full roster, as players continue to slowly trickle back from their NLL squads, and couple of weeks of much needed down time following a strenuous NLL season. However the Chiefs have still managed to put together a 5-1 record, and have strung together five straight wins since opening the offseason with a loss to the Kodiaks. Since their opening night loss to Kitchener-Waterloo, the Chiefs have yet to allow double digits in goals, and have allowed just 15 goals against in their last four games. The Chiefs are receiving all world goaltending from Dillon Ward, who was brought in from K-W this off-season. Ward has gone 4-0 as a member of the Chiefs, and currently spots a ridiculously low 3.75 goals against average and a 0.904 save percentage, numbers hockey goaltenders would be envious of. Offensively the Chiefs exploded this week, picking up 28 goals in two games, and the scary thing is that’s without the likes of Colin Doyle and Stephen Keogh who have yet to suite up for the Chiefs this season. Defensively the Chiefs are arguably the most intimidating core in the league, as the likes of Billy Dee Smith, Sid Smith, Colin Boucher and Mike McNamara have the ability to physically dominate their opponents. If that wasn’t enough you can throw in Team Canada defender Dan Coates and the likes of Rob Marshall, David Brock, Jon Sullivan and Jesse Gamble who’s yet to suite up for the Chiefs this season. The Chiefs and Lakers look like their on a collision course for the MSL final early on.

Not many were giving the Kodiaks much, if any chance to make the playoffs this season, especially with the additions that where made by the Oakville Rock this offseason. However the Kodiaks have gotten off to a great start, despite their sub .500 start to the season. Kicking off the season with an upset win over the Chiefs, was no easy task despite the Chiefs depleted lineup. This week the Kodiaks extended their lead on the now fifth place Brooklin Redmen, who were right on their heels in the standings, by pulling out an 8-8 at home against those same Redmen on Sunday night. Despite losing all star goaltender Dillon Ward to the Six Nations Chiefs in the offseason, the Kodiaks have been getting stellar netminding from David DiRuscio to start the season, as he’s appeared in all six of the Kodiaks games so far. With an 8.13 goals against average, DiRuscio would likely be leading any other league in that category, however the outstanding early season performances from Matt Vinc, Evan Kirk, Mike Poulin and Dillon Ward have him sitting fifth in that category.

Defensively the Kodiaks have welcomed the additions of rookies Eric Guiltinan and Derek Searle, while the continuing emergence of Joey Cupido and the solid play from Mitch Wilde has really allowed the Kodiaks defense to become one of the stronger units in the MSL this season. Under the radar pickups of David Joyce and Aaron Brown have also helped the Kodiaks, while the team has rid themselves as most of their big name talent. Offensively have put up 54 goals in six games, good for third in the league, which is some what shocking considering they’ve moved Dhane Smith and Ryan Benesch in the past two seasons, and have yet to see Jamie Rooney suit up this season. Luke Laszkiewicz currently leads the team in scoring with 15 points in five games, which includes the seven points he picked up in two games this week. The addition of Alex Kedoh Hill has already made a huge impact on the Kodiaks offense, as he’s picked up 11 points in three games since arriving. Aaron Wilson returning also hasn’t hurt the under-manned K-W offense, as not only has he picked up seven points in two games, his veteran leadership will go a long way with a young squad.

After kicking the season off with a 2-1 record, the Excelsiors faced a tough task this past week with back to back match ups against the defending Mann Cup Champions on the schedule. The young Excelsiors squad didn’t fair too well in the opening game this week, dropping a 19-6 decision to the ultra talented Six Nations Chiefs. However the Excelsiors were without any of their regular goaltenders in that thumping, as Senior B call ups Angus Dineley and Craig Robertson split time in the Brampton cage. With Tye Belanger heading West to the Burnaby Lakers, Tyler Carlson will hold down the fort in goal until Anthony Cosmo returns to the Excelsiors, assuming he is going to play at some point this summer. Carlson fared well in his debut with the Excelsiors, allowing just nine goals to the potent Chiefs offense that had put 19 on Brampton just under a week ago.

The Excelsiors also welcomed back Edmonton Rush defender Chris Corbeil to the offense on Tuesday night, as the veteran had missed the opening of the season due to his Rush competing and winning the NLL title. Corbeil, along with the eventual arrivals of Kyle Rubisch and Sandy Chapman will give the Excelsiors an imposing defense, one that has already played well without the three aforementioned players in the line up. Ethan O’Connor has really broke out for the Excelsiors, as the defender actually sits second in team scoring with nine points. The additions of transition players Connor Sellars, Matt Bennett and Jayson Crawford through the draft have really increased the depth of the Excelsiors. The offense certainly misses pure goal scorer Pat Saunders, however Joe Resetarits should soften that blow if he makes regular appearances in the Brampton lineup. Mike Burke has been Brampton’s offensive leader early on, while the additions of Dylan Goddard and Mike Melynchenko from K-W should help the depth of the Excelsiors offense. If Brandon Benn and Dan Keane could ever break out, the Excelsiors could be trouble.

The Redmen opened their season with a 9-4 win against the short handed Oakville Rock, since then its been a fairly down hill ride for the Redmen, as they’ve gone 0-4-1 in their last five. The Redmen have yet to see the majority of their stars from the 2014 season return to the line up, and have been using Senior B call ups from the Brooklin Merchants on many of nights. The Redmen sent just 14 players to K-W on Sunday, playing under manned once again. The Redmen have been up and down all season, as they have been unable to get solid play from their goaltenders, defense and offense all on the same evening, often seeing just one of the three click. In Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers, Mike Poulin stood on his head in the Redmen goal, as the offence could just not beat Evan Kirk or penetrate the Lakers defense. In the 8-8 tie to K-W the Redmen simply did not have enough fire power to get the job done.

Jordan Houtby and Kiel Matisz made their season debut’s this past Sunday, however they also recently committed to the St. Catharines Saints Senior “B” club for this season, so their appearances with the Redmen may be sparse. Shawn Williams currently leads the Redmen offense with 23 points in six games, while the diminutive Mike Teeter isn’t far behind. Lanky NLL draft eligible Mike Triolo has taken on a larger role with the Redmen this season, looking confident and often being the go to guy on Brooklin’s right side early on. Rookies Reilly O’Connor, T.J Sanders and Kyle Whitlow have been bright spots, however without the likes of Curtis Knight, Kevin Brownell, Shayne Jackson, Mark Cockerton and Derek Hopcroft this team will continue to struggle offensively unless changes are made. Defensively the Redmen are still awaiting the return of Cam Holding, Adrian Sorichetti, and John LaFontaine, however NLL veterans Dan Ball and Derek Suddons have returned, and have been joined by Sheldon Burns and Graeme Hossack to led the Redmen back end. Zack Higgins and Mike Poulin will be the strength of the Redmen until their guys return, however if their continue to get little offense, there numbers could take a dramatic hit this season.

The Rock are much much much better then their record shows, however with the majority of their roster being members of the Toronto Rock, they were forced to miss the opening games of the MSL season, putting the Oakville Rock behind the Eight-Ball. Since then the team has since received almost all their guys back to the lineup, with the exception of Brett Hickey who still nurses his ankle injury suffered prior to Game 2 of the NLL Championship. The Rock saw high profile offseason acquisition Wesley Berg make his MSL and Oakville Rock debut last Thursday night, where he picked up a goal and an assist for two points. Rob Hellyer currently leads the Rock in scoring with 11 points in three games, including a four point effort against Peterborough on Monday evening. Shayne Adams, who is eligible for this September’s NLL draft has continued to impress despite all of the Rock’s regulars being back, with 10 points in six games, however he did record just one assist in two appearances against Peterborough this past week. Stephan LeBlanc and Jeremy Noble are sure to explode offensively soon, as is Rob Hellyer, who we saw explode on numerous occasions during the NLL season. Once the Rock get Kevin Ross and Brett Hickey in the line up Oakville should start filling the cage.

Defensively the Rock are a pesky, physical and athletic bunch who have speed for days and a ton of good young defensive stars. Jason Noble, Alex Crepinsek and Damon Edwards lead the defense, while Billy Hostrawser’s physicality and willingness to drop the gloves, allows the undersized Rock defense to play with some tenacity. When Brodie Merrill makes his Rock debut this defense could arguably be on par with the Peterboroughs and the Six Nations of the league, however until then, the youngsters will need to continue their superb play. Nick Rose is the Rock’s unquestioned starter, and he’ll look to prove himself worth of the Toronto Rock’s number one job next season, with an excellent MSL season. Rose has been fairly good for the Rock early on, sporting a 9.61 GAA, however he has yet to steal them a game, which they’ll need if they want to finally make the MSL playoffs.