Seattle Brew #5 A look at the playoff races as we head into the last week of the season...

After the games of Febraury 20th and with just 1 week remaining in the regular season all the
participants for the 2015-16 CCHL playoffs are known. Which teams will be playing which is still a
jumbled mess in one conference while things are just a little hazy in the other so here is how things
stand as the season winds down.

CANOSA Conference

REK – 109 points, 1st place, 1st Rd Bye - Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs MTL & VIC - Road (2) at SPR & SIB

Remaining opponents winning % .380

Highest scoring and currently the hottest team are in prime position to hold on to 1 of the top 2 seeds in the Conference and both season series against Copenhagen and Minnesota.

COP - 109 points, 2nd place, 1st Rd Bye – Games remaining (3) – Home (1) vs VIC – Road (2) at HAM & GEO

Remaining opponents winning % .513

Defending champs have a tough task to guarantee a 1st Rd bye as they lose both tie-breakers in season series to Minnesota and Reykjavik so they need to win out or hope either of those other teams stumble.

MIN - 107 points, 3rd place, 1st Rd vs LIE – Games remaining (3) – Home (0) – Road (3) at ISL, SPR & MTL

Remaining opponents winning % .380

Minnesota will need to be like Mad Max as all 3 games are away from the land of 10,000 lakes. There is also a chance that they could finish in 4th place if they fail to get a couple of wins.

GEO - 104 points, 4th place, 1st Rd vs VIC – Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs COP & HAM – Road (2) at SAN & MTL

Remaining opponents winning % .414

If the Millers finish strong they could find themselves with a 1st Rd Bye, although they would need to beat Copenhagen in the final game between the two and get some help. If they really struggle in the final week they may drop into 5th place and start the playoffs on the road.

VIC - 99 points, 5th place, 1st Rd at VIC – Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs SIB & SAN – Road (2) at REK & COP

Remaining opponents winning % .522

Victoria is almost certainly going to finish in 5th place and be travelling to start the playoffs. However if 4th place Georgetown sputters in their final quartet of games Victoria could slip into 4th and host the Millers in the 1st Rd. Victoria won the season series against Georgetown (3-1-2).

ISL – 84 points, 6th place, 1st Rd at MIN.

The Express are locked in as the 6th seed but they are invited to the big dance but in which city they will be on night 1 of the playoffs is not quite set. They may still not know where to book their flight to until the last day of the season.

SAN, MTL, SPR, SIB & HAM have all booked their tee times and have begun planning their moves for the 2016-17 CCHL season

CORFIELD Conference

DAY – 130 points, 1st place, 1st Rd Bye.

The Musicmen will rest up and await their 2nd Rd opponent knowing they have home ice throughout the playoffs as they have clinched 1st overall in the CCHL

CGY – 110 points, 2nd place, 1st Rd Bye – Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs WPG & BOS – Road (2) at DAY & POR

Remaining opponents winning % .490

The Chinook only need 1 point in their final 4 games or Niagara Falls to lose or tie one of their remaining games to clinch the 1st Rd Bye that finishing in 2nd place grants. Will the Day 148 matchup against Dayton be a preview of the Corfield Final?

NIA – 102 points, 3rd place, 1st Rd vs FOR – Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs WIS & DAY – Road (2) at SEA & HAL

Remaining opponents winning % .510

The Thunder are almost locked into the 3rd place spot with just an infinitesimal chance to move up to 2nd place. Who they host in the 1st Round is not quite known yet so they will have to play a wait and see game and maybe rest a few players.

WPG – 90 points, 4th place, 1st Rd vs SEA – Games remaining (3) – Home (2) vs LNZ & DAY – Road (1) at CGY

Remaining opponents winning % .673

A big win in game 79 against Seattle provided Winnipeg with a bit of cushion over the Reign and Fort Erie. Considering how tough their final trifecta of games are having that cushion may be just what was need to hold onto 4th place and beginning the playoffs at home.

SEA – 86 points, 5th place, 1st Rd at WPG – Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs NIA & POR – Road (2) at LNZ & FOR

Remaining opponents winning % .482

The Reign will finish somewhere from 4th to 6th however they lost the season series to Winnipeg and won the season series against Fort Erie but the Falcons host the Reign on the final day of the season and that may hold the fate of the playoff seedings of 3 teams.

FOR – 85 points, 6th place, 1st Rd at NIA – Games remaining (4) – Home (2) vs POR & SEA – Road (2) at BOS & HAL

Remaining opponents winning % .342

The Falcons are looking to move up a ranking or 2 for the 1st round of the playoffs and the schedule is a favorable one. If the Ferrets struggle and Fort Erie find themselves within striking distance of Winnipeg and Seattle their final home game against the Reign may be the springboard for the Falcons to make another long playoff run.

LNZ, WIS, BOS, POR & HAL are preparing to pack up their lockers at the end of the week as the teams will look forward to making strides towards the playoffs in the 2016-17 CCHL season.