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TOPIC: Prediction Pool Week 1 |
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| Webs
September 3, 2025
12:43:07 PM
Entry #: 4360591
| Welcome to a new season and the start of another Prediction Pool. Once again, the first week does not count toward the season total but you can feel free to include your two cents worth. Prediction Pool season officially starts with the week 2 slate of games.
The rules:
$20 gets you in for the year, every week you select the teams you think will win and the person with the most points at the end wins the pot. I will collect the money starting week 22 or 23, I do not want to be paid before then.
If you enter picks any week during the year you are considered entered for the year.
You can pick a straight up win which gets 1 point if correct in regulation or shootout, a regulation tie which is 2 points if correct, a shootout win which gets you 3 points if correct.
If there is a tie at the end of the regular season the pot will be split amongst the winners.
Picks must be entered by game time each week this means if you miss the 8pm game you can still enter the other games if it is to me by 9pm or 10pm respectively. Once you have entered your picks on the website they cannot be changed after 9pm on Friday unless changed on the website and must be done before each gametime that you are changing. Please note 8:01 is too late for a pick in the 8pm game, whether the game has started or not, think of this as the Matry Taiani rule!
If you forget to make picks you automatically get a point if your own team wins if you selected your own every other week you entered picks.
There are 2 ways to enter picks, post them on the website or text me @ 902-471-0013. The preferred way is on the site. Preferably with a bit of a writeup explaining your selections.
I will mention player achievements and blunders throughout the year, if you wish to not have you name posted to be praised or humiliated let me know and I will exclude you.
Good luck and enjoy your season!!
Jets (0-0-0) vs Lions (0-0-0)
The Jets went with a strategy that has been almost universally opposed. Turple is their first pick and second overall. Don’t get me wrong, Turple was last season’s MVP and rightfully so, but is taking a defenceman with your first overall pick the right call? We have 25 games to see how it plays out, could be the start of a whole new trend towards number 1 D or it could suffer the same fate as Strummer and Logan being second rounders in 2010, the follow season the highest a goalie went was fifth round. Perry and Graeme get to play together for the first time since joining the HRHL back in 2021. These two have a long history as teammates and could bring some of that old Jr A magic back to the HRHL. Findlay will be between the pipes for the Jets and he will be one guy who is definitely not opposed to having Turple patrol the blueline. Congrats on the summer marriage Dewey, well planned so you never have to miss a future game due to a lame anniversary, extra points if her birthday is during the off season. The rumour at the draft was that Shane Tracey, Itchy and Croke would be the second line for the Jets. That would seem unlikely but in our exhibition game Croke buried one and stated it would be the first of many. Considering Jimmy has totaled 3 goals over the last 5 seasons as a D he may have given away that being a forward is in his immediate future. A quick glance at the Jets roster tell us that they drafted or owned the rights to 6 or 7 guys who would normally sign up as D and another in Stoney who can drop back any time he is needed and fill in without missing a beat. This tells us some guys who would normally play D will be up front. With Turple and Duke as sure things on the point who will the other two regulars be? If Croke moves up front the consensus would be that Proctor and Hype Train will take the d-man roles. That leaves Pecarski to join the top line and a third line of Orser, MacEachern and Stoney. I like those combinations, not because I think they can win but Ross, Pecarski and MacIsaac have the initials of RPM, what better way to describe the newly formatted line with three guys who have engines that never stop. The RPM line is even better if Ted gets head butted, guy goes to a new level with that one.
The Lions went polar opposite to the Jets, not selecting a D until sophomore Billard in the sixth round. When you take forwards with the top five picks you should score a lot. The Ritcey/Burgess combo looked like they never missed a beat since playing together 2 seasons ago, they were so good that Flemming buried 6 goals playing with them in the preseason game. I am not trying to take anything away from Parking Lot but he had 6 in 25 games last year, so whoever gets that third spot on the top line better perform like a top line guy. Ingraham and Messervey will make two thirds of the Lions second line. That has to be the top second line in the league no matter who they grab for the centre ice spot. Will Taiani put himself on one of those top 2 lines? Consensus is he couldn’t keep up with Messervey so it looks like a top line placement for the captain. Myrick could skate with the second duo and he is a beast to play against. That would leave Matty, Powell and Currie to round out the lines. Just to note Powell had a hatty in the preseason game, that give you 9 goals in a game from the third line combo. Keep that up all season and the Lions won’t lose a game. With the three line settled we now have Donkey, Hartnett and Taylor to round out the D core. Attendance might be an issue for Donkey in the regular season but he showed last year that he makes it for playoffs and was an integral part in his teams championship run. Logan gets to backstop this crew, his first time with the Lions and their current management structure.
The first week is always the toughest to pick. Who gels with who, what line combos get thrown together and in the case of the Jets who plays what position? I did have a front row seat to the Lions potent offence as I spared with them in their preseason game. Hard to go against a team that netted 15, exhibition or not.
Lions 6 – Jets 4
Oilers (0-0-0) vs Flames (0-0-0)
I always try to not be biased in writing this column but it is going to be hard not to be this year. Coming off of a championship the Oilers return 5 guys including two of the summer’s top three scorers. Bent won the title and Veinot came in third. Add in Longo who also finished in the top 10 and you have the makings of a team that will bury some pucks. Veinot and Corkill played together in the summer and clicked so it would seem likely they will form two thirds of the top line. Rookie Daly played in that role at the preseason affair, will he get that role to start the season? Fuck no, Skinner is coming off a shit year and needs to feel good about himself so he slots into the top group. Bent should team up with last years linemate LeBlanc and toss Longo in there and we have a second line that will compete anytime with the Lions second trio. Daly, Giles and Morry will fill out the third line and from all indications they will challenge any line in the league for the top beer drinking line, well any line that doesn’t have Tony McNeil on it. Redden headlines the exceptional D core along with Mousek, Sto and Webber. The net will be patrolled by Ingraham who is coming off a fantastical playoff run that saw him win playoff MVP and his team win the summer championship. Mind you he didn’t win a single regular season game in regulation and only had 1 win by shootout but that was in the past, the playoffs were just last week, kid is on a role.
Rookie management runs the Flames this season. How is that going so far? First time in HRHL history that a game was cancelled due to a no show goalie. Good thing we have a one year probation period for new captains, this thing could turn into a disaster quick if these fuckers don’t straighten up. Bray was given the honour of being the first ever top selection by Baxter and Manson. No elections are scheduled this hockey season so Bray should be able to fully focus on what is important, winning the championship and being there for his boys. Fougere was the second Flamer taken but this deal was done well before the draft, backroom handshakes were made and Dan was allowed to fall to the Flames for future considerations. Grease was once again the highest goalie selected, this coming off a season where he missed ten games, was fourth in GAA and his team didn’t make the playoffs. Can he rebound and be the same guy who had won top goalie several years in a row or is he the family man who misses hockey for kids birthday parties? Time will tell but the Facebook posts makes you think he is leaning towards family gatherings over his brothers in arms. The Flames season will come down to one thing, how good are the rookies. Manson comes in new and is not only slotted as a third rounder but is also given the weight of running a franchise. The league executive believes in him as an executive but will he be a player? Sources are mixed on all the Flames rookies. I have heard Manson is a top D and a number 2. The first question asked about Gilby is always did he play for the Mooseheads, after that gets cleared up there is very little information. What about Newcombe, I have heard he is a second rounder all day to he went where he belongs. More people who know him believe he is the steal of the draft. Can all three of these guys outplay their draft slots? What a great season it will be if they do. Baxter will get slotted on the top line with Bray and Fougere to start the season, goals will decide if he stays there. Gilby, Newcombe and Phil LeBlanc should be the second line. That makes Ashley, Strong and LaPointe the third group. J. LeBlanc, Curl, Coombsie and Manson make a pretty solid D. With grease between the pipes the Flames will be hard to score on, if those top two lines can produce the sky is the limit for this rookie run organization. Side note, it would be appreciated by the writers of this column if teams could only draft one LeBlanc. Having to distinguish between the two every week is a pain in my ass. Another organizational rookie mistake.
Oilers 5 – Flames 2
Stars (0-0-0) vs Ratpack (0-0-0)
The Stars franchise is still without a single HRHL championship, is this the year that changes? With the first overall selection they go back to the well and take Haverstock. Can he rebound and win the scoring title and the Rocket Richard just like he did in his first two seasons or is age catching up and is he on a slow decline like last season where he sharply fell to second in both of those categories? Just like the Flames the Stars selected three rookies which is very un-Stars like. Will the rookies performance decide the Stars fate? Gilbert is this years highest selected rookie but he missed the preseason game to watch his wife have a baby, not a good start to his HRHL career, next thing ya know he will be with Grease at an elementary school play instead of with his blood brothers on the ice. Former HRHL legend and cousin of Gilbert, Driscoll, insists that Patty will be the best player in the league and it won’t even be close. That is high praise and tough to live up to, if he can the Stars are set. Timy Ryan played possum all summer season long until the playoffs where he lit it up and carried his team to the Poteri Cup Championship. Can he get up for regular season games or is he like Connor McDavid and only playoff hockey matters now? Jason Murphy has handed over the reigns of the Flames organization and goes in the same round as we had him slotted for the last two years, sometimes we do get things right. I am going to miss the five games a year where Havey and Murph hate each other, shame they are on the same club. Iceton is my pick for steal of the draft, guy will never be a fifth rounder again, he was incredible in the summer, his first league in 15 years and he stepped it up even more in the playoffs. Havey with rookie Iceton and Larry Gallant would be a formidable line for anyone to face. I can see three top ten scorers coming on that group. That makes the second line of captain Ryan, Tony McNeil and JB. If JB steps up and takes on the role of a scorer this will be as good a second line as there is, if he takes his skates off on the bench with ten to play, it will be a tough season. The third line would then have Poirier centering MacDonald and Holt MacDonald just came off a two goals championship game and is feeling it right now so this line could be better than expected. Rookie O’Hearn and captain Clark will round out the D along with Murphy and Gilbert. How good will they be? Could be the best in the league if Patty is as good as Driscoll says, could be just average if not. Last season’s champion goalie Theuerkauf, (proper pronunciation is Dan the Goalie) is now a Star in his sophomore season. He is missing game one so first impressions are not good but backstop another winner and all will be forgiven.
After being a disaster in their first season together and much improved but invisible in the finals in their second season Josh and Eddie decided they needed new branding. Out with the Wolfpack and in with the Ratpack. When you name your team the Ratpack you must have a reason, yes, they did. Chappy has sponsored and is new team owner of the Ratpack. Munden is the first Rat chosen in HRHL history and he brings along Glazebrook to reform the leagues top duo. 79 points last season and they missed a combined 12 games along with Desi being hobbled for several more. Look for big things from this pairing. Who is the lucky fucker that gets the right wing spot with those two? Parsons and States are both centres so neither seems like the right fit, that takes us to MacQueen who can score and sees the ice well enough to play with those guys. Tough call on the second line, obviously Parsons centres it, do they move States to the wing and add Chappy, seems like a good combo. That leaves long time HRHL captain Kerr to centre returnee Flinn and Pudge. Well for the 10 games Pudge actually shows up for. Get ready for lots of two lines of four boys. The D core is the captains and boy did they perform in the championship summer game. Eddie shut down Bent while Josh became the first ever player to score a double OT 3 on 3 winner in the HSHL. Really may be the highlight of his career and if he hung them up for good no could blame him, going out on top is cool. Cleveland and Heggelin round out the D group for the Ratpack and Matty Robinson will backstop this mixed bag of pucks.
Stars 5 – Ratpack 4
Pre-season Award Picks
Norris – Turple, Gilbert comes close but rookies rarely win.
Art Ross – Veinot, runs the team so he gets more ice time that anyone.
Rocket Richard – Desi, Jabs is the top playmaker and if he misses there is no fall off pushing Parsons up.
Vezina – Grease, rebounds from an injury plagued season.
Hart – Haverstock, his linemates make the difference.
Calder – Gilbert, 7 guys eligible but he his the highest ceiling, Newcombe could sneak in there.
Selke – MacIsaac, engine never stops
Lady Byng – Bright, nicest gut you will ever meet
Jack Adams – Taiani, put himself on the top line with Ritz and Burgess, best move all year.
King Clancy – Glenn Ingraham every year, he is a better person that you.
Ted Lindsay – Bray, guys love to play with forwards who know there are two ends to the ice.
Jennings – Glenn, shut down D in front of him.
Messier – States, he is the epitome of what this award is.
Jim Gregory – Veinot/Skinner, build a team from the back out, second time in a row, but does it work without Turple.
Masterton – Itchy, left as a D is back as a Forward?
Presidents Trophy – Oilers, top team from game 1
Conn Smyth – Veinot, best player on the best team.
Stanley Cup – Oilers, a repeat no doubt.
I wish each of you a great season and I am always available to chat HRHL. Anything you would do to improve the league we would like to hear it. Just not before noon on weekends!!!
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| Prediction Guy
September 3, 2025
4:42:06 PM
Entry #: 4360593
| Here. We. Go.
Believe it or not, we’re basically 48 hours away from puck drop and the start of the 2025-2026 HRHL season and its myriad twists and turns.
Questions abound.
Which of the young guns will make the most memorable debut this Friday evening under the glare of the Stewtennial lights? Will the league’s stars (both new and returning) shine bright or barely flicker? Who will be the first to get chastised by Stuart for leaving a key in the dressing door? Will Tim Ryan bring out the “good” chips for week one?
While the season gets underway this Friday at 8:00pm, as Webber has noted, the prediction pool is still in its pre-season and only starts for real next week. As such, this will be a truncated treatise. A short report, as it were. Mostly brevity, with a dose of levity. In world wide web terms: a quick click.
To keep it simple, this week’s predictions are based solely on the number of current or former members of Stewtennials HC are included in each HRHL franchise’s roster. HSHL summer league squads, Monday Night O45 squads – spares INCLUDED – all count. If a guy has worn an SHC jersey in league play of some sort, he counts.
On to the games…
Jets
vs
Lions
The HartCats boast 5 guys on their roster for this season who have spent time in Stewie green, yellow, and white, including Lions co-GM Timmy Hartnett. The Jets, upon review, have 6 roster spots filled by Stewtennials alum, including a member of their management team, Mr. Jim Croke.
The science says the Jets eek this one out.
Jets 6 – Lions 5
Oilers
vs
Flames
Skinner’s Winners are not only the defending HRHL champions, they also boast the highest number of Stewtennials in the entire league, with 9. That includes BOTH members of team management: Skinner and Veinot, as well as league VP Longo and Commissioner Webber. The Flames, on the other hand, have the fewest Stewie alum in the league with only Coombs having appeared for the HSHL club.
This particular prediction model suggests this one might get ugly…
Oilers 9 – Flames 1
Stars
vs
RatPack
Stars management team member Timmy Ryan is one of 4 Etoiles-Stewtennialle that hope to shine bright on the team’s roster this year. The recently re-branded RatPack, by contrast, feature 8 total SHC alum, including two members of Stewtennials management: Rocket MacQueen and Robinson.
The math seems partial to the RatPack…
RatPack 8 – Stars 4
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