OCTOBER 2, 2011

Bobcats, Rattlers, Titans and Stars all perfect to start the new season!

The 2011-2012 season is concluding its fourth week of play, and the top of the standings consist of a combination of perennial favourites, as well as a couple of expansion clubs with strong early showings. 

Last year's champs Elliot Lake, have picked up right where they left off, with 5 straight wins to open the season, though teams like Algoma and Sturgeon Falls are proving to be much tougher opponents this season, with a couple of blowouts thrown in for good measure.

The Rattlers of Bradford have jumped out to a quick start as well, more than keeping pace with 6 straight wins of their own, with 2 hard fought wins each over the Shield and Moose, and a demolition of the Avalanche tonight in Bradford, 12-1.

Newcomers Temiscaming and Vaughan both couldn't have asked for a better start, each winning their first 4 games in their history, and placing themselves right in the mix at the top of table.  The Titans record includes a 15-1 shellacking of the Wave, formerly Wild, and the Stars of Vaughan got their season going with a 4-2 in Toronto. 

Sitting in first place tied with the Rattlers, is the Sturgeon Falls Lumberjacks, who, after dropping their first two games of the year, have reeled off six straight wins to sit at 12 points after 8 games.  The 'Jacks dropped close decisions in Elliot Lake and Temiscaming, and have been perfect even since.

Former champions, the Shield, currently sit in sixth after a win Sunday night against another expansion club, the Orangeville Americans, who managed an overtime point in a 2-1 OT loss, featuring a 62 save performance by Orangeville's Mark Andrews.  South Muskoka looks strong again, with a record that includes 2 tough losses to Bradford.

The Moose dropped some close games early on, including 2 against Bradford, but have won 3 straight, including a home and home series against Orangeville, to get back to .500 and a share of sixth place with the Shield. 

The last expansion club to mention is the Mattawa Voyageurs, who are next with 5 points in 6 games, but look to be competitive in their inaugural season, with 2 losses coming against the Titans.

Orangeville is tied for 8th with Mattawa, but has played one more game, accumulating a record of 1 win and 3 OT/SO losses for their 5 points.

The Lefroy Wave, formerly the Vaughan Wild, are 2 and 3 to start the year, and tied with the 2 & 4 Bucks from Bobcaygeon, along with the Algoma Avalanche, who are 1-4-2 to start the year.

At the bottom of the table sit two clubs that are proving to be a surprise, both struggling out of the gate, with Deseronto winning once in 4 games, and the Red Wings in Shelburne proving to be a completely different club this year, and have yet to earn a point.

Tomorrow night, Sturgeon makes it way to Oangevill for a Monday night encounter, and the Vaughan Stars will host the Moose in one of 3 weekday Noon matches.

NEWS AND NOTES: Some technical issues with our site have been sorted out and we will be posting weekly reviews from this point on;   gmhl.net continues to be improved, with the additional team stats now available, and more information still to come online, including profile photos and information;    the first 15 games of the season for each team will determine the top 7 teams who will participate in the GMHL COLLEGE SHOWCASE in Elliot Lake in November, while a team of Selects from the rest of the league will make up an 8th squad to round out the tournament roster.