As Jay Boyd and I put on miles (or should I say kilometres) over the course of these SJHL playoffs, we have come up with a pretty heated debate as far as the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League's Most Valuable Playoff Player is concerned.
An informal survey shows, at least, on the Yorkton side there is a split almost down the middle. Here are my three contenders (the Canalta Cup may very well be given to the Terriers tonight and the MVP will go to one of these three fine playoff performers).
-Brady Norrish. To me, Norrish has been the best player in the SJHL during the entire playoffs. I don't think he's, necessarily, been the best player in the series against Humboldt; but he's been pretty darned good. Overall he has 6-goals and 4-assists in 16-games and the six goals are a major stat in a league that has been very defensive. But, to appreciate Norrish you really have to watch him. He puts on more miles than any other player as he rushes frequently but is almost always never out of position either. Melville had no answer for him and he was the single most reason the Terriers defeated the Mils. Humboldt hasn't been able to handle Yorkton's puck moving blueliners either and Norrish is the best.
-Dawson MacAuley. MacAuley is the MVP of this series, no question in my mind (3-2, 1.76, .942). In the last two games he is 2-0, 0.59, .980. If there is one player who has gotten continually better over the course of the postseason, it's MacAuley. And, to think he could play in this league for TWO more years. He'd be a great choice and he may also be the obvious choice to some. I guess my only strike against him is that he hasn't been asked to 'steal' games. But, should he be disregarded because he's done his job?
-Patrick Martens. In a league where goals are hard to come by, Martens has managed to collect 10 in 14 games. He was the MVP of the Estevan series and the best player in game two when the Terriers tied the series. But, he hasn't been Yorkton's best forward in this series either. That nod goes to Tyler Giebel (5-4-2-6).
I don't think you will get much of an argument as far as Humboldt's contenders are concerned; although it's fashinonable to look at the goalie first.
-Joey Davies. Davies, like Martens, has been an incredible threat offensively despite this being a league chalk full of low scoring games. He has 13-goals and 4-assists in 15-games; but his offense has disappeared over the last three games. If Humboldt is to come from behind and win this series, you have to think Davies is going to be the biggest reason why and he will win the MVP should Humboldt mount the improbable comeback.
-Matt Hrynkiw. The Rodney Dangerfield of goaltenders has stepped up and, likely, is the single biggest reason this series is getting to game six. I have Yorkton has the better team in four of the five games so far, which would mean the series should already be over. What else is a guy to do? He boasts a 1.19-GAA and .962 SPCT over the last two games and is 1.99, .936 overall in these playoffs. I suppose if Humboldt were to win the next two games 1-0 or 2-1 then he has to win it, doesn't he?
-Logan Sproule. Aside from Davies and Sproule, the entire Humboldt offense has actually been a disappointment when you look at numbers alone. For a blueliner to be near a point per game (15-2-12-14) really says something. Sproule plays a different game than Yorkton's Norrish. He doesn't really rush into the play, but rather uses his terrific hockey sense back at the blueline either dishing pucks off or firing a shot on goal and seeing if someone can scoop in a rebound. Sproule's importance is further magnified when you consider injuries to David Stumborg and Cody Pettapiece have decimated their blueline. It's crunch time for Humboldt and I think Sproule should be on the ice for as much as he can possibly handle.
What are YOUR thoughts?
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