Surprises Galore

[RunTheGoalie]

One only has to look at the standings.

The BC division has the two best teams in the league, but after that, the division gets real mediocre, real fast.

Vancouver and Kamloops dont make the playoffs if they are in the Central. In fact, they dont even come close.

[RocketMan]

One only has to look at the standings.

The BC division has the two best teams in the league, but after that, the division gets real mediocre, real fast.

There are so many problems with that thinking I don't know where to begin. Comparing standings when the teams do not play the same schedules or opponents is about as wrong a method as you can get. If you want to debate this topic we can take it to email, otherwise I know where it will lead as some just don't like the results when you use the only sound method: head-to-head inter-divisional play.

Vancouver and Kamloops dont make the playoffs if they are in the Central. In fact, they dont even come close.

Making unsubstantiated assertions like your last two inflammatory sentences lead to no good. You may have the last word, unless you want to discuss it elsewhere. Cheers.

[Jovorock]

Vancouver and Kamloops dont make the playoffs if they are in the Central. In fact, they dont even come close.

Maybe they don't in the standing, but the Blazers and Giants are alot better teams than you think. Giants are slow out of the gate and are giving the Rockets a excellent series. The Blazers are alot better team after the trade deadline and the rest of the Ice series will be excellent hockey.

[RunTheGoalie]

There are so many problems with that thinking I don't know where to begin. Comparing standings when the teams do not play the same schedules or opponents is about as wrong a method as you can get. If you want to debate this topic we can take it to email, otherwise I know where it will lead as some just don't like the results when you use the only sound method: head-to-head inter-divisional play.

Head-to-head inter divisional play is just as wrong a meathod as using overall record for the exact same reason you argue against overall record: different schedules.

Hell, teams dont even play standard schedules within their own divisions.

You only prefer head-to-head play because it supports your argument. It has no greater value as evidence than overall records do.

Afterall, the WHL plays a 72 game season involving 20 teams. It does not play a random season involving five.

Statistically, we each have a case. Subjectively, EVERYONE says that the Central is the toughest division in the league. You would be hard pressed to find an observer - other than BC division fans suffering from an inferiority complex - that would consider the BC division from top to bottom to be superior to the Central.

[RunTheGoalie]

Maybe they don't in the standing, but the Blazers and Giants are alot better teams than you think. Giants are slow out of the gate and are giving the Rockets a excellent series. The Blazers are alot better team after the trade deadline and the rest of the Ice series will be excellent hockey.

Ok, so long as we are making excuses, I take back my comment that Kelowna and Kootenay are the two best teams in the league. Calgary also had a "slow start", and is truely the best team in the league. THN told us so!

"They started slow" is a rather weak excuse for the Gaints, and only proves my point. A slow start put the Giants into third in the BC division. A slow start would have buried the Giants in the Central.

As for the Blazers, they did improve. However, you have to consider the starting point. They started off as the worst team in the division, though I must say that the Blazers post-trade deadline record of 11-16-5-2 impressed the hell out of me.

[Beaner]

"They started slow" is a rather weak excuse for the Gaints, and only proves my point. A slow start put the Giants into third in the BC division. A slow start would have buried the Giants in the Central.

But who knows how Vancouver, or any other team for that matter, would do in the Central? They would have a different schedule, different travel, maybe Fistric doesnt go down with the Jaw injury in the 2nd game, another team from the Central would have to be bumped out, blah blah blah.

I can say that MH, that finished first in the Central, would have only finished 3rd in the BC division based on that logic.

There are just too many variables that come into play. Just moving Vancouver over to the central and then saying you wouldnt have made the playoffs just doesn't work.

It's kind of like debating wether the 80's oilers were a better team then the 70's Canadians. You just can't prove the arguement either way.

Makes talking sports great, but it's all just idle speculation.

[RunTheGoalie]

Truthfully, I agree. That is one of the reasons why I am laughing at the "head to head play proves all" argument.

Simply put, it proves nothing.

Really, this is all subjective. Top to bottom, nearly everyone takes the Central. I'll go with the overwhelming majority on this one.

[Chipper]

Truthfully, I agree. That is one of the reasons why I am laughing at the "head to head play proves all" argument.

Simply put, it proves nothing.

Really, this is all subjective. Top to bottom, nearly everyone takes the Central. I'll go with the overwhelming majority on this one.

I agree with you runthegoalie no one can win this argument, head to head realy won't prove any thing and stats can be manipulated to make your point where ever you play. We will all see who is the best when the east meets west .