An update to yesterday’s Watch List:
New Teams that have clinched playoff berths since yesterday
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (NCDC)
P.A.L. Jr. Islanders (Premier)
Rockets Hockey Club (Elite)
New York Aviators (Elite)
NCDC
All three Sunday games are in the South Division and none of them will change the standings
Mercer, Connecticut and the Rockets are the three teams vying for two remaining spots, and they will be for some time.
PREMIER CONFERENCE
MID-ATLANTIC DIVISION
Hershey (sixth) visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (second)
Elmira (seventh) hosts the Aviators (first)
P.A.L. (eighth) hosts Utica (four)
P.A.L. will visit the Aviators in the playoffs.
Elmira and Hershey will finish today. Elmira is down by one point to Hershey and will stay in seventh pending an upset today.
A Utica loss gives the idle Rockets sole possession of third. If Utica win, they will need a two-game sweep next weekend to finish third, when they host the Rockets for two games.
MIDWEST WEST DIVISION
We have a three-way points tie with 41 points for 5-6-7
Ox-Blades-Isanti. Tiebreakers will be the determining factor. All three teams are visitors next weekend, so where to go is what’s at stake.
MIDWEST EAST DIVISION
Motor City (third) hosts Battle Creek
Fort Wayne (first) hosts the Cougars (fourth)
A Motor City win gives them third place , based on winning percentage. They played a 43-game schedule. Cougars need a win and a Motor City loss
PACIFIC DIVISION
Playoff pairings set.
San Diego (fourth) will visit Fresno (first)
Las Vegas (second) will host Ontario (third)
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Idaho Falls clinched fifth, relegating Provo to sixth
Today,
Idaho Falls (fifth) hosts Northern Colorado (third)
Pueblo (fourth) hosts Vernal
If NoCo wins, they will finish third and Pueblo will finish fourth
NORTHWEST DIVISION
Rogue Valley (fourth) pulled ahead of Bellingham (fifth) with a win last night
Rogue Valley will go to Vernal next weekend, based on the tie-breaker. Today’s Rogue Valley vs. Bellingham result could make the tiebreaker moot.
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
Carolina (fifth) hosts Charlotte (first)
Potomac (second) hosts Richmond (third)
Charlotte takes first, based on the H2H with Potomac notwithstanding game results.
Nashville still sit in fourth and are still done for the season.
Carolina are one point behind with two games remaining with the Rush. Carolina hold the tie breaker vs. Nashville.
Nashville can only wait to see if the Rush can help them out. Interestingly, there is an unscheduled game remaining between the Canes and the Rush. Today will render it meaningless or mandatory.
ELITE CONFERENCE
In the North, the standings are set. Not yet in the Mid-Atlantic.
In a repeat of yesterday,
Elmira (sixth) host the Aviators (fourth)
The Rockets (third) host P.A.L. (fifth)
The Hitmen (second) visit Hampton Roads.
The next Hitmen win or Aviator loss will clinch second and home ice.
In the Florida Division, the standings are set.
Palm Beach hold the tiebreaker over Atlanta and will finish 3rd. They will face Tampa
Atlanta, at fourth will play the Eels
In the Southeast,
Carolina (1) host Charlotte (3)
Potomac (2) host Richmond (4) next week
First and fourth are set. With one game left each, the Patriots are a point up on the Rush. A Charlotte loss today will give Potomac sole rights to second. Otherwise, wait until March 4.
