National Junior Rankings: Week 2
During the 2022 Canadian junior seasons, The Lax Mag will publish our National Junior Rankings, a weekly rundown of all 23 A-level teams across the country. Week 1 will begin on June 1 with future editions published every Wednesday until all leagues have started their playoffs.
The rankings will include the Ontario Junior Lacrosse League (OJLL), British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League (BCJALL) and Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL).
The Lax Mag’s rankings will position teams based not only by overall record, but also the strength of their opposition and the quality of their results, win or lose.
The Mimico Mountaineers are Canada’s solo undefeated side this season, last week edging out the Oakville Buzz in an extremely close contest at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre, 8-6, and then a few nights later beating up on the Brampton Excelsiors, 16-7, a game that featured six APs for our #1 ranked team. Those APs included Alex Roussel, Mark Watters and Cam Essensa, the trio combing for 6 goals and 6 assists in the W. The team has been led offensively by Justin Sykes (Hofstra), Carson Moyer (Utah) and Johnathan Peshko (Johns Hopkins), and have received strong stopping courtesy of Laine Hruska (8.47GAA, .714SV%) and Owen Dew (7.33GAA, .780SV%). The’ve got a big one against the Toronto Beaches tomorrow and then the Orangeville Northmen next week.
Justin Geddie, San Diego Seals (Photo: Jeff Crawford)
The biggest movers this week by far are the Nanaimo Timbermen, who topped last week’s #1 Langley, 10-4, and #3 from our opening edition (and again this week) Coquitlam, 12-8. Goalie Justin Geddie, who grabbed headlines during the NLL season when he stole a W for the then depleted San Diego Seals in Saskatoon, has been outstanding for Nanaimo in net, leading the league in GAA (7.17) and save percentage (.854). Ryan Sheridan (Hofstra) and Jacob Dunbar (San Diego Seals) have easily been two of the league’s top talents since returning from school and the show. The team is coached by Albany FireWolves Head Coach & GM, Glenn Clark.
Right now, Nanaimo, Langley, Coquitlam and Victoria, all sitting in our Top 6, are separated by just 2 points in the BCJALL standings.
In the RMLL, the Calgary Mountaineers are setting the standard with a 6-1 start. Sitting first, second and third on the league scoring charts, the Mounties are getting strong offensive production from Kyle Playsted (Bellarmine), Brydon Robichaud (Florida Southern) and Nathan Lam (Indianapolis). They’ll play the Okotoks Raiders twice over the next week.
National Junior Rankings: Week 2
1. (2) Mimico Mountaineers (OJLL) 6-0
2. (15) Nanaimo Timbermen (BCJALL) 4-2
3. (3) Coquitlam Adanacs (BCJALL) 4-2
4. (1) Langley Thunder (BCJALL) 5-2
5. (4) Oakville Buzz (OJLL) 6-3
6. (7) Victoria Shamrocks (BCJALL) 5-2
7. (5) Orangeville Northmen (OJLL) 3-2
8. (8) Toronto Beaches (OJLL) 5-3
9. (10) St. Catharines Athletics (OJLL) 6-2
10. (6) Whitby Warriors (OJLL) 5-3
11. (10) Calgary Mountaineers (RMLL) 6-1
12. (14) Peterborough Lakers (OJLL) 5-4
13. (11) St. Albert Miners (RMLL) 4-2
14. (12) Burlington Chiefs (OJLL) 3-5
15. (18) Burnaby Lakers (BCJALL) 3-3
16. (13) New Westminster Salmonbellies 2-5
17. (20) Six Nations Arrows 1-6
18. (16) Delta Islanders 2-4
19. (22) Okotoks Raiders (RMLL) 3-4
20. (23) Port Coquitlam (BCJALL) 1-6
21. (17) KW Lacrosse Club (OJLL) 0-7
22. (19) Brampton Excelsiors (OJLL) 0-5
23. (21) Saskatchewan SWAT (RMLL) 1-7