You'd think heading into the final week of the regular season more than two teams would be locked into their playoff positions, but that isn't the case in the North Saskatchewan River Hockey League.
Paradise Hill has two games remaining, but the defending NSRHL champions will not be climbing out of eighth place no whatever the results this week.
Wednesday they played the Meadow Lake Stampeders and it was Meadow Lake winning 5-4. Jamie Jeanotte and Darren Caron each scored a hat trick, but it was Caron who had more support, as Jordon Oystrick and Cory Demmans scored singles for the Stampleders.
Friday, the Hawks will host Maidstone, which could be a first round matchup between the first and eighth place teams come playoff time.
Jeanotte, who was a big contributor on the Hawks run to the championship last season, leads the team with 19 points in 11 games. Derek Jeanotte is second in points with nine goals and six assists in nine games.
Michael Babchuk has carried the goaltending load, recording a 2-12 record.
Last week, the Hawks lost 9-4 and 10-4 in Edam and Meadow Lake.
Thanks to two goals from Brendan Weitzel and Geordy Gabruck and singles from Makstr Lacoursiere and Michael Weber, the Edam 3 Stars earned their third win in their last four games Sunday.
The 3 Stars beat St. Walburg 6-4 Sunday, lost 8-5 to St. Walburg Saturday and beat Paradise Hill Friday.
This week the 3 Stars will wrap up their regular season schedule at home against Wilkie in a possible two versus seven playoff matchup.
Two players, who didn't play with the 3 Stars last season, are leading the way offensively. Brett Jullion has 12 goals and 12 assists in 13 games. Another former North Star, Joel Budd leads the team with 14 goals in 18 games and has 19 points. Joel Jullion also has 19 points this season in 17 games.
Goalie Quinton Gauthier has played all but one of the 3 Stars games and is 5-13 on the season.
The Meadow Lake Stampeders hold the sixth spot in the NSRHL, but with two games remaining they could leap frog Turtleford in the final weekend.
The Stampeders played six games in 11 nights and went 3-3. Wednesday's win in Paradise Hill moved the Stampeders into a tie for fifth place with Turtleford.
Sunday, they beat Paradise Hill, Saturday they lost 6-3 in Maidstone, Friday, they lost in Spiritwood and Jan. 26. Meadow Lake beat the Tigers.
Meadow Lake is 8-11-0 this season and part of the reason would be the offensive production from Dustin Gorst, who has 10 goals and 20 assists in 17 games. Caron leads the team in goals with 16 in 19 games.
Rick Dallyn and Sean McConnell split the goaltending duties this season in Meadow Lake. Dallyn is 3-4 while McConnell is 5-7.
Turtleford never lost or won more than two games in a row this season, but they did carry an 8-10-0 record in to the their game Wednesday and will finished the season in Meadow Lake Saturday.
This season, the Tigers' offence was led by Brett Medve, who had five goals and 12 assists in 16 games. Kris Bloom and Luke Zbaraschuk had nine goals and five assists each.
Chad Terres has played all but 20 minutes for the Tigers this season in net.
If Spiritwood, who is holding fourth place, lose their final two games to St. Walburg and Paradise Hill, they could lose home ice advantage in the first round and finish in fifth place.
Spiritwood had a 9-8-1 record heading into the final weekend and will be on the road for their final two games.
Shane Gopher leads the Timberwolves in points with 18 goals and 11 assists in 18 games. Ryan Turgeon has 23 points in 15 games, but it was Tyson Turgeon, who was the lone player off the Timberwolves' roster to earn a second team all-star nod as a defenceman. Tyson Turgeon has five goals and 14 assists in 18 games.
Marty Lehouillier is 8-8 on the season and could be a key part to whether or not this team moves on in round one of the playoffs.
Wilkie is in a three-way battle with St. Walburg and Maidstone for first place in the NSRHL standings and it could come down to the final day when St. Walburg and Maidtsone meet in Maidstone.
The Outlaws play in Edam Friday and Saturday host Maidstone to wrap up their regular season. Once again goaltender Nick Pernitsky was named a league all-star, as he has an 11-3 record and 2.71 goals against average.
Will Rathje and Barrett Penner were also league all-stars, as Penner has 17 goals and 14 assists in 17 games while Rathje has one goal and 19 assists in 17 games. Rick Cey leads the Outlaws' in points with 15 goals and 24 assists in 17 games.
The Eagles had four players named league all-stars, defenceman Taylor Thiessen, left winger Darren Delainey, centre Aaron Goldade and right winger Jordan Fuder, who was a second team all-star.
Goldade has 37 goals and 35 assists in 18 games and leads the league in points by 25.
Delainey has 13 goals and 29 assists in 15 games, Fuder has 13 goals and 27 assists in 14 games and the final team all-star, Thiessen, has 11 goals and 20 assists in 16 games.
Three goalies have played for the Eagles this season. Bryan Brides was 5-2 with a 2.22 goals against average. Kristian Sawyshyn has a 3.50 GAA and a 7-3 record and Trevor Novak has a 4.10 GAA and one win this season.
The Eagles wrap up their regular season with a game at home against Spiritwood and in Maidstone this weekend.
There is no doubt the Maidstone Jets have offensive power, but this year their goaltending is among the league's best. In fact, Dustin MacDonald was named the league's first team all-star goalie. MacDonald played every game this season and is 12-4-4 this season with a 3.00 GAA.
League all-stars Ryan Johnston has 20 goals and 26 assists in 16 games, Jason Roberts has 16 goals and 17 assists in15 games and Chris Hartman has four goals and 15 assists in 15 games.
Brett Harrison leads the team with 24 goals and 23 assists in 16 games,
The Jets play the two teams they are battling with for the top spot, but have the upper hand going into the weekend, as they are the only team with 14 wins to this point of the season.
