New Ranking System

I wanted my recap to break the 200 post mark, but it has now lost momentum due to a new post by WPR. He asked me to post it here because of it's length. Here you go:

Starting this week, WPR will be implementing a traditional weekly power ranking system. This first list is based on who the people at WPR(we will refer to ourselves as I) think have been the best(only regulars players will be on this first list.) Kinda like a mock draft list. From here on out though, people will either move up or down on the list based on their play of the most current week. This will also be based on what is average for a certain player, and did they play better or worse than expected. The list will now include 10 spots for the players at Saugus to attain for and maybe even rise above the rest for that precious #1 spot. But how long can you stay at #1?

10 Mike D - Some might think I'm being kind putting him here. Others can't believe he's this low. But Mike D has shown in the past that he can be that smothering center who can shut down the other teams top scorer. So every week he's picked pretty high. It's time to return to form Mike. Cause it'll take a blast from the past performance to keep you on this list next week.

9 Lee - Getting up there in age, but what team couldn't use a little more experience to settle things down on the back end? Lee got a bad rap last year for being slow and having a temper and abandoning his team. While the stick throwing is still a problem, he has somehow adjusted to the other fault he has. I gotta say no one blocks more shots than Lee. Maybe it's his massive ice hockey shin pads, but he stays in front of the shooter and never gives up the middle of the ice.(Bob Caterino thought that playing D in the direct middle of the ice was the same thing as not giving it up. Well it's not. Cause sometime the outside can be just as dangerous. Lee has a nice balance)

8 Chris Y - Is the new up and coming defender in Saugus. He's big, he's strong, he�s quick, yet his shot is lacking(the other extreme to Joe, cause his shot is rarely in the air) Once he finds his shot technique you may see him above Nick or Joe on this list. For now he's just a real solid Defender with no real holes in his game (defensemen aren't usually expected to score anyway)

7 Ryan - When we think Ryan we usually think of an out of control maniac with a weapon called a hockey stick. And that viewpoint would have been accurate last year. But I think he's starting to shed that image of himself. Now I see him as a bigger, heavier, less productive, but still as argumentative..Jared. Now he does play a little more defense than Jared, but he tends to wait for an opportunity at the red line and try to take it and score. The weird thing is, is that he usually cancels out Jared when playing verse him. In the end Ryan will get his goals and win his fair share of arguments.

6 Joe & Nick - I'm grouping them together because I've rarely ever been impressed by their play while on their own. But when they are together(and they have been a lot this season) they can be a dominating force(kinda like Captain Planet). From now on they will be separate entities on the list each week. I guess if I had to split them up I'd have Nick ahead of Joe cause he has more upside due to him being younger. And as for Joe well you can't teach an old dog new tricks. As evident of the fact that he's been shooting the ball 10 feet too high for the past 3 seasons that I've witnessed.

5 Dale - It's funny(he he funny, not HA HA funny) Dale is the only player in Saugus, that when you think of him you think either: Very good forward. Or: Very good defensemen. You remember him for his ability at both positions. Now Brett is great on D. He's played it for many years and plays it in tournaments. He may even be the best D-Man. But you think of him as only a forward who helps on D. Same goes for Johnny. But Dale leaves that lasting impression on you no matter where he plays that night. You either say: wow what a goal, or: man he was tough to get around.

4 Brendon - For the 2 years that WPR has been observing the games that go on in Saugus, I always thought it a crime that Brendon would always be drafted near the end of the pack. Yes, he has his moments where you want to kill him. Seems like once a week at least. But put that aside and he gives you the second line offense you need to win while playing hockey in Saugus, or anywhere for that matter. I think he�s finally getting the respect he needs and deserves.

3 Jared - His only weakness is Defense....and the H1N1 virus. Yet, even though he doesn't play the other half of hockey, his offensive output is incredible. Now you may say: well that's because he does waste energy on anything but offense. And I say: well then everyone try to play like he does, cause I guaranty no one puts up the points he does while playing his style hockey. I don't think anyone has the endurance to run aimlessly like he does for so long.

2 Ron - Thank goodness for Ron dedicating himself to Saugus hockey once more. He has been ranked #1 many times already this year by the previous write of WPR and with good reason. He is maybe the one person you want on your team when the score is 4-4 cause he can score from anywhere.

1 Johnny - Still in my mind the best player that currently plays in Saugus. Now maybe if this format was instituted a few weeks ago Ron would be here, but Johnny just has "IT" what ever that is. And no matter how many goals Ron scores on his wicked slap shot. I'd still pick Johnny first if I was starting a team (mainly cause Ron would probably retire one year after drafting him)