NLL Insider

Today’s theme? Gotta be the last line of D… the tenders.

With most arguing over the trio out west, that being Joel Weber, Matt Flindell and Sean Tessarolo (although, did you notice who won player of the week??? oh yeah, Scott Lowe), most insiders and experts we talk to are way more impressed with what’s being thrown-down in Ontario, especially in recent weeks.

The trio turnin’ heads in the OLA? Nick Rose, Justin Delormier and the little talked about Evan Kirk. Two of the three are in this week’s watchlist.

Here are this week’s top ten in the country as we try and find the National Junior Player of the Year…

Matt Beers, Defender, Coqtuitlam Adanacs (12GP – 2G – 8A – 10PTS)
Although we’ve been biggin’ up Adanacs’ team cap and top draw-man, Matt Wilson all season, it’s tough not to be impressed with what his hombre Matt Beers is doin’ this year too. Beers has gotta be one of the most tenacious, in your face D guys in the junior game right now, and when you factor in his athleticism, size and explosive attitude on the court, not to consider him as one of this year’s top pure defenders would be pretty lame. Beers is easily one of the toughest guys playing junior ball today. Want proof? Checkout the vid below, even though it’s from last summer…

Justin Delormier, Keeper, Akwesasne Indians (656Min – 6.22GAA – .859SV%)
“I think (Delormier) showed Rose who’s really number-one,” said Akwesasne Head Coach Adam Thompson in last week’s Cornwall Standard shortly after the Indians’ 8-6 upset of the Orangeville Northmen. With the OLA season heading into the stretch drive, the two keepers most people have as 1 and 2 in the province has gotta be Delormier and Nick Rose (in no particular order). Delormier, who two years back was already named the OLA’s MVP in his rook season, is bringin’ it just as hard again this year, making more game defining and momentum killing stops than anyone else not only in Ontario, but the rest of the country. His third period lock-down against Orangeville (only three goals allowed on 25 shots in the period) not only allowed the Indians to be only the second team to drop the Northmen this year, it has them thinkin’ Minto glory too. He’ll have the silver and black gunnin’ at him again this weekend when the two teams meet at Tony Rose on Sunday night.

Alex Gajic, Forward, Burnaby Lakers (16GP – 42G – 45A – 87PTS)
Well, it was never more evident again this week of the Lakers reliance on Gajic, dropping another low scoring game with Gajic not in the lineup, this time against Delta, with only three goals for. The last time Gajic wasn’t in the lineup? A 7-4 loss against Nanaimo at the end of May. Gajic still leads the country in scoring, and although Alex had a solid game against Coquitlam last night (3G, 2A), with Gajic the only forward finishing, Burnaby dropped another one to the A’s.

Cody Jamieson, Forward, Six Nations Arrows (14GP – 43G – 32A – 75PTS)
Jamison had his usual solid week, throwing up a crazy ten goals in the pair of games the Arrows had since last week. His most impressive game was his seven goal eruption against Toronto, almost single handedly not only keeping the Arrows in the game when the Beach Boys went stride for stride with them to start, but also allowing them to bag the game in clutch time too. Outside of Cody being run over by a truck, he’ll be on this list every week until the last one goes up.

Stephen Keogh, Forward, Orangeville Northmen (11GP – 13G – 18A – 31PTS)
I questioned how long it would take Keogh and Todd Hosmer to mesh into the Northmen’s usually heavy team concept O… looks like it took all of a couple shifts as Keogh scored a hat-trick and assisted on two others, while Orangeville smashed Mississauga 11-1 last night to get the train back on the tracks. It’ll be the first time since like 2004 that we’ll see Keogh playing for a serious contender. That last time? The Beach Boys’ Kyle Wailes led army that fell to Zack Greer and the Warriors in six. Seems like that was so long ago.

Evan Kirk, Keeper, KW Braves (960Min – 6.31GAA – .865SV%)
He might not be right up there as far as stats go (although he isn’t far off), but for anyone that’s seen Kirk this year, especially during this recent stretch by the Braves which landed them on this week’s National JR A Ranking, you’ll know exactly why this gamer is included this week. Kirk holds down two wins over Peterborough in recent weeks, allowing just three goals in two full games while facing in excess of 70 shots. He also came up so huge against Burlington recently, allowing just one goal on 16 shots as the Chiefs pressed hard to try and knot the game up, KW ultiamtely taking the W due in large part to Evan. Kirk’s one of the most mobile and athletic keepers in the sport today and is a big reason why the Braves are not only in the playoff picture, but should jump over the Lakers for that five spot very shortly. Can they catch the Indians? With what has to be considered a relatively easy close-out to the year, it might not be that out of the question to think they can do it. This is not a team I’d wanna run into in the post-season with they way their coming together.

Curtis Manning, Defender, New Westminster Salmonbellies (11GP – 9G – 9A – 18PTS)
Same-old same-old with Manning this week. Great leadership. Solid D. And this week he even buried a pair as the Bellies suffocated Victoria in a crucial clash that keeps them in the race for second, maybe even first depending on how Coquitlam shuts things down. With Garrett Billings, Corey Small, Sid Smith, Joel Dalgarno, Cliff Smith and likely Greer, already making noise in anticipation of the 2009 pro draft, Manning’s name only makes that first round that much more difficult to pick a sure-fire number one guy.

Corey Small, Forward, St. Catharines Athletics (15GP – 25G – 26A – 51PTS)
After biggin’ Small up in the National Junior A Ranking on Tuesday and then seein’ him take the top spot in The Money Ballers yesterday, was there really any doubt Small would be in here again? With St. Kitts on the most impressive run of any team in the province right now, unbeaten in seven, Small has posted a pretty stellar 30 points over that time, including ten goals since last week’s top ten was dropped. Only Jamieson has more points over a player’s last seven with 35 poitns.

Joel Weber, Keeper, Coquitlam Adanacs (602Min – 4.98GAA – .877SV%)
For any western fans that still weren’t a Joel Weber fan, hopefully they saw last night’s third period against Burnaby. With Coquitlam and Burnaby heading into the third tied at five, Weber threw out all the stops, not allowing a single goal on a crazy 17 shots as the Lakers pressed hard to take down the #1 ranked Adanacs. The momentum shifting performance by Weber allowed the Adanacs to knock-off the Lakers and take the season series for the first time in, well, forever.

Matt Wilson, Defender, Coquitlam Adanacs (16GP – 2G – 7A – 9PTS)
Hopefully Wilson’s scrap with Brent Curry in the opening seconds of the Nanaimo game shuts up all his haters enough so that they finally get a chance to stop foaming at the mouth to see Matt fight and just appreciate what a solid pure defender and leader he really is. He’s the definition of the kinda guy you hate to play against but love to have on your team. Keep the chirping going if you want though, cuz it only seems to make Wilson better as the season goes on.

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