First Annual Mid-Season Power Rankings
Alright, so maybe we are past the midway point. But what better way to usher in the new league website than with a Power Rankings post! And it is about time we started doing this…
1. LBS, Inc.
The most all around sound team this season in BTSH. The young pup Jake with old man Karsten make them a two-punch scoring threat along with Liz and Ali applying pressure from anywhere on the courts. And Timmy Baby has been superb in net.
Trending: Elite
2. Rehabs
Damn. Have you seen this team play over the past couple of weeks? They are effing stacked. Aside from the additions of Ramirez in net and bringing back Ryann, Welch has built this team with outside talent and promoting from their farm affiliate. Staying true to their roots, the defense has been setting the tone and Sena has made it extremely difficult for any offense to find their way onto the scoring sheet. You’ve done well Welch.
Trending: Strong
3. Fuzz
While the Rehabs built their team with outside talent, Rich & Co. decided to build from within the league to create this Super Team. That might have put a little stink on them, but they don’t care. Jeff, Hicks, Paul and Coach are getting the job done every week. And they could possibly be drinking from a certain cup by the end of the season.
Trending: Up
4. Fresh Kills
No longer concerned with being the dominant team throughout the regular season, the Kills have figured out how to have fun and win at the same time. Their core of Barch, Soko, Natasha, Gabe and Ariel have remained sturdy all season. Plus the additional scoring from Tom and Sarah have been a breath of fresh air.
Trending: Steady
5. Denim Demons
Despite offseason losses of key players, and fighting the injury bug throughout season, the Demons have remained competent and competitive. But how long can one team’s luck last? Therefore Zach, Josh and Popack will need to continue to prop this team up if they want to remain in the hut for the division title.
Trending: Sideways
6. Cobra Kai
Don’t fall for their record. The evil dojo may have started the season off quiet, but they have been making some noise lately. Rachel and Will are in the top ten in scoring and Liam can turn it on anytime he wants to. The question down the stretch is does he want to?
Trending: Up
7. Filthier
After overcoming early season adversity, Filthier or Filthiest or #whogivesashit have found their mojo again and been having fun putting it on display. That being said, they’ll need to prove it against a top five team before we can consider them as a repeat offender contender.
Trending: Sideways
8. Butchers
The Super Team of the formerly-known-as-Showtime Division! Crisp passing and spacing have been their winning formula along with Pete seeming to always be in the right place at the right time. With Drake crashing the net and MDF back in the mix we don’t see this team slowing down anytime soon.
Trending: Up
9. Sky Fighters
How’s the formerly-known-as-Katz Division taste? Not too good, huh. As polished as this team is defensively, their goal differential of a -11 is a bit eyebrow raising. Aside from Mike, nobody else has been able to regularly find the back of the net.
Trending: Down
10. Gouging Anklebiters
Talk about quietly playing up to par. The Biters have been keeping it 100 despite the frequent absences of Probie, Joe P, Derho and Worky. Cheekbones has done a formidable job at protecting Craigers and the rest of their defenders will need to continue to follow her lead.
Trending: Sideways
11. Mathematics
Too talented to be in this spot. Plain and simple. (Having said that, I can’t get rid of this nagging feeling that Sam, Cherie, Zach, Justin and Roxy are playing coy with us. Just coasting through the season until the playoffs begin and then bringing their game faces.)
Trending: Underachieving
12. Instant Karma
The best part about this team is their goaltender. Mike has been playing at an all-star level and has given them a chance to win every game. Unfortunately, inconsistent scoring and untimely turnovers has plagued Karma. With the hardest stretch of their schedule still in front of them we’ll learn a lot about this team right before the playoffs.
Trending: Sideways
13. Mega Touch
Grit and gusto and so much more have vaulted this team into the middle of the pack. Julie, Brady and Adriano have developed the chemistry we’ve been waiting for and the other Touches are playing an inspired brand of ball hockey. The recent acquisition of free agent Jeff and inevitable return of the rugged Gunner has this team on the up and up.
Trending: Up
14. Corlears Hookers
The Hookers have been like a box of chocolates this season, from week to week we never know which team we are going to get. Gone are the days of being a destructive force and say hello to the Cro-daddy era. Tiffany, Sarah and Noelle have stayed true to form, but when are the rest of them going to show up?
Trending: Down
15. Poutine Machine
For the second year in a row the Machine has had to start their season off with a brutal schedule. Despite facing offensive powerhouses they have only allowed 17 goals thus far. Hornswoggle is back from his travels and this is the time of year when he begins to heat up.
Trending: Up
16. What The Puck
Lack of consistent play has the Pucks down a couple more spots than where they probably belong. Emily has been a warrior all season (and should consider a permanent switch to defense), but she’ll need more of the same from her team to make a strong push through the second half of the season.
Trending: Down
17. Gremlins
Currently in danger of being pushed back down to the formerly-known-as-Greene Division due to lack of consistent scoring and help in front of the net. Ryan and Walker had an opportunity to address certain needs in offseason, but decided to toss limes and feast on french fries instead. BREAKING NEWS: their all-star forward, Erich, has suffered a career threatening knee injury and will never be the same. He will forever be remembered as ‘the legend that never was.’
Trending: Down
18. Dark Rainbows
Abby has done a virtuous job with this year’s squad and could potentially be up for Captain of the Year. She has these mystical creatures giving a respectable showing each week and believing that they can compete with anyone on Sunday. Just ask Filthier.
Trending: Sideways
19. Tompkins Square Riots
You get the feeling that this team is one extra ingredient away from being a winning recipe. Already featuring some of toughest ladies in BTSH, the gentlemen need to step and play at their level. And by the way, where in the world is Vanck??? (No, seriously, Jonesy is getting a little worried.)
Trending: Sideways
20. Gut Rot
Yes, I know they just earned their first win of the season, and possibly deserve a little more love here, but they need to replicate that effort before moving up in the Rankings. And we’ve got a hunch that they might just do that. Early season jitters from Tommy, Ashley and Scott have been calmed by the vigorous emergence of rookies Morgen and Perko. Let’s see what the darlings of the league can put together during the rest of the season.
Trending: Sideways
Trending definitions:
Elite: the top team in the league.
Strong: playing just as well as the top team.
Steady: playing at the level of Ranking.
Up: improving each week and moving up in the Rankings.
Sideways: exactly where they were when the season started.
Underachieving: not living up to expectations.
Down: less activity and interest.