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Playoff Power Rankings & the end.

The final week of the regular season is in the books and the playoff seeding has been determined! Who will hoist the cup this season and what teams will fall just short? The OHA media team gives their breakdown below! 

1. Curse Reborn

The team to beat all season long and it’s been that way for almost three consecutive seasons. The standings show a closer duel than there actually is as the Curse are the favorite to win again. They have been one of the best teams for the past five seasons, when it’s all said and done they should go down as the best team in league history too.

1. Blueberry Faygo

A strong team that continues to be go unnoticed as a true contender, Faygo are a powerhouse that will be interesting to watch in playoffs. Although they are not the strongest overall team, they have some incredible assets especially between the pipes that make them a team to beat entering the postseason.

1. Red Deer Bandits 

The Bandits are yet another team that are solid if unassuming up front, yet are bolstered by some truly magnificent goaltending. While not on par with the previous two teams, the Bandits are certainly a dark horse contender and should be a team to watch at seasons end. 

1. Evil Empire

The Empire are good on paper and realistically deserve to be higher but ultimately land at the #4 spot due to inconsistencies in their play. Now make no mistake, the Empire could absolutely upset in playoffs and it would come as no surprise, they just need to find a rhythm first; It seemed like they were finding that rhythm headed into the final week of games, so playoff teams you’ve been put on notice.

1. Forfeit Kings

A fairly solid team that is more consistent rather than flashy. While it would be hard to see them winning a seven game series against one of the above teams, it’s fair to say they’re a good not great team with potential to surprise. Oh and they have Dank. #GetDankedBud

1. Adopt a Greyhound

Oh how the mighty have fallen....

While the Greyhounds have qualified for the postseason, they acted in such defiance and made so many enemies early on it feels as if they have their backs to the wall entering postseason play. A solid but not special team that yet again would you would be hard pressed to pick as the favorite against most other playoff teams, on paper they are good not great. The Greyhound’s will have something to prove in the postseason, the question is will they prove us all right? 

1. Chicago Tropics

The Tropics are a very hot and cold team, they don’t boast a talent filled roster, and yet here they are in the playoffs. While no postseason team is bad, it’s fair to say that the Tropics inclusion is surprising, but after all that’s how playoff upsets start. The Tropics are yet another example of a team with no real expectations and at the same time a real chance to surprise...take a wait and see approach until that surprise happens though. 

1. Toxic Hockey

Well well well look who showed up to the party. In all my seasons as a media contributor I would’ve never imagined Toxic as a playoff team, yet here we are. Toxic hockey actually have a fairly decent squad and while expectations should be tempered, they are no joke this season. The media team is supposed to be unbiased but I know what team I’ll be rooting for.

Honorable mention: 

Bleacher Bums could have just as easily made it instead of Toxic had it not been for head-to-head matchups (and it something in playoff formatting changes then just interchange them to the 8th seed instead). They have a strong roster that centers around their management playing like work horses, the Bums would have been an interesting team to watch in playoffs but it wasn’t in the cards. 

...and now I must bid you all ado as I will be stepping away from the OHA media team as a contributor and stepping back from management for the time being. I’ve had a blast the past five seasons in the media and I wanted to thank Tiarmach and Fire for allowing me to create a new media outlet for the Online Hockey Association as well as handing me the mic every week to do power rankings. I also wanted to extend my appreciation to each and everyone of you who voiced an opinion, whether positive or negative! I know the media team will be in good hands with Thistle, Jiren, and Goat, they are all supremely talented and the creativity they bring to the league is unparalleled. Although I’ll still be around the OHA, this isn’t farewell, it’s goodbye. It’s been real, best of luck to all the teams this postseason and may the best team win! #2EZ