Chirps from Center Ice

It’s the Bears. Again.

They may have company soon, inside their own division, but for now the Hershey Bears reclaim the number one spot from the Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers didn’t go far, though.

Here’s the whole list.

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1. Hershey Bears

Last Week: 2nd (up 1)
Record: 9-3-1

 Sweep Springfield with a pair of 3-2 decisions and that Sunday one came via overtime where the Thunderbirds scored a pair in the final minute.

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2. Calgary Wranglers

Last Week: 4th (up 2)
Record: 11-3

Pair of shutouts for the Wranglers, who are way out in front in the Pacific. Seven game road trip starts Saturday in San Jose.

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 3. Charlotte Checkers

Last Week: 1st (down 2)
Record: 7-2-0-1

Split with the Marlies at home which keeps the Checkers in touch with the Penguins for second in the Atlantic.

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4. Laval Rocket

Last Week: 3rd (down 1)
Record: 9-2

Finally got stopped by the Belleville Senators on Saturday. We think that the Rocket will be fine. Rochester, Syracuse, Rochester stop in this week.

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5. Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins

Last Week: 6th (up 1)
Record: 8-3

Statement win against Rochester Saturday has the Penguins in the groove. 

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6. Toronto Marlies

Last Week: 8th (up 2)
Record: 7-1-1-1

Split a competitive weekend with the Checkers which is enough to keep pace with the Rocket.

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7. Belleville Senators

Last Week: 9th (up 2)
Record: 5-1-0-4

Took 3 out of 4 away from Laval which is mighty impressive. I like the workhorse mentality of this team. 

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8. Grand Rapids Griffins

Last Week: 10th (up 2)
Record: 8-3-1-0

Won both contests this week against Rockford and Iowa to stay at the top of the Central.

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9. Lehigh Valley Phantoms

Last Week: 15th (up 6)
Record: 5-3-2-1

5 out of 6 points this week is a good week no matter how you slice it.

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10. Milwaukee Admirals

Last Week: 5th (down 5)
Record: 9-2

 Split a pair with Chicago as the leapfrog for tops in the Central confines with the Griffins.

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11. Rochester Americans

Last Week: 6th (down 5)
Record: 7-4

Shutout in Wilkes-Barre Saturday and the six game win streak is over. Looking at the teams the Amerks beat, was that winning streak a paper tiger? I guess we may see soon, three of the next four are against Laval.

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12. Bakersfield Condors

Last Week: 11th (down 1)
Record: 5-4-2-1

Positive week for the Condors has Bakersfield near the top of the Pacific. Just one this week in San Diego.

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13. San Jose Barracuda

Last Week: 13th (no change)
Record: 7-4

Close contests with the Eagles this week. Schedule stiffens with Calgary dropping in this weekend.

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14. Colorado Eagles

Last Week: 16th (up 2)
Record: 6-5-0-1

So-so week for the Eagles and that isn’t going to help matters in trying to catch the Wranglers.

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15. Cleveland Monsters

Last Week: 24th (up 9)
Record: 6-4-0-1

Took 4 out of 6 this week which isn’t bad. Utica later today then Toronto drops in then it’s off to Providence. Busy week for the Monsters with four contests.

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16. Providence Bruins

Last Week: 27th (up 11)
Record: 6-6

Sweep the weekend for six points to get the season back on track. Cleveland – Hartford – Cleveland this weekend for another three in three.

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17. Syracuse Crunch

Last Week: 12th (down 5)
Record: 5-5-1

One point out of the week and the Crunch are .500. 

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18. Hartford Wolf Pack

Last Week: 14th (down 4)
Record: 5-5-1-1

Dropped two out of three this week. Still have not won on the road. Six game home stand starts Friday with the Checkers.

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19. Chicago Wolves

Last Week: 26th (up 7)
Record: 3-5-1

Split a pair with Milwaukee. Trip to Grand Rapids then the Wolves host the Moose and the IceHogs.

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20. Texas Stars

Last Week: 19th (down 1)
Record: 6-3

Extremely busy month of November continues for the Stars with a pair in Des Moines this weekend.

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21. Coachella Valley Firebirds

Last Week: 21st (no change)
Record: 6-5

Positive week for the Firebirds after that abomination last week where they only had two points.

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22. Abbotsford Canucks

Last Week: 17th (down 5)
Record: 6-6-0-1

Rough week for the Canucks who get Coachella Valley this weekend at home.

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23. Tucson Roadrunners

Last Week: 18th (down 5)
Record: 5-5

Roadrunners are just average and in a metal 10 team Pacific Division, isn’t up to standard.

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24. Ontario Reign

Last Week: 20th (down 4)
Record: 4-6

Reign have some work to do but look like they are getting there. 

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25. San Diego Gulls

Last Week: 28th (up 3)
Record: 4-8

Split with Tucson. Need more points. Badly.

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26. Manitoba Moose

Last Week: 29th (up 3)
Record: 3-7

Moose in the midst of a five game road trip that will take them to Milwaukee, Rockford and Chicago before heading him next week.

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27. Henderson Silver Knights

Last Week: 31st (up 4)
Record: 3-8

Roughed up the Wranglers on Saturday, shutout by the Wranglers on Sunday. Five game home stand starts with Tucson on Friday.

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28. Iowa Wild

Last Week: 23rd (down 5)
Record: 4-7-1

Split the week. I think the Wild are on a good trajectory, comparatively to other teams despite their bad Rankings status. Host Texas this weekend, so should know soon.

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29. Rockford IceHogs

Last Week: 25th (down 4)
Record: 3-6

Dropped two more this week and the rest of the division is getting away from the IceHogs.

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30. Springfield Thunderbirds

Last Week: 30th (no change)
Record: 4-8-1

Week started good with a 5 goal comeback against the Islanders Wednesday but then the Thunderbirds take just one point home with them from a pair of contests in Hershey.

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31. Bridgeport Islanders

Last Week: 22nd (down 9)
Record: 2-8-1-1

Oof. Dropped three straight this week after a positive gain last week. Schedule reads Hershey twice, Penguins twice then the Checkers. Yikes.

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32. Utica Comets

Last Week: 32nd (no change)
Record: 0-8-1-2

Comets are still winless and this is getting concerning. They have already fired their head coach.

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Maybe the Comets will have a win before Christmas? Have a good week, everyone!