POWER RANKINGS: 'Bellies sit on top in First Rankings

1. NEW WESTMINSTER SALMONBELLIES (4-0) 46 GF 31 GA +15 GD

LAST WEEK - W v. LANGLEY 11-6, W v. NANAIMO 13-8, W v. DELTA 12-10 

THIS WEEK - at PORT COQUITLAM, FRIDAY 8:00, v. COQUITLAM TUESDAY, MAY 22 8:00 

The New Westminster Salmonbellies have been a reliable regular season team for the last number of years, but the question has always been whether they had enough to put them over the top. We saw them find their way to the 2013 Minto Cup finals when they hosted it on the wood floor of Queens Park Arena, but they fell to an excellent Whitby Warriors team in four games. Since then, they have battled and given the Coquitlam Adanacs a run for their money a few times, but they haven't been able to find a way to win. 

At the same time, New West has done one of the better jobs reloading their roster every season, giving the chance to at least get the chance to compete most seasons. That didn't change this year; the team added Tre Leclaire in a blockbuster deal, made a draft-day trade for veteran Keegan Bell, got their guy in Drew Andre at No. 7 at the Midget Draft and return solid core players, including last year's Goaltender of the Year in Erik Kratz. 

If that gets them over the hump this season remains to be seen, but they're off to a good start and some possible additions from other teams both in the league and back east could further the chances they get back to the big dance. Next Tuesday's game will surely also give us an answer either way on what kind of battle New West will be in for. 

2. COQUITLAM ADANACS (2-0-1) 36 GF 27 GA +9 GD

LAST WEEK - W v. LANGLEY 17-10, T v. PORT COQUITLAM 10-10

THIS WEEK - v. BURNABY, WEDNESDAY 7:30, at NEW WESTMINSTER TUESDAY, MAY 22 8:00 

We never really get a sense of how much Minto Cup potential Coquitlam will have until they return most of their impact players from college. This year they'll also get the added benefit of getting Christian Del Bianco back from the NLL's Calgary Roughnecks, who played stellar in their Western Division showdown with the Saskatchewan Rush. 

In the absence of some big names, the A's have relied heavily on veteran players like Dennon Armstrong and a stable of Junior B players, showcasing the type of quality depth that few teams in the league can match. Rookie Nate Faccin, who has seen some action with the big club in a few Minto Cup appearances in the last two years, has been dependable in net alongside Gordie Bowden. 

Ty Yanko, Beau Chetner and Kyle Nichols are among those that can really thrive in scoring roles if given the chance. Depending on who Coquitlam can recruit, they might have to. 

3. PORT COQUITLAM SAINTS (2-1-2) 48 GF 44 GA +4 GD

LAST WEEK - T v. COQUITLAM 10-10, T v. VICTORIA 12-12

THIS WEEK - v. NEW WESTMINSTER FRIDAY 8:00, at NANAIMO, SATURDAY 4:00

It's not often, as Tri-City News' Mario Bartel points out, that two teams can't find a winner in a BCJALL game. It only happened once last season, but lightning's already struck twice this year, both times involving Poco. 

Poco hung around with Coquitlam and Victoria, showing that they will belong yet again this season. Despite graduating some really good talent, their recent drafts have proven to have some solid contributors and they have made some smart acquisitions along the way. The offense could be as strong as it was last year, with this week's second star Dylan Foulds already injected some goals into the team. Veteran Clark Walters is another player who has risen to the expectations and taken a true leadership role on the team, scoring five goals in this weekend's 12-12 tie in Victoria. 

Jacob Patterson has proven to be an excellent addition to what's becoming a really solid team. They might have one of the best rosters top-to-bottom in the league, and new goaltending tandem Diesel De Guzman and Cam Overby have proven to be reliable. 

Poco will be looking to break that Tie deadlock on Friday when they host undefeated New Westminster. If they can't get it done at home, they will be right back on the floor less than 24 hours later in Nanaimo. 

4. BURNABY LAKERS (2-2) 42 GF 46 GA -4 GD

LAST WEEK - W v. DELTA 14-13, W v. NANAIMO 11-10

THIS WEEK - at COQUITLAM, WEDNESDAY 8:00, at VICTORIA, SATURDAY 8:00

It's been a long road retooling what was once a force in the BCJALL, but credit to Jason Dallavalle's job with his coaching staff and the job of the Lakers' management to get the team competing night in and night out. 

The team toughed out two big wins against the Islanders and Timbermen to bring their early-season record to an even .500 win percentage. Homegrown 'tender Matteo Tack held the fort enough to claim the win over Nanaimo, making 17 saves on 23 shots to close out his first win of the season. Elijah Uema-Martin is the other half of a strong tandem; he's allowed 35 goals on 123 shots for a 1-1 record in 174 minutes of work. 

Offensively, the Lakers have gotten some big contributions from Kieran McKay (8 G, 10 A in 4 games), Damon Prince (6-11 in 4) and Mason Pomeroy (8-3 in 4) while waiting for the return of the likes of Dylan Kaminski and Kyle Durec, who have only featured in a pair of games. 

5. VICTORIA SHAMROCKS (2-2-1) 47 GF 50 GA -3 GD 

LAST WEEK - T v. POCO 12-12 

THIS WEEK - v. BURNABY, SATURDAY 4:00, at LANGLEY, SUNDAY 4:00 

The high-flying Shamrocks were unable to find a way to hold off a late-game charge from the Port Coquitlam Saints, despite holding a two-goal lead midway through the third period. Despite the tie, Victoria still sits in a strong position, taking five of a possible nine points. It puts them on pace for the playoffs, exactly where a team wants to be at in the early stages of the season. 

1st star of the week Braylon Lumb has paced his team in scoring to start the season, but the team has also seen solid contributions from Ben Preston, Skyler Wilson and Brayden Brown. The trio has provided 19 goals and 27 assists in secondary scoring roles. 

Orangeville transfer Cam Dunkerley has played every minute for Victoria so far but has had a bit of an uneven start with a .784 save percentage but he's faced a lot of rubber as well. It will undoubtedly continue to be a transition for the netminder, and you can expect those numbers to improve significantly. 

6. DELTA ISLANDERS (1-1-0-1) 33 GF 31 GA +2 GD

LAST WEEK - L v. BURNABY 14-13, L v. NEW WESTMINSTER 12-10

THIS WEEK - at LANGLEY, THURSDAY 7:30, v. NANAIMO, SUNDAY 5:00

Despite a pair of losses this week, the arrow ticks upward for the Delta Islander, who have shored up some of last season's defensive struggles thanks to the newcomer to the bench, Andy Ogilvie. 

The team took a strong 'Bellies team to overtime, matching them goal-for-goal through 60 minutes before a Will Malcom OT goal put the game out of reach for good. Roman Rose and Brody Harris were both strong enough to push the game into overtime, and Delta will need them to continue strong performances in order to keep putting wins together. Haiden Dickson had a pair of goals to extend his Islanders' goal lead with 10 in three games.

The Islanders have a chance to get back on track with a tough game against a tough Langley Thunder squad, before hosting the Nanaimo Timbermen on Sunday evening.

7. LANGLEY THUNDER (1-2) 31 GF 37 GA -6 GD 

LAST WEEK - L v. NEW WEST 11-6

THIS WEEK - v. DELTA, THURSDAY 7:30, v. VICTORIA, SUNDAY 4:00

It has been a bit of a tough go to start the year for the Thunder, dropping a pair of games to two contenders in Coquitlam and New Westminster. The team has a lot of moving parts to start the year, including a few new signings and some players returning from school, and this surely isn't the finished product on the floor. 

Tesi Oakes has proven to be a solid addition from back east. The Akwesasne Indians product was the 2016 rookie of the year in the Eastern Divison and had 71 points behind 41 goals in 17 games that season. Ross Pridemore has been solid plying his trade in both Jr. A and Jr. B with eight points in three games. Nathaniel Kozevnikov, Nathan Mckeigan and Caleb Pearson have mostly spearheaded the rest of the attack.

8. NANAIMO TIMBERMEN (0-5) 42 GF 59 GA -17 GD

LAST WEEK - L v. NEW WEST 13-8, L v. BURNABY 11-10

THIS WEEK - v. PORT COQUITLAM, SATURDAY 4:30, at DELTA, SUNDAY 5:00

Nanaimo's 0-5 record isn't the true indicator of where the team is currently at. The team is tied for fourth in goals for with 42, which is a great start, but scoring goals may not be the problem for this team this season. The team has a pair of young goalies in Colin Jeffrey (2017 No. 10 Overall) and Dakota Kasper it's trying to break in and the two will go through some growing pains, but will be much better goalies because of it. 

The other encouraging sign is even though Nanaimo is winless, it hasn't come from a lack of effort. They are making teams work for it - they outscored the Lakers 6-2 in the final frame of Sunday's game and were only outshot 41-36 by the New Westminster in a 13-8 loss. 

The team has two chances to put their first W on the board. Perhaps the better of the two is catching Port Coquitlam coming off a tough game against New West, but they can no doubt play with Delta as well.