Four NCJHL clubs have pre-playoffs round

It is the last chance for two teams in the National Capital Junior Hockey League to win themselves a chance in the season playoffs series starting in March. For two other teams, it is one more chance to show that they have already earned their berth in the playoffs.

The regular season for the NCJHL wrapped up over the Family Day weekend. The Papineauville Vikings finished the schedule with a win-loss record of 25-7 and 50 points overall in the overall standings, making them the top club in the junior C hockey league.

In second place is Gatineau with 22-11 and 44 points. The North Dundas Rockets and the Cumberland Bandits are tied for third with 43 points each.

Following after are the St-Isidore Eagles and the Clarence Creek Castors, also tied with each other at 41 points. The Metcalfe Jets are next with 37 points, the Vankleek Hill Cougars with 33, the Morrisburg Lions at 24, the South Grenville Rangers 20, Blackburn Inferno 11, and the Bytown Royals at the bottom with seven points.

Their basement-level finishes in the 2017-2018 schedule have eliminated Blackburn and Bytown from the NCJHL playoffs. But the February game schedule for the other four teams ahead of them did not finish with the Family Day weekend.

The NCJHL decided to hold a two-night pre-playoff mini-playoffs this week, putting the Rangers against the Jets, and the Lions against the Cougars.. Wednesday night, the Cougars face the Lions once more in Vankleek Hill while the Jets take off from their home ice against the Rangers.

Results of the pre-playoff mini series will help determine whether or not the Cougars move on to the NCJHL playoffs rounds. St-Isidore and Clarence are both secure in their berths for the playoffs.