It’s that time of year. The regular season is over and DOES NOT MATTER. A thorough, scientifically valid, random, review of several league veterans suggests that repeatedly over the past 20 years the last place team in the regular season has ended up winning GOLD.

A consultant from Deloitte conducted an in-depth analysis of PCOHL statistics and reports that only once in the last three seasons has the regular season champ brought home playoff gold. It’s ANYBODY’S show now!

Round 1 Match-ups

Early Game – Scotland vs Portugal

This game pits #2 Scotland against #5 Portugal. With twice the wins and half the losses of Scotland, some analysts give the Glaswegians the edge in this playoff-opener. But hold on to your kilts. Scotland only won three of the five match-ups against Portugal this year and the author of the “20 game pre-season” adage is Portugal’s own Leo Brideau, the most decorated PCOHL player of all time. NINE Hart trophies, FOUR Art Ross Trophies, plus a Calder, a Conn Smythe, and a Rocket Richard trophy. If speedster Mike Russo finds his extra gear and sniper Patty Sharpe comes off the IR, Portugal could be the Cinderella of this year’s playoffs. But they’ll be up against this year’s best goalie, Stewart Henderson, and a Scottish squad that has lost only twice in their last eight matches. Should be a great game!

Late Game – Italy vs Slovenia

Slovenia POUNDED Italy 11-5 in their first game of the season but Italy took the next four matches by an average 4+ goals. Still, Slovenia has a SOLID roster, with three strong rookies that include this year’s Rocket Richard winner, Stephen Davis. In addition to their strong batch of rookies, Slovenia’s Sal Guerra is a 5-time Norris winner and league mascot Mike Rukavina has won just about everything except the Vezina (which Slovenia goalie Art Senkowski won in 2019).

But Italy has the Platt factor. In only six seasons in the league, Greg Platt has two Art Ross trophies, a Rocket Richard, a Hart, and a Calder. Platt’s two-way tenacity will be a challenge for the lads from Ljubljana, and with four Rocket Richard winners on their roster, Italy can bust games open quickly.

This game should be a close one and is certain to come down to who wants it more.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL TEAMS IN ROUND ONE!