An informal preseason poll from an independent scouting source ranked the Bantam 1 Winnipeg Monarchs 9th overall for all Bantam teams in Western Canada.  That was before some players transferred.  The team then slipped out of the top 13 and I wondered if this was an oversight to how deep this team really is.  Who knows, this team could have won the Western Canadian Bantam Championship had the competition still been on this year’s schedule.  Right now they could be the best Bantam team of any league.

With a perfect record to start the season, the Monarchs dismantled the Norman Wolves last week with eight goals in the first two periods and added seven more in the third for a final score of 15-0.  The team excels by coming in waves.  Nobody takes off a shift and the four lines push the play with a mix of finesse and toughness.  Checks are not missed.  The Monarchs have a good coach who shows no favouritism. 

The Winnipeg Sharks have matched the Monarchs having no loses through five games.  The Sharks have a solid defensive core and have players up front that play really stingy- they contain the opposition and finish their checks in all three zones.  The Sharks will have to wait their turn to play the Monarchs. The Monarchs will be tested this week against the Yellowhead Chiefs on Friday at the Iceplex and the Winnipeg Warriors on Sunday at Seven Oaks.