1970 Recap

Playoff Schedule and Preview

(6) PIT (7-5) @ (5) PRO (8-4) - SEP 19 - 2:00 PM ET
1970 Head-to-Head: Did not play
Historic Head-to-Head: PIT 4-1 PRO
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: PIT 0-0 PRO
Both of these teams had hot streaks during the season, however, the last few weeks have seen the visiting Blacksmiths stumble, losing their last 3 games. Providence, on the other hand, has been red hot winning 6-straight and 8 of their last 9. The Gold Stars come in with the defensive advantage having the 2nd best defence in the league. Pittsburgh certainly has some stronger firepower offensively with 1969 MVP QB Louis Vaughn under-centre as compared to QB Landon Ross for the Gold Stars. I expect a very close battle in a game that could go both ways, but in the end, I like the team with the better QB, so I am going with Pittsburgh,
My Pick: Blacksmiths

(7) IND (7-5) @ (3) BUF (8-4) - SEP 19 - 7:00 PM ET
1970 Head-to-Head: W13 - IND 23-18 BUF
Historic Head-to-Head: IND 10-12 BUF - 1 Tie
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: IND 1-1 BUF
The defending champs appear to have a lot tipping in their favour with an overall stronger team and home-field advantage, however, Indiana has been surprisingly good in Buffalo as they have one of the last 3 meetings between the teams at Milton Charles Stadium, including the 1968 East Division Semi-Final. The Victors are also going to be playing with a lot more pressure as some think this might be the final shot with this core as it includes a lot of aging players. As we know the Blue Wings either lose their first game or win it all, and I think the Victors are going to play inspired and keep that trend going.
My Pick: Victors

(8) OTT (7-5) @ (2) LI (9-3) - SEP 20 - 2:00 PM ET
1970 Head-to-Head: W2 - OTT 18-23 LI & W10 - LI 19-13 OTT
Historic Head-to-Head: OTT 15-9 LI
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: OTT 1-1 LI (Both games were in the McCallister Cup)
The Raiders have had the Royals’ number this season. The tactically sound game plan from HC Levi Bray has been a thorn in the Royals’ side. However, the Royals have been playing injured all season and are going to be the healthiest they have been since the season began. I expect another close battle that won’t be easy on any team, but I would certainly be scared of a healthy Royals team. However, the Royals have just felt off all season and I think the Raiders will find a way into the 2nd round.
My Pick: Raiders

(4) VAN (9-3) @ (1) MIN (10-2) - SEP 20 - 7:00 PM ET
1970 Head-to-Head: W6 - MIN 20-17 VAN & W11 - VAN 17-25 MIN
Historic Head-to-Head: VAN 0-2 MIN
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: VAN 0-0 MIN
Much like the Raiders over the Royals this season, the Serpents have had the Wolves’ number this season. Their game plan of getting up early and forcing teams to pass against their strong secondary has worked all season and they look strong heading into a 3rd battle with the Wolves. However, the experience of the Wolves could easily turn the tide in this game as they have been such a strong team in the WFU. I worry that if Minnesota does get caught behind early, they could very well fall into a very uncomfortable position, something I feel the Wolves can overcome on the contrary. Plus, the Wolves are certainly more focused on winning their own Mackenzie Cup and I think will play that extra bit harder in this one.
My Pick: Wolves 

Semi-Final 1 - SEP 26 - 7:00 PM ET
Semi-Final 2 - SEP 27 - 7:00 PM ET

52nd McCallister Cup - OCT 4 - 7:30 PM ET - Montreal, QC

Team Awards

While I still prepare the award nominations I decided in order to help me with some decisions I had each team award their own team awards starting with this season. These only include the following awards.

Most Outstanding Player = MOP
Offensive Player of the Year = OPOY
Defensive Player of the Year = DPOY
Offensive Lineman of the Year = OLOY
Breakout Player of the Year: BPOY
Rookie of the Year: ROY

Boston Independents
MOP: QB Nathaniel Braddock
OPOY: RB Reggie Whitehead
DPOY: LB Byron Turner
OLOY: OL Reynold Gilbertson
BPOY: WR Al Allmendinger
ROY: WR Tyreek Flores

Buffalo Blue Wings
MOP: QB Charles Lemieux
OPOY: WR Tracy Driscoll
DPOY: DB Ezra Power
OLOY: OL Artem Sobakov
BPOY: WR Tracy Driscoll
ROY: DL Bill Bailey

Calgary Tigers
MOP: RB John Drexel
OPOY: WR Ted Jackson
DPOY: LB Junior Abbott
OLOY: OL Charles Schwartz
BPOY: WR Spencer Hicks 
ROY: DL Wolfgang Dill

Edmonton Rangers
MOP: RB Gary Hubbard
OPOY: OL Charles Creighton
DPOY: LB Frank St. John
OLOY: OL Charles Creighton
BPOY: WR Shay Hopkins
ROY: WR Elliot Gold

Halifax Mariners
MOP: DL Wayne Baxton
OPOY: WR Shane Steadman
DPOY: DB Joe Robinson
OLOY: OL Kane Warwick
BPOY: LB Frederic Macnamara
ROY: S Sampson Wendel

Indiana Victors
MOP: QB Tom Applewhite
OPOY: WR Jake Abbredezzi
DPOY: DB Neville Falkner
OLOY: OL Jean-Baptiste Desjardins
BPOY: WR Jake Abbredezzi
ROY: LB Maxwell Trevorrow

London Tigers
MOP: DL Mo Kahn
OPOY: RB Jeremy Royal
DPOY: LB Everett Lynch
OLOY: OL Emil Jennings
BPOY: RB Jeremy Royal
ROY: TE Pete Mayfield

Long Island Raiders
MOP: DB Rutherford Winters
OPOY: RB Scott Norton
DPOY: DL Dallas Breaker
OLOY: OL Gary Bies
BPOY: RB Scott Norton
ROY: OL Alan Mitchell

Louisville Thunder
MOP: WR Casey Coleman
OPOY: QB Buck Murphy
DPOY: DB Aquilio Ruiz
OLOY: OL Kash Wilder
BPOY: RB Neil Bradley
ROY: LB Ricky Wildgoose

Minnesota Serpents
MOP: LB Garrett Roberts
OPOY: WR Sebastian Dassler
DPOY: DB Jayson Klyde
OLOY: OL Elias McCarren
BPOY: QB Martin Keller
ROY: DB Austin Sherebernikoff

Montreal Rouge
MOP: WR Taylor Karis
OPOY: OL Elliot Barrett
DPOY: DB Lamar Brown
OLOY: OL Elliot Barrett
BPOY: LB Willie Stetson
ROY: LB Jean-Christophe Bain

Ottawa Royals
MOP: QB Drake Young
OPOY: RB Corbyn Knight
DPOY: S Marc Bellecourt
OLOY: OL Tommy Reynolds
BPOY: LB Tuukka Tariitt
ROY: OL Dane Hodgeson

Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
MOP: QB Louis Vaughn
OPOY: RB Raymond Green
DPOY: DB Zed McLaughlin
OLOY: OL Erik Nelson
BPOY: TE Jesse Butler
ROY: DL Brock Dyson

Providence Gold Stars
MOP: LB Kurt Warlock
OPOY: WR Justin Palmer
DPOY: DL Bartolo Cruz
OLOY: OL Ted Cole
BPOY: DB Perry Ferris
ROY: S Murdoch Chesterman

Regina Wheat Kings
MOP: LB Brett Pride
OPOY: RB Deion Chapman
DPOY: DB Chris Berrymore
OLOY: OL Hugh Johnson
BPOY: WR Nick Spalding
ROY: DL Derrick Parks

Toronto Steelheads
MOP: S Charles Clerk
OPOY: RB Max Tracy
DPOY: DB Oliver Langstrom
OLOY: OL Alan Farquharson
BPOY: WR Sterling Underhill
ROY: WR Cameron Kane

Vancouver Wolves
MOP: QB Kevin Westwood
OPOY: WR Keshawn Johnston
DPOY: LB Shawn Anderson
OLOY: OL David Brewington
BPOY: WR Akira Sakamoto
ROY: RB Nikki Yang

Winnipeg Falcons
MOP: RB Joe Rivers
OPOY: WR Terry Upshaw
DPOY: LB Claude Clarke
OLOY: OL Claude Balderson
BPOY: QB Emerson Thompson
ROY: DL Jordan Mantis