Reno Ice Adult League Power Rankings Spring Week 1

Doughboy’s Donuts! (formerly RT Janitorial) fresh off of a championship win, start the season at the top of the A-League power rankings. The Mustangs take the number two spot after finishing the regular season in third place and coming in second place in the playoffs last season. The Reno Gamblers take the third spot after coming in second place during the regular season last season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. The Great Basin Brewing Tooth Fairies take the fourth spot after coming in fourth place during the regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals last season. Whiskey Dekes is in the last spot in the A-League power rankings after last season saw them struggle to get any wins.

After the RIAL Winter 2022/23 season, I think that Doughboy’s Donuts!, the Mustangs, and the Reno Gamblers will get into the playoffs fairly unchallenged. I don’t think any of them will drop below third place in the standings after the first few games. I think they will also be contenders for the regular season title. I think that the GBB Tooth Fairies and Whiskey Dekes, could struggle again to reach third place. I don’t think they will be contenders for the regular season title. I think they will be fighting all season to get out of last place. What that could set up though is a good battle for the last playoff spot. I think A-League is split between the top three teams and the bottom two teams. I think that divide will continue this season.

Cruz Construction starts the season at the top of the B-League power rankings after getting their fifth B-League regular season title and their Third B-League championship. The Tahoe Storm is in the number two spot after they had a close battle for the regular season title and championship last season. The Swift Institute (formerly the Tahoe Dawgs) is in the number three spot after coming in third during the regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. 4 Seasons are in the fourth spot after finishing in fourth place during the regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals last season. Carson City Hyundai is in the fifth spot after not qualifying for the playoffs last season. The Murder Hornets (formerly in C-League) are in the sixth spot after winning the last C-League championship. Silver State Wire are in the seventh spot after only winning one game last season and coming in last place. The Reno Fire Hosers B (Formerly the Reno Fire Hosers from C-League) are in the eighth spot after coming in last in the C-League last season.

At this point, I think Cruz Construction, the Tahoe Storm, and the Swift Institute are the only teams that will be real contenders in the title race. I think those three teams will get into the playoffs fairly easily. I think 4 Seasons, Carson City Hyundai, and the Murder Hornets will be fighting for the last playoff spot. I think any one of those three could emerge as a dark horse candidate in the title race. I think Silver State Wire is going to end up in the bottom two or three in the standings. I don’t know how good the Reno Fire Hosers B are. Going off of last season they struggled in the C-League. I get that it is a different team now, but they have not show that they can play at this level.

The Slappy Gilmores lead the C-League power rankings to start the season. In the last C-League season, they won the regular season title and come up just short of the championship. The Desert Dogs are in the second spot after coming in second place during the last C-League regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Black Ox is in the third spot after coming in fourth in the last C-League regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Blue Moon comes in the number four spot after finishing sixth in the last C-League regular season. The United Skates come in fifth after finishing seventh in the last C-League regular season. The Pale Ales are in the last spot as they are a new team.

With a reduced C-League I think it will be harder to win the title race or make the playoffs. I think the Slappy Gilmores and the Desert Dogs will get into the playoffs easily and be the main contenders in the title race. I think the other four teams will be fighting for the other two playoff spots. I think the United Skates are definitely the underdogs for getting into the playoffs. I don’t know the Pale Ales are going to do as a new team.

Reno Pond Hockey is in the top spot in the D-League power rankings after dominating last season. They won both the regular season title and the D-League Championship. Mid-Ice Crisis is in the number two spot after a strong finish to the regular season and coming in second place in the playoffs. The Guardians are in the number three spot after finishing the regular season in second place and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. They also didn’t have a strong end to their regular season. The Jurassic Pucks are in the number four spot after coming in fourth place in the regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Q & D Construction are in the fifth spot after finishing in last place during the last C-League season. The Reno Fire Hosers D are in the sixth spot. The reason Q & D is above them is because all of their best players from last season in the C-League are going to be playing on the Fire Hosers B in the B-League. The Nevada Police Foundation is in the seventh spot after finishing last season in fifth place. The Grrrowlers are in the last spot after finishing last season in sixth place.

I think Reno Pond Hockey, Mid-Ice Crisis, and the Guardians will be the top three teams in the D-League this season. I think the Jurassic Pucks, Q & D Construction, and the Reno Fire Hosers D will be battling it out for the fourth spot. I don’t think the Nevada Police Foundation or the Grrrowlers will have do any better this season. I think the addition of the new teams from the C-League will make it harder for them to have better seasons even if they improve. I think the divide between the top three teams and the rest of the league will still be there this season. Q & D Construction or the Reno Fire Hosers D could move into the group with the other top three but at this point I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think the Jurassic Pucks will improve enough this season to move into the group with the top three teams either.

Bangarang starts the season at the top of the E-League power rankings. In the last E-League season they came in second during the regular season and won the E-League Championship. The Trash Pandas are in the number two spot after winning the last E-League regular season title and coming in second in the playoffs. Battle Born is in the number three spot after coming in third in the last E-League season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Long drink is in the number three spot after coming in fourth during the last regular season and exiting the playoffs in the semifinals. Satan’s Gatekeepers are in the fifth spot after coming in fifth in the last season and not qualifying for the playoffs. The Holy Pucks are in the sixth spot as the new team.

Just like in the D-League, there is a big gap between the bottom three and top three teams in the E-League. I think this season Bangarang, the Trash Pandas, and Battle will all easily get into the playoffs and be the main regular season title contenders. I think Long Drink and Satan’s Gatekeepers will be fighting for the last playoff spot. With the talent disparity in the E-League, the Holy Pucks will either be fighting for a spot in the top three or will struggle to be competitive and not get out of last place.