Top scorers are not always on the No. 1 teams.

True, winger Phil Kessel of the Maple Leafs leads the National Hockey League in points and goals. But, the Leafs are not in first place. Eight teams also have more points. Kicker David Akers leads the National Football League in scoring, but his San Francisco 49ers are not the best team. Just ask Green Bay at 12-0.

At the amateur level, it’s much of the same.

With one exception, and it’s a tie, the top scoring athletes in the Ontario University and Ontario Colleges leagues are not on the teams that are in first place. Defining the “best” teams can always be a lengthy debate. I’ll leave that to the discussion boards and social media.

I glanced through the data provided on the websites of the OUA and OCAA. Let’s assume the numbers are all accurate. I say that because there have been some serious flaws in past.

Basketball, both women and men in the OCAA and OUA, have something in common with hockey – and Canada’s National winter sport is only played in a league in provincial universities. Costs appear to be the big factor in the disappearance of hockey at colleges.

As league schedules halt for the Holiday Season, five of the six major sports have scoring leaders not on the top teams. Should say something about team work.

Keaton Turkiewicz is a right winger with the University of Western Ontario. He leads the OUA men’s league with 30 points (11 goals and 19 assists) in 16 hockey games. Yes, Western has a record of 13-1-2 and tied with McGill for the best team.

But go to women’s hockey, where Laurier has a 13-0-1 record, and the leading scorer is Queen’s forward Morgan McHaffie, a fourth year forward,  with 13 goals and 16 helpers for 29 points. Queen’s, defending league champs, are in third place with a 10-3-2 record and lost to Laurier – twice.

Off to the hardwood and basketball.

Toronto-born Hannah Sunley-Paisley is a fifth year player at the University of Ottawa. She’s at the top averaging 21.62 points a game. Has 173 points so far. But move over to St. Catharines and Brock University is the only undefeated team in the OUA with an 8-0 record.

On the men’s side, third year player Enrico Diloreto leads the OUA averaging 24 points a game for the University of Windsor. The Lancers have a 5-3 record and, maybe, because he’s missed a few games with an injury. Carleton, the defending champs, are unbeaten at 8-0.

On the College scene, Rob Gagliardi, a rookie at Durham after transferring from Canisius in Buffalo, leads the OCAA men’s league with 25.6 points a game for the 4-5 Oshawa-based college. But, it’s Centennial that’s in top spot with an 8-1 record. And, Nakia Arthur, a guard at Sheridan leads the women’s point scoring column averaging 25.1 a game for the 7-2 Bruins. Seneca holds down No. 1 with a 7-0 record.

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