THUNDER BAY – The Minnesota Wilderness are leading the SIJHL. The powerhouse team is also moving up in the rankings across Canada. The surging Minnesota Wilderness continue to move their way up the Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 rankings.
Boasting a 19-3 overall record and winners seven straight contests, the Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading Wilderness were tabbed fourth overall in the latest CJHL listings released Monday.
The SIJHL front-runners have outscored their opponents 49-6 during their streak while posting three shutouts.
The CJHL Top 20 is formulated in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting and is based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the teams belong to as well as regular season results.
Maintaining their place atop the CJHL are the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Brooks Bandits.
Brooks suffered their first loss of the season Friday, a 4-1 road setback to the seventh-ranked Grande Prairie Storm, but still boast an impressive 21-1 record along with a CJHL-best .955 winning percentage.
Coming in at No. 2 this week are the Flin Flon Bombers of the Saskatchewan Jr. Hockey League while the Maritime Hockey League’s Truro Bearcats round out the top three.
The following are the CJHL Top 20 as of Nov. 19, 2012, with the league they are members of listed in brackets.
1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
2. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
3. Truro Bearcats (MHL)
4. Minnesota Wilderness (SIJHL)
5. OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
6. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
7. Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)
8. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
9. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
10. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
11. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
12. Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL)
13. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
14. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
15. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
16. Melville Millionaires (SJHL)
17. Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
18. North Bay Trappers (NOJHL)
19. Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
20. Saint Jerome Pantheres (LHJAAAQ)
Honourable Mention: Yorkton Terriers (SJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL), Oakville Blades (OJHL), Nepean Raiders (CCHL).