CALGARY, Alta. – The final Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 rankings for 2017 are out and the surging Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) is back to No. 1 overall.
The Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) move to No. 2 overall in the 132-team CJHL while les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) were slotted No. 3 nationally.
MHL: The No. 14 Edmundston Blizzard are 22-4-3-0 to pace the pack in the MHL while the Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners picked up an honourable mention nod.
LHJAAAQ: The No. 3 Cobras de Terrebonne have won 28 times in their first 31 outings and are two points up on No. 8 College Français de Longueuil in LHJAAAQ play to date.
CCHL: The No. 2 Carleton Place Canadians suffered just their third regulation loss last week, but still top the CCHL standings, sitting 10 points clear of the No. 9 and Fred Page Cup-host Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators.
OJHL: A trio of OJHL sides make the Top 20 in the Toronto Patriots (13th), Wellington Dukes (19th) and Oakville Blades (20th). Honourable mention goes to the North York Rangers.
NOJHL: The No. 5 Powassan Voodoos are 28-3-1-2 to lead the way in the NOJHL while the No. 16 Soo Thunderbirds are 24-8-2-0 to pace the league’s West Division.
SIJHL: No. 1 Thief River Falls has won 10 straight moving to 28-1 overall. The Dudley-Hewitt Cup-host Dryden GM Ice Dogs (19-3-4-1) are now 12th in the CJHL.
MJHL: The No. 11 Steinbach Pistons are starting to assert themselves in the MJHL having posted a 27-7-1 record.
SJHL: The 24-5-2 Battlefords North Stars move to No. 6 in the CJHL. Joining them in the rankings is the Nipawin Hawks (10th). The Melfort Mustangs picked up an HM spot.
AJHL: The 27-5-2 Okotoks Oilers stay at No. 4 in the rankings while the 25-5-3 Fort McMurray Oil Barons are No. 7. The Spruce Grove Saints are 17th and the Brook Bandits earned an honourable mention placing.
BCHL: At 25-7-1-4 in the highly competitive BCHL, the Vernon Vipers are ranked 15th while the No. 19 Penticton Vees have the second-best winning percentage there. Also, the Wenatchee Wild picked up honourable mention status.
CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20 (As of Dec. 18/17)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST RANKING)
1. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) (2)
2. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (1)
3. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (3)
4. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (4)
5. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (5)
6. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (8)
7. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (6)
8. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (10)
9. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (7)
10. Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) (13)
11. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (12)
12. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (11)
13. Toronto Patriots (OJHL) (9)
14. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (19)
15. Vernon Vipers (BCHL (15)
16. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (17)
17. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (14)
18. Wellington Dukes (OJHL) (20)
19. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (18)
20. Oakville Blades (OJHL) (16)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Wenatchee Wild (BCHL); Brooks Bandits (AJHL); Melfort Mustangs (SJHL); North York Rangers (OJHL); Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
ABOUT THE CJHL RANKINGS
Selected by an independent scouting service, the rankings are based upon a variety of factors.
The initial CJHL Top 20 for 2018 will be announced on Monday, January 8.
ABOUT THE CJHL
The Canadian Junior Hockey League is made up of the 10 Junior ‘A’ leagues across Canada.
Representing 132 teams and over 3,000 players, the CJHL also boasts over 2,800 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL, NCAA and CIS level across North America.
