CALGARY, Alberta (September 26, 2016) – A new season is now underway across all ten leagues in the CJHL, and already there are eleven teams who remain unbeaten after their first few weeks of regular season play.
The British Columbia Hockey League just completed its annual Showcase this past week in Chilliwack and all teams played two games in front of several hundred pro scout and college coaches and recruiters, and the Wenatchee Wild have gotten off to a fast start. In Alberta, the AJHL is now rolling and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons have bolted to the top of the North Division, which is a wonderful story for a community that was ravaged by fire in the spring. The Spruce Grove Saints are right with Fort McMurray, and the Bonnyville Pontiacs, who will be hosting the 2016 World Junior ‘A’ Challenge, are right behind these two teams.
In Saskatchewan, the Flin Flon Bombers have continued their fine play from last season, and along with the Humboldt Broncos, are the early leaders as the SJHL Showcase gets underway. Five teams remain unbeaten in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, and include the Portage Terriers, the Steinbach Pistons, the OCN Blizzard, the Winkler Flyers, and the Swan Valley Stampeders – who have only played one game so far. Meanwhile, the Dryden Ice Dogs and the Thunder Bay North Stars remain unbeaten early in the Superior International Junior Hockey League campaign.
Over in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, the Soo Thunderbirds and the Cochrane Crunch are deadlocked at the top of the standings. The OJHL Governors Showcase begins this week in Buffalo, NY, and the early leaders in the OJHL include the Trenton Golden Hawks, and Wellington Dukes. Meanwhile, in the Central Canada Hockey League, the Carleton Place Canadians and the Smiths Falls Bears are leading the way. The Cobras de Terrebonne are unbeaten in the LHJQ and already have the College Francais de Longueuil nipping at their heels. In the Maritime Hockey League, the Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners are unbeaten, and are being closely pursued by the Miramichi Timberwolves.
Top 20 Rankings
1. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
2. Wellington Dukes (OJHL)
3. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJQ)
4. Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
5. Portage Terriers (MJHL)
6. Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL)
7. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
8. OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
9. Winkler Flyers (MJHL)
10. Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)
11. Markham Royals (OJHL)
12. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
13. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)
14. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
15. Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL)
16. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
17. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)
18. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)
19. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)
20. College Francais de Longueil (LHJQ)
Honourable Mention: West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL), Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL), Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL), North York Rangers (OJHL), Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL)
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About the CJHL
The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of all 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada. The CJHL represents more than 125 teams and 2,500 players and has over 2,800 former players furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college level across North America. For latest CJHL news and features, visit www.cjhlhockey.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey