CALGARY, Alta. (Monday, Nov. 14, 2016) – Following a week that included Remembrance Day ceremonies across the country along with Veterans Day events in the U.S. there continues to be a shakeup in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 as the 132-member clubs shuffle places in their respective overall standings.
In the BCHL the Wenatchee Wild and Penticton Vees are still leading the way in terms of winning percentage while the Victoria Grizzlies and the Powell River Kings appear to be locked in season-long quest for top spot in the Island Division.
The Fort McMurray Oil Barons continue to sit atop the overall AJHL standings with 18 wins, but are being closely pursued by both the Whitecourt Wolverines and Brooks Bandits, who have been rolling the past few weeks.
Over in Saskatchewan the Battlefords North Stars are riding an impressive 11-game unbeaten streak and have moved into first place in the SJHL ahead of the Estevan Bruins and Humboldt Broncos.
The Steinbach Pistons are still the leaders of the MJHL with the surprising OCN Blizzard and the perennial power Portage Terriers right there and also holding games in hand on both squads.
SIJHL action has the Thunder Bay North Stars and rival Dryden GM Ice Dogs vying for the top of the leaderboard there with the latter having three contests to make up along the way.
Another CJHL side rolling along with 11 consecutive victories to their credit is the Powassan Voodoos of the NOJHL. They have moved ahead of the Cochrane Crunch, Timmins Rock and the Rayside-Balfour Canadians in the overall league standings.
OJHL competition has the Georgetown Raiders continuing their fine play of recent weeks having aided their efforts in claiming top spot in the overall standings. They now boast more wins and points and a better winning percentage than the Trenton Golden Hawks or the 2017 RBC Cup host Cobourg Cougars.
CCHL powerhouse, in the Carleton Place Canadians, remain in first there while the Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators are charging hard and also hold three games in hand.
The No. 1 CJHL-ranked College Francais de Longueuil and Les Cobras de Terrebonne lead the way in the LHJQ and are closely being pursued by the Arctic de St. Leonard.
On the East Coast the Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners of the MHL are on top of the standings and are being chased by the Pictou County Weeks Crushers.
The following are the latest CJHL Top 20 rankings:
CJHL TOP 20 (As of Nov. 14, 2016)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (1)
2. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (4)
3. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (2)
4. Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) (5)
5. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (7)
6. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (6)
7. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (8)
8. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (10)
9. Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL) (11)
10. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (12)
11. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (13)
12. Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) (3)
13. OCN Blizzard (MJHL) (HM)
14. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (NR)
15. Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) (18)
16. Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL) (14)
17. Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL) (15)
18. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (HM)
19. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (NR)
20. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (20)
Honourable Mention: Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL), Estevan Bruins (SJHL), Portage Terriers (MJHL), Whitby Fury (OJHL), Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL)
ABOUT THE TOP 20 RANKINGS: The CJHL Top 20 weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the team plays, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.
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 132 teams and over 3,000 players. They also boast 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.
