CALGARY, Alta. – November is rapidly approaching and the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 rankings sees the 12-0 Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) holding on to top spot overall.
MHL: The Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners have jumped to eighth in the CJHL this week while the first-year Edmundston Blizzard are 20th and the South Shore Lumberjacks earned honourable mention.
LHJAAAQ: Tied for first place in the LHJAAAQ with 28 points apiece les Cobras de Terrebonne and College Français de Longueuil are still ranked.
CCHL: Continuing to climb, the CCHL-leading Carleton Place Canadians have not lost in October, reeling off 11 straights wins, and are No. 4 in the country. Joining them in the listings is the Fred Page Cup-host Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators at No. 11.
OJHL: Four OJHL clubs garner attention in the rankings this week with the Toronto Patriots (9th), Georgetown Raiders (14th) and Oakville Blades (18th) tabbed and the Wellington Dukes (HM) also close.
NOJHL: Soaring to sixth the NOJHL front-running Powassan Voodoos are unbeaten in 10 this month at 9-0-1 and have a league-best .861 win percentage.
SIJHL: While Thief River Falls still rides a franchise-record 12-game winning streak, the Dudley-Hewitt Cup host Dryden GM Ice Dogs are a solid 9-1-2-1.
MJHL: The Steinbach Pistons (10th) and Winkler Flyers (15th) have each won five in a row and the OCN Blizzard (HM) is 8-2-1 in their past 11 games.
SJHL: Back at No. 2 in the CJHL for another week is the 10-0-1 Battlefords North Stars. They are off to a great start and pace the SJHL. The Weyburn Red Wings (17th) are also solid with an 11-3-1 mark.
AJHL: CJHL No. 3 Okotoks Oilers have started 15-1 in AJHL play while the Fort McMurray Oil Barons are 14-2-1 and are slotted seventh across the country. The Brooks Bandits picked up honourable mention.
BCHL: The ultra-competitive BCHL sees the Trail Smoke Eaters and Penticton Vees rated nationally with the Vernon Vipers up for consideration.
CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20 (As of Oct. 30/17)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST RANKING)
1. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) (1)
2. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (2)
3. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (3)
4. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (5)
5. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (9)
6. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (10)
7. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (4)
8. Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL) (12)
9. Toronto Patriots (OJHL) (8)
10. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (13)
11. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (14)
12. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (6)
13. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (11)
14. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (16)
15. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (19)
16. Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL) (NR)
17. Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) (18)
18. Oakville Blades (OJHL) (HM)
19. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (7)
20. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (NR)
Honourable Mention: Vernon Vipers (BCHL); Brooks Bandits (AJHL); OCN Blizzard (MJHL); Wellington Dukes (OJHL); South Shore Lumberjacks (MHL)
ABOUT THE CJHL RANKINGS
Picked by an independent scouting service, the rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including winning percentage; win-loss record; point totals; goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc., and the league they compete in.
