TORONTO – Winners of eight straight games and still having yet to lose in regulation time so far this season see the Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) holding on to the No. 1 slot in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 Rankings, released Monday.
With Battlefords head coach and general manager Brayden Klimosko currently away from the club, while serving as part of the Team Canada West staff at the World Junior A Challenge, in Cornwall, Ont., the North Stars are still soaring though, boasting a 25-0-2-1 mark in Saskatchewan.
Another team firing on all cylinders are the No. 2-tabbed Cobra de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) in Quebec.
Riding a 14-game winning streak and having an overall record of 26-2-0-0 sees Robert Dubuc’s squad pacing the pack in the 13-team LHJAAQ.
Seeing a lengthy winning streak come to an end last week, the No. 3 Brooks Bandits (AJHL) are still the front-runners in Alberta, having gone 31-2-1-1 to date.
Maintaining the No. 4 ranking in the 118-team CJHL, are the 27-3-1-1 Toronto Jr. Canadiens.
Their 27 victories to date are the most in the OJHL, which includes a 17-0 run so far on the road.
Rounding out the Top 5 in the national listings, which are compiled weekly by an independent scouting service, are the Collingwood Blues (OJHL).
Collingwood joins the Jr. Canadiens with a league-best .875 winning percentage there, while sporting a record of 24-3-0-1.
The following are the latest CJHL Top 20 Rankings, as well as the five Honourable Mention clubs, for the period ending Dec. 11:
CJHL TOP 20 (As of Dec. 12, 2022)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (PREVIOUS RANKING)
1. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (1)
2. Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (3)
3. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (2)
4. Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) (4)
5. Collingwood Blues (OJHL) (6)
6. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (5)
7. Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) (7)
8. Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL) (8)
9. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (12)
10. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (10)
11. Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL) (13)
12. Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ) (11)
13. Haliburton County Huskies (OJHL) (9)
14. Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) (HM)
15. Timmins Rock (NOJHL) (14)
16. Truro Bearcats (MHL) (HM)
17. Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL) (20)
18. Navan Grads (CCHL) (17)
19. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (16)
20. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) (20)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL); Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL); Wellington Dukes (OJHL); Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ); Edmundston Blizzard (MHL).
ABOUT THE RANKINGS: The CJHL Top 20 Rankings are compiled during the course of the regular season by an independent scouting service and are determined using a variety of factors during the process.
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of nine Junior A leagues from Alberta to the Maritimes. The CJHL currently represents 118 teams and well over 2,500 players. There are also 3,000-plus CJHL alumni furthering their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and CHL levels across North America as well as leagues across Europe. For the latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey & facebook.com/canadianjuniorhockeyleague.
Photo credit: Sudbury Light Event Photography
