NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014
Thunderbirds remain No. 1 in CJHL rankings; Gold Miners 13th
SUDBURY – The two Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League clubs in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top 20 rankings have maintained their present positions this week.
The NOJHL-leading Thunderbirds were once again tabbed first overall in the CJHL listings while the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners held on to 13th place nationally in the weekly listings announced Tuesday, which are compiled in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting.
Both the T-Birds and Miners have been exceptional all season.
With three weeks until the start of the playoffs Sault Ste. Marie has gone 38-3-0-2 record since the end of September with Kirkland Lake registering a solid 17-2-0-2 mark in their past 21 contests.
The Thunderbirds, who saw their 25-game winning streak and home unbeaten run at home this season come to an end against the Gold Miners Sunday, are just one of six squads in all of the CJHL with 40 or more victories so far this season.
The Gold Miners are close to becoming a member of that distinguished group as they have won a franchise-record 39 times to date.
Sault Ste. Marie continues to hold down top spot in the NOJHL standings while Kirkland Lake is second with the two surging sides set to meet again Friday at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex in a 7:30 p.m. start.
Rounding out the top five teams in the CJHL this week are the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL), Selkirk Steelers (MJHL), Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) and Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) in second through fifth respectively.
The following are this week’s CJHL top 20 rankings along with the five honourable mention squads:
CJHL TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (1)
2. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (5)
3. Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) (4)
4. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (2)
5. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (6)
6. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (4)
7. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (12)
8. Aurora Tigers (OJHL) (7)
9. Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL) (10)
10. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) (HM)
11. Langley Rivermen (BCHL) (8)
12. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) (9)
13. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) (13)
14. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (11)
15. Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) (14)
16. Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) (17)
17. Melville Millionaires (SJHL) (NR)
18. Dauphin Kings (MJHL) (NR)
19. Saint-Jerome Panthers (LHJAAAQ) (18)
20. Truro Bearcats (MHL) (20)
Honourable Mention: Vernon Vipers (BCHL), Drumheller Dragons (AJHL), Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL), Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL), Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
ABOUT THE CJHL 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 Jr. A hockey leagues in Canada.
The CJHL represents 128 teams and over 2,500 players and has over 2,800 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college level across North America.
For the latest CJHL news and features, visit www.cjhlhockey.com as well as follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey.
