CALGARY, Alta. – A run of 24 consecutive victories to wrap-up their regular season has helped the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) secure the No. 1 listing in the final Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 rankings for 2017-18. The surging Oilers surpassed the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) for top spot, who dipped to No. 2 overall in the 132-team CJHL. The Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) secured the No. 3 slot in the final tabulations for the campaign.
MHL: The first-year Edmundston Blizzard ended up 19th in the CJHL with fellow MHL side, the Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners, picking up Honourable Mention.
LHJAAAQ: The defending LHJAAA NAPA Cup champions, les Cobras de Terrebonne, were slotted 10th in the CJHL while rival College Français de Longueuil came in at No. 15 in the country.
CCHL: At No. 2, Carleton Place has had another tremendous season to date with 52 wins already and 108 points with a game to play before the playoffs. As for the Fred Page Cup-host Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators, they were tabbed seventh as they too hope to hit the 100-point mark.
OJHL: The OJHL was well represented in the final listings with the Toronto Patriots ending up sixth, the North York Rangers 18th and the Oakville Blades in 20th while the Aurora Tigers and Georgetown Raiders both earned Honourable Mention selections.
NOJHL: A chance to win 45 or more games for a second year in a row, the Powassan Voodoos soared to No. 4 nationally with the Cochrane Crunch securing an Honourable Mention nod.
SIJHL: The Thief River Falls Norskies moved back into first in the SIJHL and ended up ranked 11th with the Dudley-Hewitt Cup host Dryden GM Ice Dogs being rated 14th overall.
MJHL: Another strong showing helped Steinbach finish up third in the tabulations as they wound up with 100 points and a 48-8-2-2 mark in MJHL play in 2017-18.
SJHL: The Nipawin Hawks are closing in on first overall in the SJHL and were ranked eighth in the CJHL while the Battlefords North Stars were selected 13th and the Melfort Mustangs 17th.
AJHL: With the 24 straight wins, Okotoks finished first in the AJHL with 106 points on a 52-6-2 record. You also had the Spruce Grove Saints jump to No. 5 nationally, the Brooks Bandits sit ninth and the Fort McMurray Oil Barons finish in 16th spot.
BCHL: With playoff action in the BCHL already underway, the defending league champs, the Penticton Vees, were ranked No. 12 in final CJHL listings with their long-time rival, the Vernon Vipers, earning themselves Honourable Mention recognition to conclude the regular season portion of the 2017-18 campaign.
FINAL CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20 RANKINGS
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (2)
2. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (1)
3. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (3)
4. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (7)
5. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (8)
6. Toronto Patriots (OJHL) (6)
7. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (5)
8. Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) (4)
9. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (11)
10. Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (10)
11. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) (17)
12. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (12)
13. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (13)
14. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (9)
15. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (15)
16. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (16)
17. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) (14)
18. North York Rangers (OJHL) (18)
19. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (19)
20. Oakville Blades (OJHL) (20)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Vernon Vipers (BCHL); Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL); Aurora Tigers (OJHL); Georgetown Raiders (OJHL); Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is made up of the 10 Junior ‘A’ leagues across Canada. Representing 132 teams and over 3,000 players, the CJHL also boast over 2,800 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL, NCAA and CIS level across North America.
ABOUT THE CJHL RANKINGS: Selected by an independent scouting service, the rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including winning percentage, strength of schedule, league team competes in, etc.