CALGARY, Alta. – As we hit mid-February, the respective standings across entire Canadian Junior Hockey League continue to become more solidified with each of the 10 member leagues drawing ever-closer to determining upcoming playoff opponents.
BCHL play sees the Wenatchee Wild holding down top spot in the overall standings while the surging Chilliwack Chiefs are in close pursuit by having won eight in a row. The Sun Life Financial Western Canada Cup host Penticton Vees and Victoria Grizzlies also remain in contention.
With a co-CJHL-high 43 wins to their credit, the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL remain the top team in the national rankings for another week. Fellow league clubs in the Fort McMurray Oil Barons and Whitecourt Wolverines also continue to have solid campaigns.
Over in the SJHL, the Battlefords North Stars have won five in succession to extend their cushion over the Flin Flon Bombers and Nipawin Hawks.
The Steinbach Pistons are still the top team in the MJHL and have a comfortable lead on the Winkler Flyers and Selkirk Steelers.
Closing in on the regular season title in the SIJHL, the Dryden GM Ice Dogs continue to pack the pack there.
NOJHL action has the Powassan Voodoos still holding off the surging Soo Thunderbirds in the quest for the No. 1 seed in the postseason.
The Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL also have 43 victories to their credit and boast an impressive .880 winning percentage.
As hosts of the upcoming Dudley-Hewitt Cup, the Trenton Golden Hawks are still in range for first while the RBC Cup host Cobourg Cougars are battling with the Whitby Fury for their place on the OJHL leaderboard.
While the Carleton Place Canadians remain comfortably on top in the CCHL, the Ottawa Jr. A Senators and Cornwall Colts are also both playing over .700-hockey in the 12-team loop.
It remains neck-and-neck in the LHJAAAQ with Collège Français de Longueuil having two more points than Les Cobras de Terrebonne, but with the latter sporting the best winning percentage there by having played two fewer contests than their rivals.
The Pictou County Weeks Crushers, with games in hand, still lead the MHL with the Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners close by as are the Miramichi Timberwolves.
CJHL TOP 20 (As of Feb. 13, 2017)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (1)
2. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (2)
3. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJQ) (3)
4. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (6)
5. Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJQ) (4)
6. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (7)
7. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (8)
8. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (5)
9. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (9)
10. Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) (10)
11. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (11)
12. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) (14)
13. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (12)
14. Pictou County Weeks Crushers (MHL) (15)
15. Cobourg Cougars (OJHL) (16)
16. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (18)
17. Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL) (13)
18. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (17)
19. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (HM)
20. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) (20)
Honourable Mention: Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL); Cochrane Crunch (NOJHL); Burlington Cougars (OJHL); Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL); Cornwall Colts (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.