CJHL announces Top 20 preseason rankings for 2017-18

CALGARY, Alta. – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Thursday itsTop 20 preseason rankings for the upcoming 2017-18 campaign with Penticton Vees (BCHL) being slotted in at No. 1 overall.

The preseason rankings, compiled by an independent scouting service, were based upon a variety of factors, which includes the league in which the teams belong to, last season’s results in regular season and playoffs as well as initial recruiting efforts for the upcoming season.

As the quest for the 2018 RBC Cup in Chilliwack, B.C. begins with regular season action getting underway in the coming days across the entire CJHL, the initial Top 20 rankings for 2017-18 will be announced on Monday, Sept. 25.

CJHL PRESEASON TOP 20

NO. 1: PENTICTON VEES (BCHL)
Head Coach/GM: Fred Harbinson

NO. 2: BROOKS BANDITS (AJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Ryan Papaioannou

NO. 3: CARLETON PLACE CANADIANS (CCHL) 
Head Coach/GM: Jason Clarke

NO. 4: BATTLEFORDS NORTH STARS (SJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Brandon Heck

NO. 5: COBOURG COUGARS (OJHL)
Head Coach: John Druce
GM: Brent Tully

NO. 6: CHILLIWACK CHIEFS (BCHL)
Head Coach/GM: Jason Tatarnic

NO. 7: OTTAWA JR. ‘A’ SENATORS (CCHL)
Head Coach: Martin Dagenais

NO. 8: LES COBRAS DE TERREBONNE (LHJAAAQ)
Head Coach/GM: Robert Dubuc

NO. 9: FORT MCMURRAY OIL BARONS (AJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Tom Keca

NO. 10: WOODSTOCK SLAMMERS (MHL)
Head Coach: Fabian Joseph
GM: Danny Braun

NO. 11: GEORGETOWN RAIDERS (OJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Greg Walters        

NO. 12: DRYDEN GM ICE DOGS (SIJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Kurt Walsten

NO. 13: WHITECOURT WOLVERINES (AJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Gord Thibodeau

NO. 14: COLLÉGE FRANCAIS DE LONGUEUIL (LHJAAAQ)
Head Coach/GM: Pierre Petroni

NO. 15: WENATCHEE WILD (BCHL)
Head Coach/GM: Bliss Littler

NO. 16: PORTAGE TERRIERS (MJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Blake Spiller

NO. 17: PICTOU COUNTY WEEKS CRUSHERS (MHL)
Head Coach/Assistant GM: Doug Doull
Assistant GM: Chad McDavid

NO. 18: POWASSAN VOODOOS (NOJHL)
Head Coach: Beau Moyer
GM: Chris Dawson

NO. 19: STEINBACH PISTONS (MJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Paul Dyck

NO. 20: TORONTO JR. CANADIENS (OJHL)
Head Coach: Jeff Angelidis
GM: Blake Ricci

HONOURABLE MENTION

HM: VERNON VIPERS (BCHL)
Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations: Mark Ferner

HM: VICTORIA GRIZZLIES (BCHL)
Head Coach/GM: Craig Didmon

HM: BURLINGTON COUGARS (OJHL)
Head Coach: Terry Richardson
General Manager: Alex Bezerra

HM: CORNWALL COLTS (CCHL)
Head Coach/GM: Ian MacInnis

HM: ELLIOT LAKE WILDCATS (NOJHL)
Head Coach/GM: Corey Bricknell

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. ? It? also boast?s? over 2,800 former players furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college level across North America.