CJHL Announces Weekly Top 20

CALGARY, Alta. – There are changes at the front of the leaderboard in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 rankings this week with the Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) and Brooks Bandits (AJHL) moving into first and second respectively in the national listings as the playoff races heat up across the country and the 10-league CJHL.

In BCHL play the Wenatchee Wild have extended their hold on the overall league lead. The Western Canada Cup host Penticton Vees are five points back while the Chilliwack Chiefs and Victoria Grizzlies remain near the top.

Winners of 11 straight, the Brooks Bandits are still rolling in the AJHL while the Fort McMurray Oil Barons have won their last six and are battling the Whitecourt Wolverines for first in the Viterra North Division.

The Battlefords North Stars are 11 points clear of the Flin Flon Bombers in the SJHL’s overall standings with the Estevan Bruins sitting third.

Looking at the MJHL you’ll see the Steinbach Pistons have won eight in succession to lead the way there with the Winkler Flyers and Selkirk Steelers pushing the pace as well.

Having gone 8-1-1 in their past 10, the Dryden GM Ice Dogs lead the pack in the SIJHL as they’ve extended the gap on second place Thunder Bay.

Despite having a 26-game unbeaten run end last week, the Powassan Voodoos remain nicely atop the NOJHL over the Soo Thunderbirds.

New CJHL No. 1 Georgetown has yet to lose since the holiday break, having won six in a row, to help boast the best winning percentage in the OJHL over the Dudley-Hewitt Cup host Trenton Golden Hawks.

The Carleton Place Canadians still lead the way in the ultra-competitive CCHL as they and fellow division leader Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators are the first two clubs to reach the 60-point plateau there. 

Even though their lengthy run as the No. 1 side in the CJHL ended this week, Collège Français de Longueuil still has 31 wins in 35 games to pace the LHJQ while Les Cobras de Terrebonne, who are the hosting the Fred Page Cup, are a solid 29-4 in 33 outings. The Arctic de St.-Léonard have also had an impressive season to date with 27 triumphs.

It remains tightly contested in the MHL with the Pictou County Weeks Crushers four points up on both the Truro Bearcats and Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners. Also among those in contention in the quest for first overall there is the Miramichi Timberwolves.

CJHL TOP 20 (As of Jan. 16, 2017)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (6)
2. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (3)
3. Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJQ) (1)
4. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (2)
5. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (4)
6. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJQ) (10)
7. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (5)
8. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (7)
9. Wenatchee Wild (BCHL) (8)
10. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (9)
11. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (11)
12. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (12)
13. Whitby Fury (OJHL) (14)
14. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (17)
15. Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL) (15)

16. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (16)
17. Pictou County Weeks Crushers (MHL) (18)
18. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (HM)
19. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (20)
20. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) (NR)
   
Honourable Mention: Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL); Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL); Selkirk Steelers (MJHL); Cobourg Cougars (OJHL); Truro Bearcats (MHL)