CALGARY, Alberta – Many of the CJHL’s best players are now competing in Toronto and Calgary in hopes of making the rosters of Team Canada East and Team Canada West for the upcoming World Junior ‘A’ Challenge in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. This prestigious tournament opens on December 14, but there is no break for the rest of the CJHL leagues and teams, as the regular season continues to march on.
The Penticton Vees continue to roll along in the BCHL, while the Chilliwack Chiefs and Vernon Vipers are also starting to pay wel themselves in a very close and competitive league. In Alberta, the Camrose Kodiaks, Spruce Grove Saints, Brooks Bandits, and by virtue of an 8-game winning streak, the Okotoks Oilers, are starting to separate themselves from the pack in the AJHL.
In Saskatchewan, the Kindersley Klippers remain in front of the Melfort Mustangs, and the Nipawin Hawks have heated up as of late as well. The Portage Terriers ran into a small speed bump with the OCN Blizzard this past week, and lost a game in regulation for the first time since October 22!
The Winnipeg Blues are only one point behind the Winkler Flyers for second place overall in the MJHL, but the Blues have two games in hand over the Flyers. The Fort Frances Lakers have a one point lead and a game in hand over the Thunder Bay North Stars in the SIJHL.
In the NOJHL, the Soo Thunderbirds have remained within a single point of the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, but still have two games in hand. The Elliot Lake Wildcats have just had a five-game winning streak snapped, but the Wildcats and the Cochrane Crunch are closing in the two NOJHL leaders.
The Aurora Tigers of the OJHL have a solid lead for first place overall, but the Georgetown Raiders and Cobourg Cougars are pushing hard to make it a serious race in the OJHL. The Carleton Place Canadians and the Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators continue to dominate the CCHL, with the Cornwall Colts starting to find their own consistent winning form.
The Titan de Princeville are holding on to the top spot in the standings of the LHJQ, while in the MHL, the Woodstock Slammers remain atop the overall standings, and the Pictou County Weeks Crushers have also found a way to win consistently of late, as they have a hold on top spot in the Eastlink Division.
Top 20 Rankings
1. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (1)
2. Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) (5)
3. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (6)
4. Woodstock Slammers (MHL) (2)
5. Aurora Tigers (OJHL) (4)
6. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (3)
7. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (7)
8. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (8)
9. Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) (9)
10. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (10)
11. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) (13)
12. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) (11)
13. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (16)
14. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (HM)
15. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (15)
16. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (HM)
17. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) (HM)
18. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) (HM)
19. Les Titan de Princeville (LHJQ) (19)
20. Pictou County Weeks Crushers (MHL) (NR)
Honourable Mention: Vernon Vipers (BCHL), Nipawin Hawks (SJHL), Winkler Flyers (MJHL), Elliot Lake Wildcats (NOJHL), Cobourg Cougars (OJHL).
About the Pointstreak CJHL Top 20 Rankings – The Pointstreak CJHL Top 20 weekly rankings are produced in conjunction with International Scouting Services (ISS) and 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.