CALGARY, Alta. – With the World Jr. A Challenge underway in Truro, N.S., and the holiday break rapidly approaching, one thing remains constant and that’s the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) are still ranked No. 1 in the Canadian Junior Hockey League with a 32-2-0-3 record.
MHL: The MHL-leading Edmundston Blizzard is 19th in the CJHL this week and are four points clear of the South Shore Lumberjacks and Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners with both those clubs earning Honourable Mention status.
LHJAAAQ: With a 26-3 mark, les Cobras de Terrebonne hold at No. 3 nationally while College Français de Longueuil, who are 23-4-2, remain No. 10 overall.
CCHL: CJHL No. 1 Carleton Place boasts a league-best 32 victories and are eight points up on the No. 7 Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators as the Fred Page Cup hosts are 28-5-1-2.
OJHL: Cracking the Top 10, the Toronto Patriots are now ninth in the CJHL. The Oakville Blades jump to 16th and the Wellington Dukes were tabbed 20th while the North York Rangers earn another Honourable Mention nod.
NOJHL: The first NOJHL side to 25 wins is the Powassan Voodoos and they earn the No. 5 slot in the rankings. Winners of nine consecutive contests, the Soo Thunderbirds, have soared to 17th in the national listings.
SIJHL: No. 2 Thief River Falls won four times last week including an OT triumph Sunday over the Dudley-Hewitt Cup-host Dryden GM Ice Dogs, who are tabbed 11th.
MJHL: The MJHL front-running Steinbach Pistons are ranked 12th having gone 23-7-1 to date in their league.
SJHL: The Battlefords North Stars (8th) and Nipawin Hawks (13th) represent the SJHL in the Top 20 while the Melfort Mustangs garner Honourable Mention accolades.
AJHL: The Okotoks Oilers have an AJHL-best .859 winning percentage and stay No. 4 in the CJHL. The Fort McMurray Oil Barons have won six in a row and remain sixth. Up to No. 14 is the Spruce Grove Saints while the Whitecourt Wolverines have another Honourable Mention.
BCHL: With 51 points and a 23-7-1-4 record, the Vernon Vipers are ranked 15th in the CJHL this week while the defending BCHL champion Penticton Vees are 18th.
CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20 (As of Dec.11/17)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST RANKING)
1. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (1)
2. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) (2)
3. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJQ) (3)
4. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (4)
5. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (7)
6. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (6)
7. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (5)
8. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (9)
9. Toronto Patriots (OJHL) (11)
10. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (10)
11. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (8)
12. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (14)
13. Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) (16)
14. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (18)
15. Vernon Vipers (BCHL) (19)
16. Oakville Blades (OJHL) (20)
17. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (HM)
18. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (12)
19. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (17)
20. Wellington Dukes (OJHL) (13)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL); Melfort Mustangs (SJHL); North York Rangers (OJHL); South Shore Lumberjacks (MHL); Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
ABOUT THE CJHL RANKINGS: Selected by an independent scouting service, the rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including winning percentage; win-loss record; point totals; goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc., and the league they compete in.