CALGARY, Alberta – As the new year begins, the BCHL sees the Victoria Grizzlies slip past the Powell River Kings atop the Island Division, while the Penticton Vees ran into a tough Merritt Centennials team in the first game of a home and home this past weekend. The defending RBC Cup champion Brooks Bandits had a miraculous comeback victory over the Spruce Grove Saints and vaulted back into the Top 20 Rankings, while the Fort McMurray Oil Barons are starting 2014 off just as they started the season in September – by winning.
In the SJHL, the Yorkton Terriers are asserting themselves while being pushed hard by the Melville Millionaires, the Kindersley Klippers and the Humboldt Broncos. A similar situation is occurring in the MJHL, where the Selkirk Steelers are on an impressive 10-game winning streak and have pushed past the Steinbach Pistons and Portage Terriers.
The Soo Thunderbirds of the NOJHL, and the Fort Frances Lakers of the SIJHL still remain the class of their respective leagues entering 2014.
The Kingston Voyageurs of the OJHL are rolling and slipped past the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots, while the Whitby Fury enters the rankings as an Honourable Mention. In the CCHL, a small slip by the Carleton Place Canadians has cost them one spot in the Top 20. The Smiths Falls Bears are consolidating their grip on second place overall in the CCHL.
Les Pantheres de Saint Jerome hold onto a three-point lead ahead of the Granby Inouk for top spot in the LHJAAAQ. The Weeks Crushers are in complete command of top spot in the Eastlink Division and the overall lead in the MHL.
The CJHL would like to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2014. Game on!
Top 20 Rankings
1. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (1)
2. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (3)
3. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (2)
4. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (4)
5. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (5)
6. Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) (7)
7. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (6)
8. Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) (19)
9. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) (11)
10. Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL) (HM)
11. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (10)
12. Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) (13)
13. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOHL) (14)
14. Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL) (12)
15. Powell River Kings (BCHL) (15)
16. Melville Millionaires (SJHL) (HM)
17. Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) (HM)
18. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (NR)
19. Weeks Crushers (MHL) (17)
20. Les Pantheres de Saint Jerome (LHJAAAQ) (20)
Honourable Mention: Humboldt Broncos (SJHL), Portage Terriers (MJHL), Whitby Fury (OJHL), Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL), Smiths Falls Bears (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.