CALGARY, Alta. – Nicely into March there has been some shuffling among some of the clubs in the most recent edition of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 Rankings.
While the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) and Collège Franà§ais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) remain No. 1 & 2 respectively in the listings, which are compiled by an independent scouting service, a number of other teams are making moves.
Brooks wrapped up their regular season with the best record in the AJHL and are presently awaiting their initial playoff opponent.
As for Collège Franà§ais, they are playing .864 hockey in Quebec and top the table in the 12-team LHJAAAQ with a 28-4-1-0 mark.
Slotted third in the CJHL this week are the Summerside Western Capitals (MHL).
Billy McGuigan’s squad boasts the mark among the dozen Jr. A organizations in the Maritimes at 27-4-1-1.
As the leaders in the SIJHL, the Kam River Fighting Walleye are tabbed fourth overall.
They are a solid 29-5-2-0 on the year and have only lost twice in regulation, dating back to mid-November.
Wrapping up the Top 5 are the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), and like Brooks, are gearing up for their first postseason competitor in Alberta.
The following are the latest CJHL Top 20 Rankings, as well as the five Honourable Mention clubs:
CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS (As of March 7/22)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (Previous ranking)
1. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (1)
2. Collège Franà§ais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (2)
3. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL) (4)
4. Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL) (6)
5. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (5)
6. Ottawa Jr. A Senators (CCHL) (3)
7. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (9)
8. Red Lake Miners (SIJHL) (7)
9. Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL) (11)
10. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (12)
11. Estevan Bruins (SJHL) (10)
12. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) (13)
13. Pickering Panthers (OJHL) (16)
14. Dauphin Kings (MJHL) (17)
15. Burlington Cougars (OJHL) (15)
16. Panthères de St-Jérà´me (LHJAAAQ) (8)
17. Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL) (18)
18. Timmins Rock (NOJHL) (14)
19. Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) (19)
20. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (20)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL); Soo Eagles (NOJHL); Milton Menace (OJHL); Condors du Cégep Beauce-Appalaches (LHJAAAQ), Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL).
ABOUT THE RANKINGS: The weekly CJHL Top 20 Rankings are compiled during the season by an independent scouting service and are determined using a variety of factors during the process.
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of nine Junior A leagues from Alberta to the Maritimes. The CJHL currently represents 115 teams and well over 2,500 players. There are also 3,000-plus CJHL alumni furthering their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, SPHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and CHL levels across North America as well as leagues across Europe. For latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey & facebook.com/