CALGARY, Alta. – It is status quo for the top four teams in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League Top 20 rankings with the Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL), Okotoks Oilers (AJHL), Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) and Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) leading the way while the surging Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) move to No. 5.
MHL: With a month to go in the MHL’s regular season, The Edmundston Blizzard (No. 19) and Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (No. 20) are in a close race for first overall there.
LHJAAAQ: It is also a two-team battle for top spot in the LHJAAAQ standings as the No. 8 Cobras de Terrebonne and No. 15 College Français de Longueuil vie for top spot with the Inouk de Granby earning Honourable Mention.
CCHL: No. 1 Carleton Place is four wins shy of 50 and four points away from 100. The No. 6 Fred Page Cup-host Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators also represent the CCHL.
OJHL: The Toronto Patriots (No. 8) and North York Rangers (No. 18) are in the CJHL Top 20 while the Georgetown Raiders and Oakville Blades earn themselves Honourable Mention nods.
NOJHL: On the verge of clinching first overall in the NOJHL, the Powassan Voodoos are tabbed 11th nationally while the Soo Thunderbirds get a HM spot.
SIJHL: Things are tightening up in the SIJHL as only five points separate first to third. The No. 7 Thief River Falls Norskies still lead there while the No. 16 Dudley-Hewitt Cup host Dryden GM Ice Dogs are two points back.
MJHL: The No. 4 Steinbach Pistons need just one more win to nab the MJHL’s 2017-18 regular season crown.
SJHL: With no regulation losses in their past 29 outings, No. 3 Nipawin continues to roll. The Battlefords North Stars jump to No. 9 nationally and the Melfort Mustangs secure an Honourable Mention slot this week.
AJHL: No. 2 Okotoks boasts 15 consecutive victories while now No. 5 Spruce Grove joined them with 40 wins. The Fort McMurray Oil Barons, winners of seven straight, moves to No. 12 just ahead of the No. 13 Brooks Bandits.
BCHL: Perennial powers, the Penticton Vees and Vernon Vipers both have 35 wins to their credit and were tabbed 14th and 17th respectively in the latest CJHL listings with the Wenatchee Wild just two points in arrears in a tightly-contested BCHL Interior Division race.
CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20 (As of Feb. 12/18)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST RANKING)
1. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (1)
2. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (2)
3. Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) (3)
4. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (4)
5. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (10)
6. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (6)
7. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) (5)
8. Toronto Patriots (OJHL) (7)
9. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (11)
10. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (8)
11. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (9)
12. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (16)
13. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (12)
14. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (14)
15. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (13)
16. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (15)
17. Vernon Vipers (BCHL) (NR)
18. North York Rangers (OJHL) (HM)
19. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (19)
20. Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL) (20)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Melfort Mustangs (SJHL); Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL); Georgetown Raiders (OJHL); Oakville Blades (OJHL); Inouk de Granby (LHJAAAQ)