Five MJHL clubs in CJHL Top 20

CALGARY, Alta. — The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Monday its initial Top 20 regular season rankings for the 2017-18 campaign as compiled by an independent scouting service.

Topping the table this week is the Penticton Vees (BCHL) who are off to a 4-0 start in league play.

BCHL: Joining the Vees in the weekly listings is fellow league-member side, the West Kelowna Warriors.

AJHL: Two unbeaten AJHL teams were slotted in the Top 4 in the CJHL this week as the Fort McMurray Oil Barons were tabbed No. 2 and the Okotoks Oilers No. 4.

SJHL: The No. 3 Melfort Mustangs are off to a 4-0 start while the No. 19 Battlefords North Stars is 3-0-1.

MJHL: Among the 17 unbeaten squads to date across the CJHL is five MJHL clubs in the Neepawa Natives, OCN Blizzard, Steinbach Pistons, Virden Oil Capitals and the defending league champion Portage Terriers.

SIJHL: The SIJHL title holding Dryden GM Ice Dogs and the Thief River Falls Norskies have yet to lose early on.

NOJHL: Like last season, the Powassan Voodoos are in the Top 20 once again and are joined by the upstart French River Rapids, who earned honourable mention laurels.

OJHL: The Toronto Patriots and Georgetown Raiders both have six wins to their credit and are ranked 11th and honourable mention respectively in the listings.

CCHL: A perennial CCHL power, the Carleton Place Canadians (No. 18) is 7-1 to start the season while the Fred Page Cup Eastern Canada Jr. A Championship-host Ottawa Jr. A Senators (HM) are 7-2 to place themselves in the weekly rankings.

LHJAAAQ: Last season’s league champion, Les Cobras de Terrebonne are No. 10 in the country with College Français de Longueuil at No. 12. Joining them as an honourable mention squad is Les Titan de Princeville.

MHL: A trio of MHL teams, who have yet to taste defeat, are in the first CJHL season rankings. They are the Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners, Amherst Ramblers and Edmunston Blizzard at No. 6; 14 and 16 respectively.

CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE)
1. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
2. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL)
3. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL)
4. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL)
5. Neepawa Natives (MJHL)
6. Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)
7. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL)
8. OCN Blizzard (MJHL)
9. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
10. Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ)
11. Toronto Patriots (OJHL)
12. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
13. Virden Oil Capitals (MJHL)
14. Amherst Ramblers (MHL)
15. Portage Terriers (MJHL)
16. Edmunston Blizzard (MHL)
17. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL)
18. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)
19. Battlefords North Stars  (SJHL)
20. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL)

HONOURABLE MENTION: West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL); French Rivers Rapids (NOJHL); Georgetown Raiders  (OJHL); Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL); Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ)