TORONTO – The soaring Winkler Flyers (MJHL) have been slotted No. 1 in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 Rankings, released Monday.
Unbeaten Winkler have been solid at both ends of the ice in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League so far this season, with Justin Falk’s squad leading the MJHL in goals-scored, while also having allowed the fewest against.
Suffering their initial defeat of the campaign over the weekend, the now No. 2 Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL) are still a solid 11-1-0-0 overall in Central Canada Hockey League play.
At No. 3 this week in the 122-team CJHL are the Humboldt Broncos (SJHL).
Humboldt sits with a 6-0-1-0 mark in Saskatchewan and have only given up 12 goals-against to date.
Moving to No. 4 nationally are the Collingwood Blues (OJHL).
The Blues have reeled off seven straight victories in the Ontario Junior Hockey League and are playing .929 hockey in the OJHL.
Meanwhile, winners of eight in succession, the reigning national Jr. A champion Brooks Bandits (AJHL) are surging in Alberta with a current record of 10-1-0-0, to come in at No. 5 in the weekly listings.
The following are the CJHL Top 20 Rankings, and honourable mentions, for the period concluding October 15.
CJHL TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (3)
2. Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL) (1)
3. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) (2)
4. Collingwood Blues (OJHL) (5)
5. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (7)
6. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) (8)
7. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) (4)
8. Miramichi Timberwolves (MHL) (16)
9. Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) (17)
10. Panthères de St-Jérôme (LHJAAAQ) (11)
11. Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) (6)
12. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (9)
13. L’Everest de la Côte-Sud (LHJAAAQ) (13)
14. Dauphin Kings (MJHL) (14)
15. Sioux Lookout Bombers (SIHL) (15)
16. Cornwall Colts (CCHL) (NR)
17. Markham Royals (OJHL) (12)
18. Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL) (HM)
19. Soo Eagles (NOJHL) (NR)
20. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (20)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Condors du Cégep Beauce-Appalaches (LHJAAAQ); Drumheller Dragons (AJHL); Steinbach Pistons (MJHL); Milton Menace (OJHL); Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL).
ABOUT THE RANKINGS: The CJHL Top 20 Rankings are compiled during the course of the regular 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 122 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 the latest CJHL news and features, visit cjhlhockey.com and follow-on social media at @cjhlhockey & facebook.com/canadianjuniorhockeyleague.
Photo credit: Ryan Sawatzky