SUDBURY – The Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 weekly rankings were announced today with a trio of Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League clubs garnering recognition in the listings, which are compiled in conjunction with International Scouting Services.
Earning the nod for the NOJHL this week is the Soo Thunderbirds, who were slotted eighth overall in the 129-team CJHL while the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners were rated 12th nationally and the Elliot Lake Wildcats garnered Honourable Mention laurels.
Sault Ste. Marie leads the NOJHL West with a 19-4-0-2 record with their 40 points trailing Kirkland Lake by one for top spot overall.
The Thunderbirds do boast the best winning percentage in the league at .800 having played two fewer games than the Gold Miners.
Kirkland Lake paces the NOJHL East with 41 points on a 20-6-0-1 mark along with a .759 winning percentage.
The first-year Wildcats continue to impress having gone 17-7-1-1 overall in their inaugural campaign in Elliot Lake.
They sit second in the NOJHL West and are tied for third overall with Cochrane as the two sides have amassed 36 points apiece, with the Wildcats having a slightly higher win percentage due to skating in one less contest than the Crunch.
Rolling along as the No. 1 team in the CJHL again this week is the 2015 RBC Cup host Portage Terriers (MJHL). The Terriers enter play this week with 32-2-1 overall record.
The 26-3-2 Camrose Kodiaks are No. 2 while the 26-4-0-1 Penticton Vees (BCHL) were slotted at No. 3.
The following is the CJHL top 20 rankings along with five honourable mention teams for the period ending Dec. 7:
POINTSTREAK CJHL TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (1)
2. Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) (5)
3. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (6)
4. Woodstock Slammers (MHL) (2)
5. Aurora Tigers (OJHL) (4)
6. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (3)
7. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (7)
8. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (8)
9. Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) (9)
10. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (10)
11. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) (13)
12. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) (11)
13. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (16)
14. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (HM)
15. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (15)
16. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (HM)
17. Winnipeg Blues (MJHL) (HM)
18. Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) (HM)
19. Princeville Titan (QJHL) (19)
20. Pictou County Weeks Crushers (MHL) (NR)
Honourable Mention: Elliot Lake Wildcats (NOJHL), Vernon Vipers (BCHL), Nipawin Hawks (SJHL), Winkler Flyers (MJHL), Cobourg Cougars (OJHL)
