SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Monday, Nov. 18, 2013
Fort Frances moves to No. 2 in CJHL rankings; Thunder Bay 16th
THUNDER BAY – The hottest team in the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League, in the Fort Frances Lakers, continue to move up the ladder in the national rankings.
Winners of a franchise-record 15 consecutive games the Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading Lakers have been rated second overall in the 128-team CJHL in the weekly top 20 rankings announced today.
Meanwhile the Thunder Bay North Stars also maintained a place in the tabulations, which are compiled by the CJHL each week in conjunction with NHL Scouting, are they were slotted in the 16th overall spot..
The two sides will have the opportunity to prove their place in the rankings Tuesday evening with the SIJHL’s marquis match-up of the season to date as the North Stars host Fort Frances Tuesday evening in a 7:30 p.m. start at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.
Boasting a 16-1-0-1 overall record along with a .917 winning percentage the Lakers continue to sit in first place in the league standings while 11-2-0-3 Thunder Bay is currently in third spot.
The North Stars are presently in third place overall, one point in arrears of the second place Minnesota Iron Rangers (12-5-0-2), but they do hold three games in hand along with a better win mark of .781 compared to Minnesota’s .684.
Winners of six in succession the Iron Rangers are no slouch either and they’ll put their streak on the line Wednesday as they entertain the Lakers at Hoyt Lakes Arena at 7 p.m.
Continuing to top the CJHL rankings are the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League as they come in at No. 1 once again.
Rounding out the top five are the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), Powell River Kings (BCHL) and the Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) in third, fourth and fifth respectively.
CJHL TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (1)
2. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (3)
3. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (4)
4. Powell River Kings (BCHL) (5)
5. Soo Thunderbirds (NOHL) (6)
6. Carleton Place Canadiens (CCHL) (8)
7. Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) (7)
8. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (12)
9. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (2)
10. Melville Millionaires (SJHL) (9)
11. Weeks Crushers (MHL) (11)
12. Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL) (10)
13. Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) (16)
14. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) (13)
15. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) (18)
16. Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) (15)
17. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (17)
18. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (NR)
19. Dieppe Commandos (MHL) (NR)
20. Les Titans de Princeville (LHJAAAQ) (20)
Honourable Mention: Vernon Vipers (BCHL), Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), Kindersley Klippers (SJHL), St. Michael’s Buzzers (OJHL), Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL).
ABOUT THE CJHL TOP 20
The CJHL Top 20 weekly rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including the league in which the team plays, winning percentage, win-loss record, total points accumulated, goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc.
ABOUT THE CJHL
The Canadian Junior Hockey League is a national organization comprised of all 10 Junior A hockey leagues in Canada.
The CJHL represents 128 teams and over 2,500 players and has over 2,800 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the professional, major junior and college level across North America.
For latest CJHL news and features, visit www.cjhlhockey.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey.