SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Monday, Dec. 9, 2013
Fort Frances, Thunder Bay stay among CJHL’s elite
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Despite each having single setbacks last week both the Fort Frances Lakers and Thunder Bay North Stars have held their presence in the latest installment of the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top 20 rankings announced Monday.
The Superior International Junior hockey League-leading Lakers were tabbed sixth overall in the CJHL while the North Stars were once again listed 15th in the tabulations compiled each week in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting.
Fort Frances, who has gone an impressive 21-1-0-1 since Sept. 28, sits atop the SIJHL standings with an overall mark of 22-2-0-2. The also boast the best winning percentage in the entire 128-team CJHL at .885.
As for Thunder Bay, they are second in the SIJHL at 16-4-0-3 and also hold three games in hand on the Lakers as well as over the third place Minnesota Iron Rangers, who trail the North Stars by two points, 35 to 33.
Overall, a new team has taken over top spot in the CJHL this week as the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League garnered the No. 1 ranking.
Sliding into No. 2 nationally are the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League while the AJHL’s Fort McMurray Oil Barons, who saw a lengthy run as the top-ranked squad in the CJHL come to an end this week, dipped to No. 3.
Rounding out the top five are the surging Soo Thunderbirds, winners of nine in succession, of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League in fourth and the Powell River Kings of British Columbia in fifth.
CJHL TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) LAST WEEK)
1. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (2)
2. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (3)
3. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (1)
4. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (5)
5. Powell River Kings (BCHL) (7)
6. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (4)
7. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL) (8)
8. Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL) (9)
9. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (6)
10. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (13)
11. Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL) (11)
12. Weeks Crushers (MHL) (10)
13. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) (14)
14. Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) (12)
15. Thunder Bay North Stars (SIJHL) (15)
16. Aurora Tigers (OJHL) (NR)
17. Vernon Vipers (BCHL) (NR)
18. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (HM)
19. Dieppe Commandos (MHL) (19)
20. Les Pantheres de Saint Jerome (LHJAAAQ) (NR)
Honourable Mention: Brooks Bandits (AJHL), Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), Drumheller Dragons (AJHL), Okotoks Oilers (AJHL), Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
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.