SUDBURY – Three Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League clubs have garnered recognition in the latest Canadian Junior Hockey League Pointstreak Top 20 rankings released Monday.
Both the Soo Thunderbirds and Kirkland Lake Gold Miners held on to their respective 12th and 14th overall spot in the listings while the Elliot Lake Wildcats earned honourable mention laurels in the rankings, which are compiled in conjunction with International Scouting Services.
Heading into a home game Monday afternoon vs. Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie (32-6-1-5) was tied with Kirkland Lake (33-9-1-2) for top spot in the overall NOJHL standings with 70 points apiece with the Thunderbirds, including today’s tilt, hold two games in hand on the Gold Miners.
Elliot Lake meanwhile continues to impress as the first-year Wildcats boast a solid 32-10-2-1 record sitting just three points in arrears of top spot after 45 games.
Continuing to hold down the top two spots in the 129-team CJHL again this week are the Portage Terriers (MJHL) at No. 1 followed by the No. 2 Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL).
The 2015 RBC Cup host Terriers have 50 wins to their credit so far in 2014-15 and have only lost twice in regulation time all season along with three overtime or shootout setbacks.
As for Spruce Grove, they have gone an impressive 19-0-1 in their last 20 outings to lead the standings in Alberta.
Moving to No. 3 in the CJHL this week is the Camrose Kodiaks, who also compete in the AJHL.
They have won five straight and sit five points behind the Saints for top spot there.
The following is the Pointstreak CJHL top 20 rankings along with five honourable mention teams for the period ending Feb. 15:
POINTSTREAK CJHL TOP 20
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (1)
2. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (2)
3. Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) (4)
4. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (3)
5. Aurora Tigers (OJHL) (6)
6. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (5)
7. Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) (7)
8. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (8)
9. Fort Frances Lakers (SIJHL) (10)
10. Woodstock Slammers (MHL) (9)
11. Kindersley Klippers (SJHL) (11)
12. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (12)
13. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (13)
14. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners (NOJHL) (14)
15. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (16)
16. Dieppe Commandos (MHL) (19)
17. Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) (15)
18. Georgetown Raiders (OJHL) (17)
19. Sherbrooke Cougars (QJHL) (20)
20. Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL) (HM)
Honourable Mention: Elliot Lake Wildcats (NOJHL), Okotoks Oilers (AJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), Steinbach Pistons (MJHL), Cobourg Cougars (OJHL)
ABOUT THE POINTSTREAK CJHL TOP 20 RANKINGS
The Pointstreak CJHL Top 20 weekly rankings, in conjunction with International Scouting Services (ISS), 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 129 teams and nearly 3,000 players and has just as many former players 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 on Twitter at twitter.com/cjhlhockey or @cjhlhockey.
