CALGARY, Alta. – The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) announced Monday that the Collingwood Blues (OJHL) are slotted No. 1 overall in its initial Top 20 Rankings for the 2022-23 season.
After going unbeaten in regulation during preseason play, Collingwood has posted seven consecutive victories to begin competition in the Ontario Junior Hockey League, under head coach Andrew Campoli and general manager Mike Tarantino.
Meanwhile, over in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, the Steinbach Huskies are also off to solid start, beginning their year at 5-0, and have been tabbed No. 2 nationally.
Over in the Quebec AAA Junior Hockey League, the high-scoring Princeville Titan, who come in at No. 3 this week, have won each of their first six starts while averaging six and a half goals-per-game.
Another MJHL side, the Virden Oil Capitals, pick-up the No. 4 CJHL nod and are too unbeaten early on at 4-0.
Earning the No. 5 place in the rankings are the 4-0 Battlefords North Stars, who will see their first action at the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Showcase in Warman, Sask., Tuesday against long-time SJHL side, the Weyburn Red Wings.
The following are the first CJHL Top 20 Rankings, as well as the five Honourable Mention clubs, for the 2022-23 campaign:
CJHL TOP 20 (As of Sept. 26, 2022)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE)
1. Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
2. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL)
3. Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ)
4. Virden Oil Capitals (MJHL)
5. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL)
6. Navan Grads (CCHL)
7. Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
8. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL)
9. Yorkton Terriers (SJHL)
10. Milton Menace (OJHL)
11. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL)
12. Miramichi Timberwolves (MHL)
13. Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ)
14. Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
15. Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)
16. Espanola Paper Kings (NOJHL)
17. Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL)
18. Blind River Beavers (NOJHL)
19. Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL)
20. Truro Bearcats (MHL)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Drayton Valley Thunder (AJHL); Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL); Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL); Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL); Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL).
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 118 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.
