NEWS

TORONTO – Wrapping up the 2022-portion of the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 Rankings, released Monday, the Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) conclude the year with the No. 1 slot nationally.

Rolling along through the unofficial first-half of the campaign, Battlefords went an impressive 28-0-2-1 and have yet to lose in regulation time so far this season.

The three Ontario Junior Hockey League team's in this week's Top 20 all held their places from last week.

Sitting at No. 4 are the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL). Not only are they the first OJHL team to reach 30 wins, they pace their league in goals-scored (164) and are second-best in fewest allowed (70).

Tabbed No. 5 in the CJHL this week are the Collingwood Blues (OJHL). With a winning percentage of .850, the Blues boast a 24-5-0-1 mark to date, and have only given up an OJHL-low 69 markers against.

The Haliburton County Huskies remain at No. 13.

Three OJHL teams received Honourable Mention: Cobourg, Burlington and Wellington.

The following are the latest CJHL Top 20 Rankings, as well as the five Honourable Mention clubs, for the period ending Dec. 18:

CJHL TOP 20 (As of Dec. 19, 2022)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (PREVIOUS RANKING)
1. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (1)
2. Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJAAAQ) (2)
3. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (3)
4. Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) (4)
5. Collingwood Blues (OJHL) (5)
6. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (6)
7. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (9)
8. Ottawa Jr. Senators (CCHL) (8)
9. Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) (7)
10. Portage Terriers (MJHL) (10)
11. Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL) (11)
12. Titan de Princeville (LHJAAAQ) (12)
13. Haliburton County Huskies (OJHL) (13)
14. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (19)
15. Timmins Rock (NOJHL) (15)
16. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) (HM)
17. Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL) (20)
18. Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (HM)
19. Truro Bearcats (MHL) (17)
20. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (HM)

HONOURABLE MENTION: Hearst Lumberjacks (NOJHL); Burlington Cougars (OJHL); Cobourg Cougars (OJHL); Wellington Dukes (OJHL); Smiths Falls Bears (CCHL).

The initial CJHL rankings for 2023 are scheduled to be announced on Monday, January 9.

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.

Source: Canadian Junior Hockey League