TORONTO – The Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) are wrapping up the final installment of the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 Rankings – Fuelled by Gatorade, for 2023, where they’ve been the past two months – No. 1 overall.
Under head coach and general manager Mike Reagan, the Saskatchewan Junior League-leading Bombers will head into the New Year sporting an impressive 28-1-2-0 overall record to maintain their place atop the rankings, which are compiled by an independent scouting service.
Even with missing six regulars, who helped Team Canada West win the World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., the Brooks Bandits (AJHL) remain slotted No. 2 in the 122-team CJHL.
Topping the Alberta Junior Hockey League table with a 33-4-0-0 mark, Brooks has gone 18-1-0-0 since November 1.
A couple of Ontario Junior Hockey League clubs come in next as the Collingwood Blues and Trenton Golden Hawks are tabbed No. 3 and No. 4, respectively.
Collingwood has gone 29-4-0-1 to date, two points clear of 28-5-0-1 Trenton in the overall OJHL standings.
Capping off the Top 5 heading into the New Year are the Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s Steinbach Pistons.
With a record of 23-4-3-0 in MJHL play so far the season, the Pistons have a MJHL-best 49 points to their credit.
The initial CJHL Top 20 Rankings – Fuelled by Gatorade, for 2024, will be released Monday, January 8.
Listed below are the CJHL Top 20, and honourable mentions – Fuelled by Gatorade, for period concluding Dec. 17.
CJHL TOP 20 – FUELLED BY GATORADE
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST WEEK)
1. Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL) (1)
2. Brooks Bandits (AJHL) (2)
3. Collingwood Blues (OJHL) (3)
4. Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) (5)
5. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (4)
6. Summerside Western Capitals (MHL) (7)
7. Winkler Flyers (MJHL) (6)
8. Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL (8)
9. Milton Menace (OJHL) (9)
10. Virden Oil Capitals (MJHL) (10)
11. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (19)
12. VC de Laval (LHJAAAQ) (17)
13. Cornwall Colts (CCHL) (11)
14. Navan Grads (CCHL) (13)
15. Greater Sudbury Cubs (NOJHL) (12)
16. Blind River Beavers (NOJHL) (18)
17. Kam River Fighting Walleye (SIJHL) (16)
18. West Kent Steamers (MHL) (20)
19. Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL) (14)
20. Sioux Lookout Bombers (SIJHL) (HM)
HONOURABLE MENTION: Humboldt Broncos (SJHL); Portage Terriers (MJHL); Everest L’Everest de la Côte-Sud (LHJAAAQ); Condors du Cégep Beauce-Appalaches (LHJAAAQ); Edmundston Blizzard (MHL)
