2023-24 CHL Top-10 Rankings: Week 22
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today the Week 22 edition of its CHL Top 10 Rankings for the 2023-24 season.
For the eighth time this season, the QMJHL’s Baie-Comeau Drakkar hold the no. 1 spot. The WHL’s Prince George Cougars, who are 9-0-2 in their last 11 games, jump up to second place, their highest ranking since Week 13. The OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, winners of four straight, move up two spots into the no. 3 position.
The Moose Jaw Warriors return to the CHL Top 10 rankings for the first time since Week 19 as they slot in at no. 10.
The next rankings will be released the week of March 12 following the 23rd week of regular season action in all three member leagues of the CHL.
CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 22
1. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL): The Drakkar (48-9-3) stand firm at no. 1 after they went 2-1-0 in three contests. On Feb. 29 they won 5-1 in Moncton thanks to Matyas Melovsky’s three-point (2G, 1A) showing while a day later they claimed a 5-2 victory in Saint John as Justin Poirier scored twice. Their week ended with a 4-3 loss to Acadie-Bathurst Saturday but the Drakkar continue to lead the CHL in wins (48) and points (99).
Games this week: vs. Drummondville (March 6), vs. Chicoutimi (March 9), @ Chicoutimi (March 10)
2. Prince George Cougars (WHL): in a pair of games against Spokane, the Cougars (41-15-4) collected three of a possible four points. On March 1 they fell 5-4 in overtime but erased a 4-1 deficit to earn a point. The next day, Riley Heidt (MIN) buried the overtime winner in a 5-4 victory that saw the Cougars score twice in the final 1:03 of regulation to force OT. Prince George’s 41 wins are tied for the lead in the WHL’s Western Conference.
Games this week: vs. Vancouver (March 8) vs. Vancouver (March 9)
3. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): with a trio of road wins, the Spirit (44-15-1) find themselves in the no. 3 spot for the first time since Week 17. Zayne Parekh scored the overtime winner March 1 in a 4-3 win against Brantford to become just the seventh draft eligible d-man in CHL history to score 30 goals in a season. A day later, Owen Beck (MTL) had three points (1G, 2A) in a 6-2 win over Owen Sound while the Spirit completed the 3-in-3 with a 5-2 victory against Guelph after Jorian Donovan (OTT) registered four points (2G, 2A). Saginaw’s 44 wins leads the OHL this year.
Games this week: @ Flint (March 6), vs. Kingston (March 8), vs. Guelph (March 9)
4. London Knights (OHL): in three contests last week, London (43-13-1) went 1-1-1. Despite a four-point (2G, 2A) showing from Denver Barkey (PHI), they dropped a 6-4 decision to Oshawa in the CHL Game of the Week on Feb. 29 but collected a point March 1 in a 4-3 overtime loss to Kitchener. They rounded out the week with a 4-3 win in Flint on March 2 thanks to a pair of goals from Max McCue (CBJ). London’s 43 wins are the second most in the OHL while their .750 winning percentage leads all clubs.
Games this week: @ Guelph (March 6), vs. Sarnia (march 8), vs. Kitchener (March 9)
5. Saskatoon Blades (WHL): the Blades (43-12-5) went 1-2-0 as they dropped three spots in Week 22. They were shutout 5-0 by Red Deer Feb. 27 before they suffered a 4-1 loss to Lethbridge March 1. However, they rounded out the week with their WHL best 43rd win after a 4-0 win in Brandon where Austin Elliott made 21 saves.
Games this week: vs. Medicine Hat (March 8), vs. Edmonton (March 9)
6. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL): the Volts (41-12-6) split its two games last week. They defeated Charlottetown 8-2 on March 1 behind a Justin Côté hat-trick but were beaten 5-3 by Sherbrooke two days later despite a three-point (2G, 1A) showing from d-man Vsevolod Komarov (BUF). Drummondville’s .746 winning percentage is the second best in the QMJHL this season.
Games this week: @ Baie-Comeau (March 6), @ Victoriaville (March 8), vs. Victoriaville (March 10)
7. Portland Winterhawks (WHL): after a 4-3 defeat to Moose Jaw on Feb. 28, the Winterhawks (41-15-3) rebounded to win its final two games of the week. Jan Spunar shut the door with a 15-save shutout March 1 in a 3-0 win against Regina that was followed by a 5-4 overtime victory versus Victoria a day later after James Stefan scored 27 seconds into the extra frame. Portland’s .720 winning percentage is the second best in the WHL this season.
Games this week: @ Kamloops (March 6), vs. Wenatchee (March 9)
8. Everett Silvertips (WHL): in two games last week, the Silvertips collected three of a possible four points. In a wild affair against Moose Jaw on March 1, where they trailed 7-5 in the third, they secured a point after an 8-7 shootout loss. Twenty-four hours later, Carter Bear and Julius Miettinen had a goal and an assist as the Silvertips took down the Pats 5-3. Everett’s 83 points are the fourth most in the WHL this year.
Games this week: vs. Victoria (March 8), @ Victoria (March 9)
9. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL): the Huskies (40-14-5) outscored Chicoutimi 10-5 in a pair of games last week. On March 1, Jeremy Langlois (ARI) had five assists in a 7-3 victory while a day later, Bill Zonnon had his first QMJHL hat-trick in a 3-1 win that gave the Huskies their 40th win of the season. Rouyn-Noranda’s 40 wins and .720 winning percentage are both the third most in the Q.
Games this week: vs. Val-d’Or (March 6), vs. Sherbrooke (March 9), vs. Shawinigan (March 10)
10. Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL): for the first time in three weeks, the Warriors (40-19-2) find themselves back in the CHL Top 10 after a perfect 4-0-0 week on the road. Jagger Firkus (SEA) had the game-winner Feb. 28 in a 4-3 win over Portland and then he had the shootout winner March 1 in an 8-7 decision against Everett where Brayden Yager (PIT) had four points (2G, 2A) in regulation. March 2 saw Moose Jaw win 4-2 in Seattle thanks to a pair of goals from Firkus – a victory that also secured their playoff berth – while a day later he scored his 50th goal of the season, and Jackson Unger made 35 saves, as the Warriors beat the Wild 3-0. Moose Jaw are one of just four WHL clubs to have registered at least 40 wins this year.
Games this week: vs. Regina (March 8), vs. Lethbridge (March 9)