This Weeks Rankings: 11/30

As we get passed Thanksgiving, the rankings for the Major Junior and NCAA as we start to get near the midway point of the Major Junior and Junior A seasons. Currently, the Windsor Spitfires are the top team in the Major Junior Rankings at a 21-3-3 record and have been in the top for basically the entire season so far, while the St. John Seadogs unreal winning streak has them on top of the QMJHL and are at #2 right now.

Overall the top 5 haven't changed much over the last couple of weeks. While the bottom part of the top 10 has seen a few changes so far where no team has jumped and fell more then 2 places in recent weeks. What this is telling me is that the Major Junior Leagues have been top heavy so far this season and the teams that are in the rankings are the ones that you could see for the most part to challenge for the Memorial Cup this season.

1 (1). Windsor Spitfires (OHL) (24-3-3)

2 (2). St. John Seadogs (QMJHL) (25-4-1)

3 (5). Barrie Colts (OHL) (22-4-1)

4 (3). Saskatoon Blades (WHL) (20-4-3)

5 (4). Drummondville Voltiguers (QMJHL) (20-7-2)

6 (6). Mississauga St. Micheals Majors (OHL) (20-5-2)

7 (8). Victoriaville Tigers (QMJHL) (20-8-1)

8 (9). Calgary Hitmen (WHL) (20-8-1)

9 (7). Tri-City Americans (WHL) (19-8-0)

10 (NR). Quebec City Ramparts (QMJHL) (19-6-5)

Honorable Mentions

Kitchener Rangers (OHL) (18-7-3)

Vancouver Giants (WHL) (18-8-3)

Rouyn-Nornda Huskies (QMJHL) (17-12-3)


League Codes: The Numbers in the brackets is the number of teams in the Rankings. This is also includes the Honorable Mentions.

Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

Western Hockey League (WHL)

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

Canadiean Junior A Rankings

The top 2 teams right now in the Vernon Vipers and Spruce Grove Saints remain in the top 2 spots as the AJHL contuines to be among one of the strongest leagues in the rankings right now with several spots right now. Dauphin from the Manitoba League and the Kingston from the OJAHL switched the #3 and #4 spots while the Penticton Vees round out the top 5 this week.

The rest of the top 10 has the Pembrooke Lumber Kings have moved up a spot while the Georgetown Raiders drop 2 spots to #7. Rounding out the top 10 are the Oakville Blades, Cornwall Colts and the Woodstock Slammers who are slowly moving up the rankings at #10 this week.

The biggest jumper this week is the Flin Foln Bombers who are at #14 after being an Honorable Mentions the last couple of weeks. As for this weeks big faller is the Camrose Kodiaks who fell 7 spots to #17 while the Surrey Eagles have dropped 5 spots to #18 after being at #13 last week. As for the Honorable Mentions, the BCHL have 2 teams have the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Westside Warriors.

From the MJHL, the Swan Valley Stampeders are starting to improve and could be a pontential darkhorse in Manitoba and in the West Region. Finally, 2 teams in the Ontario Region make the Honorable Mentions as the Soo Thunderbirds and Brockville Braves make the list.

1 (1). Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

2 (2). Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

3 (4). Dauphin Kings (MJHL)

4 (3). Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL)

5 (6). Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6 (7). Pembroke Lumber Kings (CJAHL)

7 (5). Georgetown Raiders (OJAHL)

8 (8). Oakville Blades (OJAHL)

9 (12). Cornwall Colts (CJAHL)

10 (11). Woodstock Slammers (MJAHL)

11 (9). Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL)

12 (14). Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)

13 (15). Ft. Mcmurray Oil Barons (AJHL)

14 (NR). Flin Foln Bombers (SJHL)

15 (16). Abitibi Eskimos (NOJHL)

16 (18). Ft. William North Stars (SIJHL)

17 (10). Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)

18 (13). Surrey Eagles (BCHL)

19 (19). Burlington Cougars (CCHL)

20 (20). Le College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)

Honorable Mentions

Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)

Westside Warriors (BCHL)

Swan Valley Stampeders (MJHL)

Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL)

Brockville Braves (CJAHL)


The Numbers in the Brackets rep. the number of teams in the Rankings for the different leagues. This does include the Honorable Mentions

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) (5)

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) (4)

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) (2)

Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) (2)

Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) (1)

Ontario Junior A Hockey League (OJAHL) (3)

Central Canadiean Hockey League (CCHL) (1)

Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) (2)

Central Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) (3)

Quebec Junior A Hockey League (LHJAAAQ) (1)

Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) (1)


NCAA Rankings

After a rare rocky week, Miami of Ohio lead as the top team in the country is starting to shrink big time. Right now, just 11 points seperate the Redhawks from the 2nd seeded Denver Pioneers as for the first time this season, a team other then Miami of Ohio has gotten double digit first place votes with 14 right now. North Dakota and Quinnipiac both got 7 first place votes, and then a win over top ranked Miami of Ohio in the Holiday Classic have got them up to 5th.

As for the top 10, Colorado College is fighting it out with Denver for the top spot in the WCHA. Cornell, Mass.-Lowell, U-Mass and Yale have rounded out the top 10 this week in the rankings.

Not many big jumpers or big fallers this week. Mass-Lowell dropped 5 spots from #3 to #8 after a rough week after losses to Providence and Maine this week in Hockey East. As for new teams, St. Cloud State has jumped into the rankings at #20 while Colgate fell out after having the week off. Colgate dosen't hit the ice again until December 4 when they play on the road against Union and Rensselaer this week.

1 (1). Miami of Ohio (CCHA) (20) (9-2-5) 934 PTS

2 (2). Denver (WCHA) (14) (9-4-1) 923 PTS

3 (4). North Dakota (WCHA) (7) (8-4-2) 900 PTS

4 (9). Quinnipiac (ECAC) (7) (12-1-0) 799 PTS

5 (6). Bemidji State (CHA) (2) (11-2-1) 784 PTS

6 (5). Colorado College (WCHA) (10-3-1) 766 PTS

7 (7). Cornell (ECAC) (6-2-1) 708 PTS

8 (3). Mass-Lowell (Hockey East) (8-4-1) 647 PTS

9 (10). U-Mass (Hockey East) (9-3-0) 573 PTS

10 (11). Yale (ECAC) (5-2-2) 497 PTS

11 (8). Michigan State (CCHA) (9-5-2) 441 PTS

12 (12). Alaska (CCHA) (8-3-3) 426 PTS

13 (12). Minn-Duluth (WCHA) (9-4-1) 426 PTS

14 (13). Norte Dame (CCHA) (7-5-4) 323 PTS

15 (16). Boston College (Hockey East) (6-3-2) 321 PTS

16 (15). Wisconsin (WCHA) (8-5-1) 308 PTS

17 (17). Ferris State (CCHA) (9-3-2) 265 PTS

18 (19). Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) (7-4-3) 146 PTS

19 (18). Vermont (Hockey East) (5-5-1) 83 PTS

20 (NR). St. Cloud State (WCHA) (6-6-2) 80 PTS

Other Teams getting Votes: Michigan 66 PTS, RIT 21 PTS, Colgate 20 PTS, Union 19 PTS, New Hampshire 9 PTS, Northern Michigan 7 PTS, Rensselaer 3 PTS, Boston University 1 PTS, Minnesota 1 PTS, Princeton 1 PTS

Conference Code, the Number of Teams in the brackets is how many teams are in the Top 20.

Atlantic Hockey (Atlantic Hockey) (0)

Central Collegeaite Hockey Assiocation (CCHA) (6)

College Hockey America (CHA) (1)

East Coast Atheltic Conference (ECAC) (3)

Hockey East (Hockey East) (4)

Western Collegeaite Hockey Assocation (WCHA) (6)

This Weeks Rankings: 11/23

Major Junior

Currently, the defending Memorial Cup Champions Windsor Spitfires are on top of the Rankings as the Spitfires currently lead the OHL Western Conference and have the best overall record in the Ontario Hockey League.

Helping them out is a current 8 game winning streak where they have scored 44 goals during that time including a 7-1 win over the Sarnia Sting on 11/20 and a 11-3 win over the Guelph Storm on 11/22. Windsor currently is looking ahead to a showdown on what could be a fight of the leagues best teams as they will play the Mississauga St. Micheals Majors on December 11.

Elsewhere in the rankings right now is the St. John Seadogs and Saskatoon Blades as they have the best records in the WHL and QMJHL right now. I would give the edge to St. John as they are pulling away in the Atlantic Division right now. The West Division Leader in Drummondville is in #4 while the Barrie Colts who are fighting it out with Mississauga for the top spot out east who are currently in #5.

Out West, Tri-City and Calgary have been sliping a little bit despite being in big fights for the Conference Lead in the Western Hockey League. Rounding out the #10 right now include the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors who are #8 but should move up as the Majors lead the Eastern Conference and have won 8 of their last 10.

As for this weeks Honorable Mentions, they are the Quebec City Ramparts, Moose Jaw Warriors, and the Saginaw Spirit.

1. Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

2. St. John Seadogs (QMJHL)

3. Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

4. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

5. Barrie Colts (OHL)

6. Tri-City Americans (WHL)

7. Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

8. Mississauga St. Micheals Majors (OHL)

9. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

10. Victoriaville Tigers (QMJHL)


Honorable Mentions

Quebec City Ramparts (QMJHL)

Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The Numer reps. how many teams made the rankings. This also includes the Honorable Mentions.

Western Hockey League (WHL) (4)

Ontario Hockey League (OHL) (5)

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) (4)



Canadien Jr. A Rankings

The top 3 in the Jr. A Rankings have remained unchanged as the Vernon Vipers, the Spruce Grove Saints and the Kingston Voyageurs have kept the top 3 spots as these teams contuine their domination in British Columbia, Alberta and Southern Ontario.

Spots 4 through 6 saw some changes as the Dauphin Kings from Manitoba jumped up 2 spots to #4 while the Georgetown Raiders and Penticton Vees both dropped a spot to #5 and #6, as for the rest of the top 10, Pembrooke, Oakville, Weyburn and Camrose have rounded out the #10 for this week.

Elsewhere, this weeks big jumpers are the Ft. Mcmurray Oil Barons have jumped up to #15 after being unranked for a majority of the season so far. While the Woodstock Slammers and the Grande Prairie Storm have both jumped up 2 spots while others like Newmarket have dropped a couple of spots. The weeks big faller was the Burlington Cougars in the CCHL as they dropped 4 spots to #19 after being at #15 last week.

1 (1). Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

2 (2). Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

3 (3). Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL)

4 (6). Dauphin Kings (MJHL)

5 (6). Georgetown Raiders (OJAHL)

6 (5). Penticton Vees (BCHL)

7 (8). Pembrooke Lumber Kings (CJAHL)

8 (7). Oakville Blades (OJAHL)

9 (9). Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL)

10 (10). Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)

11 (13). Woodstock Slammers (MJAHL)

12 (12). Cornwall Colts (CJAHL)

13 (11). Surrey Eagles (BCHL)

14 (16). Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)

15 (NR). Ft. Mcmurray Oil Barons (AJHL)

16 (17). Abitibi Eskimos (NOJHL)

17 (14). Newmarket Hurricanes (CCHL)

18 (18). Ft. William North Stars (SIJHL)

19 (15). Burlington Cougars (CCHL)

20 (20). Le College Francais de Longueil (LHJAAAQ)


Honorable Mentions

Nanimo Clippers (BCHL)

Westside Warriors (BCHL)

Canmore Eagles (AJHL)

Flin Foln Bombers (SJHL)

Truro Bearcats (MJAHL)

The Numbers in Brackets repersent how many teams made the rankings from the rankings. This does include Honorable Mentions.

League Codes

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) (5)

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) (5)

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) (2)

Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) (1)

Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) (1)

Ontario Junior A Hockey League (OJAHL) (3)

Central Canadien Hockey League (CCHL) (2)

Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) (1)

Central Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL) (2)

Quebec Junor A Hockey League (LHJAAAQ) (1)

Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL) (2)


NCAA Rankings

Miami of Ohio contuines to reign supreme in the College Hockey Rankings as they got 37 of the 50 votes on the USCHO poll for this week. However, the gap may be closing a little bit as their first loss of the season to Michigan State in a 3-2 OTL back on October 24 plus 4 ties including 3 of their last 4 which were against Ferris State twice and in their last game against Western Michigan this past weekend.

Elsewhere in the poll, the Denver Pioneers are starting to close in at the #2 spot where 9 first place votes and leading WCHA has got them building momentum as they are just below 60 points of Miami of Ohio in the Poll. Mass-Lowell and Bemidji State have gotten the other first place votes with 2 each as Mass-Lowell is in 3rd in Hockey East, but just 1 point back of Boston College and New Hampshire who are tied for 1st in the Conference.

Bemidji State is 10-1-1, but being in the 4 team CHA Conference will contuine to hurt them in the rankings and most likely in the NCAA Tournament in the Spring when the seedings come out as they are heavy favorites to win the Conference.

However, with Beavers switching to the WCHA next year will help this team a lot in the future in both recurting and having an imiage of them where they could have a shot of contending for a national title one day in the near future.

ECAC Leaders Quinnipiac has jumped into the top 10 at #9 after being in #13 last week, with a 10-1-0 record and a strong weekend with wins over Colgate and Cornell who are 2nd and 3rd in the ECAC, Quinnipiac have shown the country that they can be a big contender both in the Conference and in the entire country.

Some of the weeks big jumpers include Minnesota Duluth who jumped up 6 spots to #14 after being at #14 where at 9-4-1. Also we have 2 new teams into the rankings at Ferris State going to #17 while the Colgate Raiders round out the rankings at #20, after a slow start for the Raiders which includes 4 ties, a strong start in ECAC play as they are 4-1-1 in the Conference and are currently 2nd right now.

This weeks big faller is Nebraska-Omaha where a 7 spot drop has the Mavericks at #19 after being at #12 last week where some big CCHA loses to Northern Michigan who's currently 7th in the Conference have hurt them recently.

1 (1). Miami of Ohio (CCHA) (37) (9-1-4) 983 PTS

2 (3). Denver (WCHA) (9) (8-3-1) 938 PTS

3 (4). Mass-Lowell (Hockey East) (8-2-1) 864 PTS

4 (2). North Dakota (WCHA) (7-4-1) 794 PTS

5 (7). Colorado College (WCHA) (9-2-1) 792 PTS

6 (8). Bemidji State (CHA) (2) (10-1-1) 690 PTS

7 (5). Cornell (ECAC) (5-2-0) 648 PTS

8 (6). Michigan State (CCHA) (9-3-2) 632 PTS

9 (13). Quinnipiac (ECAC) (10-1-0) 622 PTS

10 (11). U-Mass (Hockey East) (8-2-0) 587 PTS

11 (9). Yale (ECAC) (3-2-2) 417 PTS

12 (10). Alaska (CCHA) (8-3-1) 401 PTS

13 (14). Norte Dame (CCHA) (6-5-3) 381 PTS

14 (20). Minn.-Duluth (WCHA) (9-4-1) 378 PTS

15 (15). Wisconsin (WCHA) (7-4-1) 292 PTS

16 (17). Boston College (Hockey East) (5-3-2) 250 PTS

17 (NR). Ferris State (CCHA) (9-3-2) 247 PTS

18 (17). Vermont (Hockey East) (4-4-1) 188 PTS

19 (12). Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) (5-4-3) 109 PTS

20 (NR). Colgate (ECAC) (6-3-4) 70 PTS

Others Getting Votes: St. Cloud State 64 PTS, Michigan 63 PTS, RIT 20 PTS, Princeton 18 PTS, Union 16 PTS, New Hampshire 12 PTS, Northern Michigan 10 PTS, Rensselaer 8 PTS, Merrimack 2 PTS, Providence 2 PTS, St. Lawrence 2 PTS



Conference Code

Atlantic Hockey (Atlantic Hockey)

Central Collegeaite Hockey Assiocation (CCHA)

College Hockey America (CHA)

East Coast Atheltic Conference (ECAC)

Hockey East (Hockey East)

Western Collegeaite Hockey Assiocation (WCHA)

League Players of the Week

Both the Central Hockey League Player and the Goaltender are from the State of Texas this week as Odessa Jackalopes Defensmen Philippe Plante. As for the CHL Goaltender, Jean-Philippe Levasseur from the Laredo Bucks won the goaltender of the week.

Philippe Plante: Plante helped keep the Jackalopes on top of the Southern Conference by scoring 4 points on the PP (1G 3A). The standout defensemen had points in all 3 of Odessa wins during the week which totaled 5 points (1G 4A), in addition to his great scoring ability, he also had a +3 rating.

The native of Quebec had a pair of helpers in the win over the Corpus Christi Icerayz on Thursday night, a power play goal and an assist in the win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs Friday and he also assisted on a goal in the teams 5th straight win on Saturday night. The great week for Odessa kept the team on top of the Southern Conference and have the leagues best record at 8-1-1 through 10 games.

Recent Players of the Week:
10/19/09: Joe Guenther of the Amarillo Gorillas
10/26/09: Jeff Pierce of the Odessa Jackalopes
11/2/09: Rob Hisey of the Tulsa Oilers

Jean-Philippe Levasseur: Levasseur won the goaltender of the week after posting a pair of wins against the Arizona Sundogs this weekend. The first year Laredo Buck helped them win 2 of the 3 games after being drilled 9-0 back on November 4. The Bucks came back with 1 goal wins with 3-2 and 4-3 wins on Friday and Saturday night.

For the native of Victoriaville, Quebec, he allowed just 5 goals on the week by stopping 54 of 59 shots. He also helped the team to get in a tie for 2nd place in the Conference. He's currently 4-0-1 with a 2.55 GAA and a .909 SV%.

Recent Goalies of the Week
10/19/09: Mike Brown of the Amarillo Gorillas
10/26/09: Ray Jean of the Mississippi Riverkings
11/2/09: Doug Groenestege of the Missouri Mavericks


North American Hockey League:

North Division: Andy Huff of the Traverse City North Stars
South Division: Jared Rickord of the Springfield Jr. Blues
Central Division: Chris Darnell of the Owatonna Express
West Divisoin: Duncan Mckellar of the Wenatchee Wild
Goalie: Paul Moberg of the North Iowa Outlaws

To Read more on the NAHL Players of the Week: www.nahl.com/potw.cfm


United States Hockey League

Forward: Matt White of the Omaha Lancers
Defensemen: Zach Palmquist of the Waterloo Blackhawks
Goalie: Steven Racine of the Omaha Lancers

To Read on the USHL Players of the Week: www.ushl.com/news/story.cfm?id=2817

Major Juniors

Player: Trevor Parkes of the Montreal De Junior
Goalie: James Reid of the Spokane Chiefs

Tonight's Games: 10/21

A busy night will include a late night for Stars fans as the Dallas Stars begin the 3 game road trip in California. Also in the NHL tonight we have the Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks who are leading their divisions in the Western Conference as the Avalanche travel to Minnesota to take on the Minnesota Wild and the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Vancouver Canucks. Also out east, the Carolina Hurricanes and NY Islanders look to get going as slow starts have hampered them so far this season.

In the Major Junior, the major cities in Alberta will take on each other in Calgary as the Hitmen and Oil Kings take the ice as both teams are looking for very big years. Also, the Tri-City Americans will look to hold on to the U.S.A. Division against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Out in Quebec, just one game will take place tonight as the Moncton Wildcats take on the Montreal De Junior tonight while the lone OHL game will have the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors will take on the Kingston Frontenacs.

The USA Juniors and the NCAA leagues have the night off tonight!

Professional

NHL

Nashville Predators VS. Boston Bruins 6:00 PM

Carolina Hurricanes VS. NY Islanders 6:00 PM

Buffalo Sabres VS. Florida Panthers 6:30 PM

Colorado Avalanche VS. Minnesota Wild 7:00 PM

Vancouver Canucks VS. Chicago Blackhawks 7:30 PM

Dallas Stars VS. Anaheim Ducks 9:00 PM

AHL

Binghamton Senators VS. Rochester Americans 6:05 PM

Rockfod Icehogs VS. Peoria Rivermen 7:00 PM

Lake Erie Monsters VS. Houston Aeros 7:05 PM

Toronto Marlies VS. Abbotsford Heat 9:30 PM

CHL

Amarillo Gorillas VS. Arizona Sundogs 9:05 PM



Major Junior

WHL

Edmonton Oil Kings VS. Calgary Hitmen 8:00 PM

Portland Winterhawks VS. Lethbridge Hurricanes 8:00 PM

Regina Pats VS. Saskatoon Blades 8:05 PM

Kamloops Blazers VS. Swift Current Broncos 8:30 PM

Brandon Wheat Kings VS. Tri-City Americans 9:05 PM

OHL

Mississauga St. Michaels Majors VS. Kingston Frontenacs 6:00 PM


QMJHL

Moncton Wildcats VS. Montreal De Junior


NCAA

No Games Tonight


USA Juniors

No Games Tonight