This Weeks Junior and College Rankings, 10/26

Here's a look at the College and Junior Rankings as we get ready to enter November.

Major Junior

The new rankings are now out and the Calgary Hitmen and the Drummondville Voltigeurs have swaped the top 2 spots as the Hitmen is the new #1. Below them, the biggest jumper this year is the Tri-City Americans who have jumped from #10 to #5 while the London Knights have been dropped from #6 to #8. Also, 2 new teams are in the rankings as the Mississauga St. Michaels Majors are in at #10 and the St. John Seadogs are in at #7 while the Quebec City Ramparts have dropped from #9 to being the honorable mention from the QMJHL. The other Honorable Mentions this week go to the Saskatoon Blades and the Barrie Colts.

1. Calgary Hitmen (WHL) (12-3-0)

2. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) (13-2-1)

3. Windsor Spitfires (OHL) (12-3-1)

4. Kitchener Rangers (OHL) (9-1-3)

5. Tri-City Americans (WHL) (11-2-0)

6. Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) (12-4-0)

7. St. John Seadogs (QMJHL) (13-4-1)

8. London Knights (OHL) (10-4-0)

9. Vancouver Giants (WHL) (10-3-3)

10. Mississauga St. Michaels Majors (OHL) (10-3-0)


Honorable Mentions

Quebec City Ramparts (QMJHL) (11-3-3)

Saskatoon Blades (WHL) (10-3-2)

Barrie Colts (OHL) (9-4-1)


Canadian Junior A Rankings


We have a swap of the top 2 positions in the Jr. A Rankings as the Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL) and Spruce Groove Saints (AJHL). Just down the list, the defending RBC Cup Champions Vernon Vipers have stayed at the #3 spot while this year's RBC Cup Host Dauphin Kings have moved up a spot to 4 which swapped with the Pentitiction Vees (BCHL) for #5. Not a lot of big movers this week, with the exception of the Oakville Blades which were honorable mentions last week are now up to #11.

1 (2). Kingston Voyageurs (OJAHL)

2 (1). Spruce Groove Saints (AJHL)

3 (3). Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

4 (5). Dauphin Kings (MJHL)

5 (4). Penticton Vees (BCHL)

6 (6). Georgetown Raiders (OJAHL)

7 (8). Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL)

8 (7). Pembrooke Lumber Kings (CJAHL)

9 (10). Newmarket Hurricanes (CCHL)

10 (9). Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)

11 (HM). Oakville Blades (OJAHL)

12 (11). Woodstock Slammers (MJAHL)

13 (14). Ft. William North Stars (SIJHL)

14 (13). Abitibi Eskimos (NOJHL)

15 (15). St. Jerome Panthers (LHJAAAQ)


Honorable Mentions

Surrey Eagles (BCHL)

Grande Prairie Storm (AJHL)

Dryden Ice Dogs (SJHL)

Soo Eagles (NOJHL)

Burlington Cougars (CCHL)

Wellington Dukes (CCHL)

Cornwall Colts (CJAHL)


League Codes


Pacific Region

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL)


West Region

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL)

Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL)


Ontario Region

Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL)

Ontario Junior A Hockey League (OJAHL)

Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL)

Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL)


Atlantic Region

Central Junior A Hockey League (CJAHL)

Quebec Junior A Hockey League (LHJAAAQ)

Maritime Junior A Hockey League (MJAHL)


NCAA Rankings

Another week and Miami of Ohio is back on top of the USCHO College Rankings for the NCAA. It was a lot closer then last week where Miami of Ohio had 45 1st place votes while this week they only had 26. Just below them, the University of Denver is up from #4 to #2 and getting 20 1st place votes with a 4-2-0 record.

The rest of the top 5 has Fighting Sioux from North Dakota, Boston University and Michigan. As for Cornell and Yale have been able to keep their spots despite not hitting the ice yet this season in the ECAC.

The rest of the rankings has Mass.-Lowell moving up 4 spots from 13 to 9 and Colorado College that has moved up from 19 to 15. Quinnipiac has moved up from 20 to 18 while U-Mass and Michigan State have jumped up to the polls at #17 and #20.

1 (1). Miami of Ohio (26) (4-1-1) 925 PTS

2 (4). Denver (20) (4-2-0) 899 PTS

3 (2). North Dakota (1) (4-1-1) 867 PTS

4 (3). Boston University (1-2-0) 760 PTS

5 (5). Michigan (2-2-0) 697 PTS

6 (6). Cornell (0-0-0) 627 PTS

7 (8). Yale (0-0-0) 562 PTS

8 (9). Norte Dame (3-3-0) 523 PTS

9 (13). Mass.-Lowell (3-1-0) 507 PTS

10 (7). Vermont (2-2-0) 467 PTS

11 (10). Princeton (0-0-0) 466 PTS

12 (12). Nebraska-Omaha (3-0-1) 437 PTS

13 (14). Boston College (1-1-0) 427 PTS

14 (16). Bemidji State (3-0-1) 327 PTS

15 (19). Colorado College (4-1-1) 309 PTS

16 (15). Alaska (3-0-1) 291 PTS

17 (NR). U-Mass (3-0-0) 179 PTS

18 (20). Quinnipiac (3-0-0) 133 PTS

19 (17). Wisconsin (1-2-1) 117 PTS

20 (NR). Michian State (4-2-0) 109 PTS

Last night's Stars Summary

Despite the Stars 2nd straight SO Loss, the Stars have looked strong and eager to return to the leagues elite as the team has looked very strong as some players are looking like their are taylor made for Marc Crawford's style of play.

One of the best ones so far is James Neal who scored both goals in the Nashville game and a SH goal which was set up by a fantastic pass by Marty Turco to make the game 2-1 early in the 2nd period.

Brendan Morrow is continuing his comeback from last year's nasty knee injury by scoring twice in last night's game, the first goal was kind of lucky as he was attempting to pass the puck to Robdias but with off the Oilers skate to deflect the puck in to the net.

One of the biggest changes for Marc Crawford's style is allowing the defense to be more involved with the offense attack while he wants forwards to be a lot more responsible to play defense. James Neal is perfect for this style with his speed and scoring ability with him scoring 3 goals already in the first 2 games.

If this style is going to work throughout the season, Crawford is going to keep the forwards vigilant on defense, this will really be put to the test when the Stars play teams like Detroit and Chicago later in the season.

Early in the 3rd period when the Stars and Oilers were tied at 3-3, Morrow netted his 2nd of the game on the PP with Ribero setting it up from the right face off circle and after a couple of strides into the slot to put it in 5 hole to give the Stars a 4-3 lead. Unfortunately, just 5 minutes later, Denis Grebeshkov converted a one timer that deflected Nicklas Grossman's Leg and over Turco to tie the game 4-4.

During the SO, Stephane Robaids was in a must score situation when he shot the puck off the post and gave the Oilers a 5-4 win in SO. This is the 2nd straight game where the Stars lost in the SO after being one of the best SO teams in the NHL since the SO was introduced after the lockout.

This takes Dallas to 0-0-2 while the Oilers won their first game of the season last night.

On an interesting note, with both Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen out of the lineup. It was the first time that they wasn't a single player from the 1999 Stanley Cup team on the ice.

NCAA Preseason Rankings

With the NCAA Season about to start up, the first rankings of the season are now out and the University of Denver will start the year as the #1 ranked team in the country as the season get's underway for most teams starts on October 9. Chris Brown's team in the University of Michigan will begin the year ranked 3rd.

As for Austin Smith and the Coalgate Raiders which will begin the year unranked after a rough year last year after finishing 8th in their conference last year.

The rankings will have the records for the 2008-2009 season.

1. Denver 23-12-5

2. Boston University 35-6-4

3. Michigan 29-12-0

4. Miami of Ohio 23-13-5

5. Norte Dame 31-6-3

6. North Dakota 24-15-4

7. Cornell 22-10-4

8. Yale 24-8-2

9. Minnesota 17-13-7

10. Princeton 22-12-1

11. Mass-Lowell 20-16-2

12. Boston College 18-14-5

13. Wisconsin 20-16-4

14. Vermont 22-12-5

15. St. Cloud State 18-17-3

16. New Hampshire 20-13-5

17. Ohio State 23-15-4

18. Minnesots-Duluth 22-13-8

19. Air Force Academy 28-11-2

20. Northeasten 25-12-4