Knights, Battalion and Bulldogs Included in Week 9 Edition of Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings
Toronto, Ont. – The Canadian Hockey League announced on Wednesday the Week 9 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings for the 2021-22 season.
The London Knights remain the fifth-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League, trailing a quartet of WHL clubs in the Winnipeg ICE, Kamloops Blazers, Everett Silvertips and Edmonton Oil Kings. London took four of a possible six points last week with a 5-2 win over the Windsor Spitfires on Wednesday, a 3-2 road loss to the Guelph Storm on Friday and a 5-4 shootout win over the Owen Sound Attack on Saturday. Luke Evangelista continues to produce at a torrid pace with goals in five consecutive games. Goaltender Brett Brochu, who was recently named to Canada’s National Junior Team, leads the OHL with 14 wins this season to go with a 2.59 goals-against average and .918 save percentage through 19 games. London prepares for a weekend at home with a visit from the Erie Otters on Friday before the Sarnia Sting come to town on Saturday.
The Central Division-leading North Bay Battalion rise one spot to eighth on this week’s Top 10. The Troops saw a four-game winning streak snapped by the Peterborough Petes on Thursday as Mason McTavish scored a hat trick in his return to the lineup. The OHL’s Player of the Month for November, Kyle Jackson, recorded his third four-point performance of the season on Friday in Kingston as the Battalion took a 5-2 win. The Troops fell 3-2 in overtime to the Ottawa 67’s on Saturday. In addition to Jackson’s recognition, Montreal Canadiens prospect Joe Vrbetic is the OHL Goaltender of the Month for November. The Battalion are on the road this weekend with stops in Hamilton on Friday and Niagara on Saturday.
The Hamilton Bulldogs are back inside the Top 10 for the second time this season, returning after a five week absence. Collecting five of a possible six points, the East Division-leading Bulldogs took road wins in Niagara and Oshawa last week to land 10th on the rankings. Montreal Canadiens prospect Jan Mysak leads the way on the scoresheet with 28 points (15-13–28) while overage blueliner Nathan Staios was recently named OHL Defenceman of the Month for November. George Diaco carries a nine-game point streak into a Thursday night visit to the Barrie Colts before the Dogs return home on Friday and Sunday to faceoff against North Bay and Erie.
A successful weekend has the Kingston Frontenacs back in as an honourable mention. The Fronts scored back-to-back road wins over tough opponents in Hamilton and Mississauga to stay in the East Division conversation just two points back of the Bulldogs. Dallas Stars prospect Francesco Arcuri was a big part of Kingston’s success last week with six points (3-3–6) over three games.
The Guelph Storm are also an honourable mention as they continue to play solid hockey. The Storm have won four in a row, defeating the London Knights 3-2 on Friday before defeating the Erie Otters on back-to-back nights to improve to 13-6-1-1. The Storm try and stay hot this weekend with visits to Sault Ste. Marie and Saginaw on Friday and Saturday.
For further analysis on the Week 9 edition of the Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings, visit CHL.ca.
