Rangers get honourable mention in Kia CHL Top 10
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week 22 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2019-20 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
The Ottawa 67’s managed to stay on top despite dropping consecutive games, falling on home ice for the first time since November 8th. The Barber Poles managed to get past the Mississauga Steelheads 6-5 Friday night, taking two points on a late game winner from defenceman Noel Hoefenmayer. The Windsor Spitfires managed to edge Ottawa 3-2 in a shootout in the nation’s capital on Sunday before the London Knights spoiled the Family Day mood, doubling-up the 67’s 4-2. Ottawa owns a 42-9-0-1 record with a league-leading .817 winning percentage and now prepares to face the North Bay Battalion on the road Thursday night.
The Knights rattled off three straight wins over the weekend, defeating Midwest Division rival Kitchener by a score of 6-3 at home on Friday. They then headed to the Eastern Conference, defeating the Kingston Frontenacs 7-5 on Saturday before taking care of the aforementioned 67’s on Monday. London’s Liam Foudy led the way offensively, all the while playing in two recent NHL contests as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Foudy had eight points (3-5–8) in four games last week while defender Ryan Merkley continued his strong play, racking up seven assists. The Knights visit the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday.
The Flint Firebirds are back in the Kia CHL Top 10, on the radar for the second time this season. It’s tough to deny the ‘Birds, who are riding a franchise record 13-game winning streak that dates back to January 19th. St. Louis Blues prospect Tyler Tucker had a monster performance in Sarnia on Monday as the Firebirds put up a club record 12 goals for their ninth straight road win. Tucker finished with seven points and a plus-8 rating as Flint continued to charge up the Western Conference standings as they hold down the fourth spot with a 35-17-1-1 record. Eric Wellwood’s club is led offensively by captain and Dallas Stars first round pick Ty Dellandrea who boasts 67 points (31-36–67) over 44 games. The Firebirds look for their 14th straight win in Niagara on Thursday night.
The Kitchener Rangers fall out of the Top-10 and into the honourable mention category, being joined there by the Saginaw Spirit who sit in a first place tie with the Firebirds in the West Division.
The Week 22 Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings are (1) Ottawa 67’s, (2) Sherbrooke Phoenix, (3) Portland Winterhawks, (4) Moncton Wildcats, (5) Edmonton Oil Kings, (6) Chicoutimi Sagueneens, (7) Everett Silvertips, (8) London Knights, (9) Rimouski Oceanic, and (10) Flint Firebirds, with honourable mention to the Kitchener Rangers, Lethbridge Hurricanes, and Saginaw Spirit.
