Spitfires, Rangers, and Bulldogs appear in CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott: Week 1

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled its Week 1 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott for the 2025-26 season.

Leading the list are the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL), Windsor Spitfires (OHL), and Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), each off to dominant 2-0-0-0 starts. The Armada retained their spot at No. 1 with back-to-back road wins highlighted by a record-setting performance from Matt Gosselin, while Windsor impressed with an offensive surge led by Cole Davis that included a statement win over the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights. Edmonton also looked strong, sweeping Red Deer behind standout performances from Luke Powell and Dylan Dean while holding a commanding edge in shots. 

Adding to the week’s storylines, the QMJHL’s newest franchise, the Newfoundland Regiment, debuted in the rankings at No. 8 after sweeping Moncton in their first-ever weekend, and the Everett Silvertips entered at No. 9 following a thrilling comeback victory over Wenatchee.

For the 2025-26 season, fans can catch every game with FloHockey streaming the OHL and QMJHL, and Victory+ serving as the home of the WHL. FloHockey features full regular-season and playoff coverage for both the OHL and QMJHL, while Victory+ offers free access to every WHL game along with playoffs and more.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 1

1. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL): The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada launched their 2025-26 season dominantly, opening 2-0-0-0 on the road to retain the No. 1 spot in the CHL Top-10 Rankings. Their season debut saw an overtime thriller in Rouyn-Noranda, where 18-year-old Rafaël Cloutier posted a team-high three points (2G-1A) and Olivier Lemieux buried the winner nearly four minutes into extra time in a 6-5 victory. Less than 24 hours later, the Armada overwhelmed Val-d’Or 7-0 behind a record-setting performance from Matt Gosselin, who scored five goals and seven points to establish new single-game franchise marks. His dominant outing earned him QMJHL Videotron Player of the Week honours, while Olivier Bacon stopped all 26 shots for the shutout. Off the ice, reigning QMJHL Defenceman of the Year and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Xavier Villeneuve was named to Team CHL for the 2025 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, set for November 25-26 in Calgary and Lethbridge. The club also welcomed back Montreal Canadiens prospect Arseni Radkov, who could make his QMJHL debut soon. The Armada are also set to see further reinforcements this week as Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mateo Nobert, veterans Vincent Collard and Maël Lavigne, and Nashville Predators prospect Jakub Milota return from NHL camps. Still awaiting the arrivals of Spencer Gill (Philadelphia Flyers), Justin Carbonneau (St. Louis Blues), and Bill Zonnon (Pittsburgh Penguins), the Armada will ride their early momentum into their home opener Friday against the Shawinigan Cataractes, followed by a Saturday tilt at home against the Victoriaville Tigres.

Games this week: vs. Shawinigan (Sept. 26), vs. Victoriaville (Sept. 27)

2. Windsor Spitfires (OHL): The Windsor Spitfires made a statement on OHL opening weekend, starting the 2025-26 season with a perfect 2-0-0-0 record while outscoring opponents 12-2. Their weekend began with an 8-1 rout of the Sarnia Sting, followed by an impressive 4-1 victory over the defending Memorial Cup champion London Knights. Forward Cole Davis stole the show, earning Cogeco OHL Player of the Week honours after racking up six points (4G-2A) across the two wins. Three of his four goals came shorthanded, including a pair in Sarnia as part of a career-high five-point night (3G-2A). With that performance, Davis tied a Spitfires single-game record for shorthanded goals, joining Matthew Maggio and Eric Locke in the franchise record book, before adding another shorty the following night against London. Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Ethan Belchetz bounced back from a quiet Friday with a goal and an assist versus the Knights, scoring the game-winner, while fellow 2026 prospect Jean-Christoph Lemieux chipped in two goals and one assist on the weekend. On the back end, 19-year-old defenceman Carson Woodall provided steady production, tallying five assists across two multi-point outings. Looking ahead, the Spits will be bolstered by the return of defenceman Anthony Cristoforo, who is set to make his 2025-26 debut after attending Dallas Stars camp, while Philadelphia Flyers prospect Jack Nesbitt, Chicago Blackhawks prospect AJ Spellacy, and Los Angeles Kings prospect Liam Greentree remain with their NHL clubs. Windsor now turns its focus to a busy week ahead, hosting the Sudbury Wolves at the WFCU Centre before heading north for road matchups with the Barrie Colts and Oshawa Generals.

Games this week: vs. Sudbury (Sept. 25), @ Barrie (Sept. 27), @ Oshawa (Sept. 28)

3. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): The Edmonton Oil Kings opened their 2025-26 campaign in dominant fashion, sweeping a home-and-home set against the Red Deer Rebels to climb to No. 3 in the CHL Top-10 Rankings. One of just three WHL teams to emerge from opening weekend with a perfect 2-0-0-0 record, Edmonton dictated play from start to finish, outshooting Red Deer by a commanding 69-39 margin over 120 minutes of action. Up front, 18-year-old Luke Powell paced the attack with three points (2G-1A), sharing the team scoring lead with 2026 NHL Draft prospect Dylan Dean, who also struck twice and added an assist. The Oil Kings’ depth was on full display as several others contributed at key moments, while strong defensive structure limited Red Deer’s chances. Their lineup is set to get even stronger this week, with Seattle Kraken prospect Blake Fiddler and St. Louis Blues prospect Adam Jecho returning from NHL camps, along with Colorado Avalanche prospect Max Curran, who continues to work his way back from injury. Vancouver Canucks prospect Parker Alcos and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Miroslav Holinka are the only Oil Kings players still away at NHL camps. With early momentum and reinforcements on the way, the Oil Kings now prepare for a challenging stretch — a five-game road trip that begins this weekend against the Calgary Hitmen before taking them east through Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Game this week: @ Calgary (Sept. 27)

4. Kitchener Rangers (OHL): The Kitchener Rangers opened their 2025-26 campaign in style, starting 2-0-0-0 with wins over the No. 5-ranked Brantford Bulldogs and the Erie Otters. Their home opener was a thriller, as the Rangers erased a 3-0 deficit against Brantford before 18-year-old Tanner Lam scored a highlight-reel between-the-legs goal and then buried the overtime winner to seal a 4-3 victory. Goaltender Jason Schaubel, a 2026 NHL Draft prospect, was named Mary Brown’s Chicken OHL Goaltender of the Week after backstopping both wins, finishing with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage. Schaubel turned aside 32 shots in the comeback against Brantford, then made 29 saves the next night in Erie as the Rangers skated to a 3-1 win despite being outshot 30-18. Forward Cameron Arquette was another standout, registering multi-point efforts in both games to lead the team with five points through the weekend. And the best may be yet to come — with nearly 10 players away at NHL camps on opening weekend, Kitchener will soon be bolstered by the returns of New York Islanders prospect Luca Romano, Colorado Avalanche prospect Christian Humphrey, San Jose Sharks prospect Christian Kirsch, Ottawa Senators prospect Luke Ellinas, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Hlacar, and 19-year-old defenceman Max Dirracolo. The Rangers will look to keep rolling when they host the Erie Otters on Friday at the Aud before visiting Owen Sound on Saturday.

Games this week: vs. Erie (Sept. 26), @ Owen Sound (Sept. 27)

5. Brantford Bulldogs (OHL): The Brantford Bulldogs collected three of a possible four points on OHL Opening Weekend, but still slipped three spots in the CHL Top-10 Rankings to sit at No. 5. Their opener in Kitchener saw them surrender a 3-0 third-period lead before falling 4-3 in overtime, but the Bulldogs rebounded the following night in their home opener with a convincing 5-1 win over the Peterborough Petes. 2026 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Malhotra paced the attack with three points (1G-2A) across the two contests, while 18-year-old rookie Cooper Dennis impressed in his OHL debut with three assists. Fellow 2026 Draft prospect Aiden O’Donnell (2G) and veteran forward Luca Testa (1G-1A) also hit the scoresheet in both games. In goal, David Egorov was outstanding against the Petes, turning aside 36 shots while allowing just a single marker to secure the win. Reinforcements are on the way for Brantford, as Seattle Kraken first-rounder Jake O’Brien, Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Benak, and Winnipeg Jets prospect Edison Engle are set to return from NHL camps this week. Meanwhile, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker and Buffalo Sabres prospect Ryerson Leenders remain with their clubs for the time being. The Bulldogs will look to keep building momentum as their four-game homestand continues Saturday night against the Sudbury Wolves.

Games this week: vs. Sudbury (Sept. 27)

6. Spokane Chiefs (WHL): The Spokane Chiefs experienced a mixed start to the 2025-26 season, dominating the 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets in an 8-2 win before falling 6-4 the next night to the Kamloops Blazers. The split in British Columbia saw the Chiefs slip three spots to No. 6 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, though there were plenty of bright spots. Top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Mathis Preston opened his year in spectacular fashion, posting four points (1G-3A) against Kelowna before adding two more (1G-1A) in Kamloops to finish the weekend as the WHL’s leading scorer. Veteran forward Coco Armstrong also got off to a hot start with three goals and an assist across two games, while fellow 2026 NHL Draft prospects Chase Harrington (2G) and Brody Gillespie (2A) chipped in offensively. Between the pipes, 2027 NHL Draft prospect Carter Esler was excellent in the opener, turning aside 36 of 38 shots to backstop Spokane’s victory over Kelowna. Reinforcements are on the way as St. Louis Blues prospect Will McIsaac, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Nathan Mayes, and Winnipeg Jets prospect Owen Martin rejoin the club this week, just in time for a four-game home stand that begins Saturday against Tri-City. However, star forward Berkly Catton remains at Seattle Kraken camp and could potentially start the season in the NHL.

Games this week: vs. Tri-City (Sept. 27)

7. Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL): The Chicoutimi Saguenéens opened their 2025-26 season with a split, sitting at 1-1-0-0 after their first weekend of play. They fell 5-3 in Drummondville on opening night but rebounded less than 24 hours later with a resilient 4-3 victory in Québec City against the Remparts. Leading the charge was 2026 NHL Draft prospect Émile Ricard, who found the scoresheet in both contests and finished the weekend with a team-best three points (2G-1A). He was joined by Thomas Desruisseaux (0G-2A), Nathan Lecompte (1G-1A), and Korney Korneyev (1G-1A), each of whom posted multiple points over the weekend. Between the pipes, Tomas Gagné delivered a standout performance in Quebec, turning aside 37 of 40 shots to secure the win in a game where Chicoutimi was outshot 40-25, including 19-3 in the opening frame. The weekend also saw the season debuts of Anaheim Ducks prospects Émile Guité and Maxim Massé, both expected to play key roles this season. Additional reinforcements are on the way, with veteran blueliner Peteris Bulans and Nashville Predators prospect Alex Huang set to return from NHL camps in time for this weekend’s two-game trip to Rimouski. The Sags are still awaiting the return of goaltender Raphaël Précourt from injury, while Washington Capitals prospect Maxim Schäfer remains at camp, but his eventual arrival will provide another boost to the lineup.

Games this week: @ Rimouski (Sept. 27), @ Rimouski (Sept. 28)

8. Newfoundland Regiment (QMJHL): The Newfoundland Regiment couldn’t have asked for a better start to franchise history, opening the 2025-26 season with a perfect 2-0-0-0 record and debuting at No. 8 in the CHL Top-10 Rankings. Fresh off their relocation from Acadie-Bathurst, the Regiment announced their arrival in style by sweeping back-to-back games against the Moncton Wildcats, last year’s stingiest defensive team and a preseason Top-10 contender. Newfoundland struck for 12 goals across the two victories — scoring seven in their opener and five more the following night — with Tyson Goguen netting the first in franchise history before finishing the weekend with four goals, two assists, and a team-best six points. Captain Justin Larose matched that production with two goals and four helpers, while Czech forward Marek Danicek — the club’s first-round pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft — also impressed with six points (1G-5A). With Dallas Stars prospect Dawson Sharkey and Seattle Kraken prospect Will Reynolds returning from NHL camps to bolster the roster, the Regiment’s roster looks even more dangerous. They’ll look to build on their historic start this weekend as they welcome the Charlottetown Islanders to the Rock for a two-game set.

Games this week: vs. Charlottetown (Sept. 27), vs. Charlottetown (Sept. 28)

9. Everett Silvertips (WHL): The Everett Silvertips, reigning WHL regular season champions, kicked off their 2025-26 campaign with plenty of drama, storming back from a three-goal deficit to edge the Wenatchee Wild 4-3 in a shootout during their home opener. The victory, which saw Everett claw back after surrendering three unanswered goals in the first 30 minutes, also secured the team’s first appearance in this season’s CHL Top-10 Rankings after being a near-constant presence in last year’s rankings. Zackary Shantz stole the spotlight, netting a natural hat trick to bring the Silvertips level before capping off his night with a shootout tally. He was joined by Matias Vanhanen and Nolan Chastko, who also converted in the shootout to seal the win for Everett. With confidence from a resilient opening-night performance and reinforcements on the way, the Silvertips are poised to build momentum as Finnish forward Julius Miettinen returns from Seattle Kraken camp. His arrival should provide a significant boost as Everett heads to Wenatchee on Saturday for a rematch with the Wild before returning home to face the Portland Winterhawks on Sunday.

Games this week: @ Wenatchee (Sept. 27), vs. Portland (Sept. 28)

10. Kelowna Rockets (WHL): The 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets endured a tough start to their season, dropping their home opener 8-2 to a strong Spokane Chiefs squad that currently sits No. 6 in the CHL Top-10 Rankings. Connor Pankratz and Kalder Varga provided the lone highlights offensively, each finding the back of the net in Friday’s loss. While the result was far from ideal, there are plenty of reasons for optimism in Kelowna as several key pieces are set to return this week. Nashville Predators prospect Hiroki Gojsic, a back-to-back 20-goal scorer, is expected to rejoin the lineup, along with veteran blueliner Nate Corbet, who spent camp with the Los Angeles Kings, and New York Islanders prospect Tomáš Poletín, the first overall pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft. All three should be available when the Rockets face their new Okanagan rivals, the Penticton Vees, in a two-game series that begins Friday night with Penticton’s inaugural WHL home game. Looking further ahead, Kelowna is still awaiting the potential return of San Jose Sharks prospect Carson Wetsch and Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla, both of whom remain with their NHL clubs for now.

Games this week: @ Penticton (Sept. 26), vs. Penticton (Sept. 27)