2023-24 CHL Top-10 Rankings: Week 17
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today the Week 17 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2023-24 season.
For the second time in three weeks, the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) find themselves in the top spot. Dating back to November 24, the Blades have earned a point in 23 of their last 24 games, with 18 victories over that stretch. In second place, we find the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), who continue to hold the highest point percentage (.830) in the CHL. Meanwhile, the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) have cracked the top three for the first time this season, as they jump up to No. 3. Powered by a seven-game winning streak, the Spirit and 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow hosts now lead the OHL with 32 wins, and their 28 victories in 33 games since November 3 are the most of any club in the CHL.
Among some of the notable risers in this week’s rankings were the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL, who find themselves in fifth after notching points in 14 straight games (13-0-1-0). Right behind them at No.6 is the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, who climbed into first place in the WHL’s Western Conference thanks to three straight wins last week. Additionally, amid a current five-game winning streak, the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL are back in the CHL Top-10 rankings at No. 9 after a two-week absence.
The next rankings will be released the week of February 5, following the 18th week of regular season action in all three member leagues of the CHL.
CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 17
1. Saskatoon Blades (WHL): With only one regulation loss over their last 24 games, having earned 18 victories over that time, the Blades (33-9-2-3) find themselves in the No. 1 spot for the second time in three weeks. Saskatoon’s 33 wins this season and their 2.59 goals allowed per game average rank second in the CHL behind only the Drakkar. Over the last week, the Blades won two of their three games with their only defeat coming in a shootout against Prince Albert. They continued to also get great production out of Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brandon Liswosky, who collected three points (2G-1A) in Saskatoon’s three contests last week. Although Lisowsky saw an eight-game point streak snapped on Sunday against Swift Current, he now has points in 18 of his last 20 games. Additionally, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fraser Minten registered three points (2G-1A) last week, highlighted by a great individual effort to score the overtime winner against the Broncos on Sunday. Minten has registered a point in 12 of 15 games with the Blades this season. Meanwhile, Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk has put together a strong couple of weeks, having now tallied 11 points (2G-9A) over his last 10 games. This week, holding arguably the best home record in the CHL at 18-1-1-0 this season, Saskatoon will continue its seven-game homestand with games against the Pats, the Tigers, and the Wheat Kings.
Games this week: vs. Regina (Jan. 31), vs. Medicine Hat (Feb. 2), vs. Brandon (Feb. 4)
2. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL): With only a pair of games on the schedule, the Drakkar (38-7-2-0) slipped a spot to second in this week’s rankings, having lost 5-1 to the Saguenéens on Friday in Baie-Comeau. It represented only the second time this season that the Drakkar had lost in regulation on home ice this season. The following day, they managed to bounce back at home by defeating the Remparts 4-1 to improve their record in Baie-Comeau to 19-2-2-0 during the 2023-24 campaign. New York Islanders Justin Gill tallied an assist on Baie-Comeau’s lone goal against Chicoutimi as he continues to rank third in the QMJHL with 67 points. The following day, 2024 NHL Draft prospect Justin Poirier tallied his QMJHL-leading 35th goal of the season, while Matyas Melovsky scored a pair and added an assist in the Drakkar’s victory over Québec. Melovsky’s three-point outing was his fourth multi-point game over his last six contests. Additionally, 20-year-old Isaac Dufort tallied goals in Baie-Comeau’s pair of contests last week to extend his goal streak to five games, the longest active streak in the QMJHL. Dufort is one of four players to have topped the 20-goal plateau on the Drakkar this season. Despite some of these positives, Baie-Comeau had to grapple with some difficult news over the weekend, as they announced that defenseman Émile Chouinard had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and wouldn’t be able to play in the coming months as he receives treatment. This week, the Drakkar will continue to do its best in the absence of Chouinard as they get set to travel to No. 5-ranked Drummondville and Québec as part of a three-game road trip.
Games this week: @ Drummondville (Feb. 1), @ Québec (Feb. 2), @ Québec (Feb. 3)
3. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): For the first time this season, the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow hosts have cracked the top three, and with good reason. Having won 28 times over their last 33 contests, the most of any CHL club since November 3, the Spirit (32-12-0-1) have jumped a couple of spots to find themselves in third in this week’s rankings. Over the last couple of weeks, Saginaw has strung together seven straight victories as they moved into first place in the OHL’s overall standings thanks to a league-best 32 wins and a .722 point percentage. Over the last seven days, the Spirit netted a pair of victories against Windsor (5-4 & 5-2) along with a win against the Rangers (5-2). 2025 NHL Draft prospect Michael Misa has been heating up as he has goals in five of his last six contests and leads Saginaw in goals with 24 this season. Meanwhile, 2024 NHL Draft prospect Zayne Parekh extended his point streak to nine games by registering his sixth multi-point outing over that stretch (9G-12A). Parekh’s 66 points this season not only rank first among 2024 NHL Draft eligible defenceman, but also are the most of any skater in Saginaw. Additionally, Anaheim Ducks prospect Rodwin Dionicio has collected points in points in six of his last seven games (2G-7A over that stretch), while Nashville Predators prospect Joey Willis has strung together a four-game point streak. Willis also has tallied goals in three of his last four games. This week, the Spirit will be tested when they welcome the No.9-ranked Greyhounds to Saginaw on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. The latter is a contest that fans can watch for free on CHL TV as part of the CHL Game of the Week.
Games this week: vs. Soo (Jan. 31), vs. Barrie (Feb. 3), vs. Ottawa (Feb. 4)
4. London Knights (OHL): After seeing their 14-game winning streak come to a close with a pair of losses in a shootout, the Knights (31-11-0-3) slipped one spot to No. 4 in this week’s rankings. Ultimately, London’s impressive 14-game winning streak was the longest in the CHL this season. Meanwhile, their current 16-game point streak (14-0-0-2) ranks as the second-longest in the CHL during the 2023-24 campaign, behind only Saskatoon’s recent 18-game run. Powering the Knights through these last couple of weeks has no doubt been Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, who extended his point streak to 14 games thanks to multi-point efforts against Peterborough and Erie last week. Over those last 14 games, Cowan has tallied 11 goals and 20 assists, having also registered six straight games with two points or more. Meanwhile, Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk recorded his 15th goal of the season as the defenceman has now scored goals in six of his last nine contests, totaling nine goals over that stretch. Bonk also has points in 11 of his last 12 games, which includes eight multi-point efforts during that stretch. This week, the Knights will look to find their back into the top three when they kick start a four-game schedule this week with a date in Kitchener against their rivals, the Rangers.
Games this week: @ Kitchener (Jan. 30), vs. Erie (Feb. 2), @ Owen Sound (Feb. 3), @ Guelph (Feb. 4)
5. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL): With points in 14 straight games (13-0-1-0), the Voltigeurs (31-9-4-1) climbed up the rankings for the second week in a row, having also jumped up into the Top-5 for the first time this season. Drummondville has just nine losses in regulation this season, which ranks as the second-lowest total among clubs in the CHL, trailing only Baie-Comeau (who’ve only lost seven times in regulation). The Voltigeurs’ .744 point percentage is also the second-best mark in the CHL behind only the Drakkar. Drummondville only had one game on the schedule this past week, besting Gatineau 5-4 in overtime thanks to a goal from former Olympiques star Alexis Gendron in the extra frame. Gendron, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, had three points (2G-1A) which represented his sixth multi-point outing in eight games with the Voltigeurs this season. Gendron is up to an impressive 15 points (9G-6A) in eight games with his new club. Meanwhile, Buffalo Sabres prospect Vsevolod Komarov extended his point streak to nine games (3G-12A over that stretch), while Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Ethan Gauthier now has points in 15 straight games (14G-9A over that stretch). This week, Komarov, Gauthier, and Gendron along with the rest of the Voltigeurs will look to keep up their strong play when they face the No.2-ranked Drakkar, Mooseheads, and Tigres.
Games this week: vs. Baie-Comeau (Feb. 1), vs. Halifax (Feb. 2), @ Victoriaville (Feb. 4)
6. Portland Winterhawks (WHL): Winners of eight of their last 10 games, having strung together four victories in a row, the Winterhawks (31-11-2-1) are sixth after jumping up three spots in the latest rankings. Portland won all three of its games last week and they now find themselves in first place in the WHL’s Western Conference, having leapfrogged No. 7-ranked Prince George in the standings. The Winterhawks are also averaging 4.64 goals per game, which continues to be the best mark in the WHL. With five points (1G-4A) in three games over the last week, San Jose Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni leads all WHL defencemen with 59 points (10G-49A) this season and ranks third among blueliners in the CHL. Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson extended his point streak to seven games (3G-6A over that stretch), having collected a point in all six games he’s played with the Winterhawks since they acquired him from the Wheat Kings. Meanwhile, defenceman Tyson Jugnauth continued his strong play, collecting four points (1G-3A) over Portland’s three wins last week. Jugnauth, who came to the Winterhawks from the NCAA’s University of Wisconsin in December, is averaging a point per game with his new club (18 points in 18 WHL games). 20-year-old Gabe Klassen registered three points (2G-1A) last week as he continues to rank among the WHL’s Top-5 scoring leaders with 76 points this season. This week, Portland will welcome Kelowna to Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a pair of games, before they face Seattle on the road and Tri-City back at home this weekend.
Games this week: vs. Kelowna (Jan. 31), vs. Kelowna (Feb. 2), @ Seattle (Feb. 3), vs. Tri-City (Feb. 4)
7. Prince George Cougars (WHL): With only four wins over their last 10 games (4-4-0-2), the Cougars (31-14-0-2) find themselves outside the Top-5 for the first time since October. Over the last week, Prince George lost two of its three games, falling to Spokane (4-3) and Wenatchee (5-4 SO) while netting their lone victory against the Americans (3-2). Despite their struggles last week and over their last 10 contests, the Cougars continue to rank among the top three clubs in the WHL’s overall standings. With a goal and two assists against the Wild on Sunday, Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt made franchise history, as he broke the Cougars’ all-time franchise record for assists (previously 168) and points (previously 242) in the same game. Heidt has now tallied 169 assists and 243 points in his career with Prince George. Meanwhile, Zac Funk tallied his CHL-leading 43rd goal of the season in the Cougars’ victory against the Americans, while 2024 NHL Draft prospect Terik Parascak collected a point in all three of Prince George’s contests last week. Parascak has points in 18 of his last 20 games (6G-20A over that stretch). With 28 goals and 66 points through 47 games this season, Parascak continues to lead all rookies across the CHL in both of those categories. This week, the Cougars will look to bounce back as they travel for games in Seattle and Vancouver before coming home to face the Blazers on Sunday.
Games this week: @ Seattle (Jan. 30), @ Vancouver (Feb. 2), vs. Kamloops (Feb. 4)
8. Everett Silvertips (WHL): With points in nine of their last 10 games (8-1-0-1), having collected eight wins over that stretch, the Silvertips (30-15-1-2) slipped a spot to fall to No. 8 this week. Everett is just one of four teams in the WHL to win 30 games this season and achieved the feat by defeating Kelowna 4-3 on Wednesday. The Silvertips’ only other game last week came against the Thunderbirds in Seattle, where despite outshooting their opponent 63-22, Everett fell 3-1. During the loss, 2024 NHL Draft prospect Julius Miettinen picked up an assist on the Silvertips’ lone goal. Miettinen has points in eight of his last nine games with a total of 16 points (8G-8A) over that stretch. At the same time, 17-year-old Carter Bear recorded the game-winner against the Rockets, which is all part of his current eight-game point streak (5G-6A over that stretch). Although he was held pointless against Seattle, which effectively snapped an eight-game point streak, Vegas Golden Knights prospect Ben Hemmerling has registered a point in 15 of his last 18 games. Over that time, Hemmerling has put together 10 multi-point outings and accrued 34 points (11G-23A) – which ranks as the second-most of any skater in the WHL since December 8. This week, the Silvertips will start on the road in Spokane and Tri-City, before rounding out a five-game schedule with games against the Chiefs, Giants, and Wild.
Games this week: @ Spokane (Jan. 30), @ Tri-City (Jan. 31), vs. Spokane (Feb. 2), @ Vancouver (Feb. 3), vs. Wenatchee (Feb. 4)
9. Soo Greyhounds (OHL): Having been absent from the rankings over the last couple of weeks, the Greyhounds (31-12-2-1) have found their way back into the CHL’s Top 10 thanks in part to their current five-game winning streak. The Greyhounds now have 31 wins on the campaign, trailing only Saginaw (32) for the OHL lead, while their .707 point percentage ranks third in the OHL. Over their five-game winning streak, the Soo have given up two goals or fewer over that stretch of contests all while averaging 5.6 goals per game. The Greyhounds enjoyed a big boost as they welcomed back their captain and New York Rangers prospect Bryce McConnell-Barker to their lineup. After tallying an assist in his first game back from an injury on Friday, McConnell-Barker tallied the overtime winner against Sarnia to secure the Soo’s fifth win in a row. Meanwhile, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Gavin Hayes has enjoyed plenty of success with his new club. Since being acquired from the Flint Firebirds, Hayes has totaled seven goals and 13 points in seven games with the Greyhounds. He has also registered points in six of those contests, including five multi-point efforts. This week, the Greyhounds will no doubt need McConnell-Barker, Hayes, and the rest of their lineup to be at their best when they travel to Saginaw for a showdown against the No. 3-ranked Spirit on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. The latter is a contest that fans can watch for free on CHL TV as part of the CHL Game of the Week.
Games this week: @ Saginaw (Jan. 31), vs. Mississauga (Feb. 2)
10. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL): With only one game on the schedule this week, the Huskies (30-11-1-4) remain in tenth, having defeated Rimouski 5-3 on home ice on Saturday. With that victory at Glencore Arena, the Huskies continue to impress at home this season, holding a 16-2-0-4 record in Rouyn-Noranda. The Huskies have also earned a point in three straight games (2-0-0-1) and secured six wins over their last 10 contests. Forward Antonin Verreault has put together an impressive month of January, having tallied 17 points in 10 contests so far this month. Verreault has also registered points in seven of those games, including five multi-point outings as he continues to lead the QMJHL with 73 points. Meanwhile, in the Huskies’ one contest, Arizona Coyotes prospect Jérémy Langlois tallied a pair of assists to bring his season total to 42 points – one point shy of Drummondville’s Vsevolod Komarov for the QMJHL lead among defencemen. Additionally, Seattle Kraken prospect Andrei Loshko tallied his seventh goal of the month, to bring his total to 19 goals on the campaign. The Huskies, who have only fallen out of the CHL Top-10 rankings just once this season, will look to maintain their place among this list of CHL clubs when they face the Cataractes, Armada, Tigres, and Phoenix this week.
Games this week: vs. Shawinigan (Jan. 30), @ Blainville-Boisbriand (Feb. 1), @ Victoriaville (Feb. 2), @ Sherbrooke (Feb. 4)
