2023-24 CHL Top-10 Rankings: Week 20
The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today the Week 20 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2023-24 season.
After another perfect week the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) hold the top spot in the CHL rankings for a fourth week in a row. The Blades have outscored their opponents 57-26 over their current 13-0-1 run. Back in second this week is the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Drakkar continue to lead the CHL in wins with 43. Sliding a spot this week to third is the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who had their CHL-best point streak halted at 23 games.
A pair of different clubs join the CHL Top 10 Rankings this week. For the first time since week 13 the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL climb back into the rankings after a shootout win over Baie-Comeau extended their win streak to five. Meanwhile the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL make their first appearance of the season following a perfect 4-0-0 week that culminated with a win over the Moose Jaw Warriors.
The next rankings will be released the week of February 26, following the 21st week of regular season action in all three member leagues of the CHL.
CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 20
1. Saskatoon Blades (WHL): The Blades (42-9-2-3) hit the road for a three game set this past week winning all three game games and extending their win streak to 11-games. The Blades needed overtime against Lethbridge (1-0) and Medicine Hat (4-3) before finishing the week against Brandon (5-2). Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brandon Lisowsky led the way for the Blades with six points (3G, 3A) over the three games. Meanwhile, Washington Capitals prospect Alexander Suzdalev had his most productive weekend in a Blades jersey since the start of January with three goals and an assist. The tandem of Evan Gardner (2W, 1SO) and Austin Elliott (1W) continues to be one of the strongest across the entire CHL. The Blades will look to become the first WHL team to hit 90 points when they host Brandon on Friday.
Game this week: vs. Brandon (Feb. 23)
2. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL): The Drakkar (43-8-2-1) climb one spot this week after an strong defensive showing in their two games last week earning three of four possible points. Rookie Lucas Beckman earned his second career shutout in just his fourth start in a 3-0 win over Shawinigan and Charles-Edward Gravel stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Victoriaville on the road. Up front the Boilard brothers continue to impress in their first season in the QMJHL. Older brother Jules posted his 12th multi point game of the season whereas younger brother Raoul had his 14th multi point game keeping the NHL Draft prospect at a point-per-game this season. This week the Drakkar aim to turn the table on the Tigres when they host them and Rimouski for a pair.
Games this week: vs. Victoriaville (Feb. 22), vs. Rimouski (Feb. 24), vs. Rimouski (Feb. 25)
3. London Knights (OHL): The OHL leading London Knights (40-12-0-3) dropped a spot this week after losing in regulation, to the Soo Greyhounds (8-2), for the first time since Dec. 10 (also against the Greyhounds). The Knights rebounded and picked up wins against Owen Sound (5-2) and Windsor (7-2) to become the first OHL team to hit the 40-win mark this season. Leading the way last week for the Knights was Max McCue with six points (2G, 4A) bringing the overager above a point-per-game with 50 points in 49 games. A trio of players had five point weeks including Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan (2G, 3A) who extended his CHL leading active point streak to 24 games. Ruslan Gazizov is heating up at the right time (4G, 1A). The third-year forward scored his second hat-trick of the season both coming in the last two weeks. Draft eligible defenceman Sam Dickinson also extended his career high point streak to eight-games (2G, 3A). The Knights hit the road East this week to face the Frontenacs and 67’s for the final time this season.
Games this week: @ Kingston (Feb. 23), @ Ottawa (Feb. 24)
4. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL): After another trio of victories the Voltigeurs (39-10-4-1) extended their win streak to 7-games last week and climbed one spot to fourth this week. With wins against Val-d’Or (2-0), Sherbrooke (3-1) and Shawinigan (3-2) the Volts are now 28-2-0 over their last 30 games dating back to Nov. 26. A dangerously balanced attack was on display again last week with Justin Côté, Mikael Diotte Peter Repcik and Noah Reinhart all scoring a pair of goals. The Volts lead the QMJHL with 241 goals for and their 142 goals against is third best in the CHL behind Saskatoon (135) and Baie-Comeau (133). This week the Voltigeurs face Shawinigan, Saint John and Rouyn-Noranda for the final times this season as they look to lock up top spot in the QMJHL’s Western Conference.
Games this week: @ Shawinigan (Feb. 23), vs. Saint John (Feb. 24), vs. Rouyn-Noranda (Feb. 25)
5. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): The Spirit (39-14-0-1) hit the road for the OHL’s northern swing last week coming away with a 2-1-0 record. With stops in Barrie (7-6), Sudbury (3-6) and North Bay (5-3) the Spirit saw defenceman Zayne Parekh break another franchise record this time setting the single season points record for a defender, now at 79 points. But, it was another defenceman, Anaheim prospect Rodwin Dionicio that led the way for the Spirit earning OHL player of the week honours with 9 points (3G, 6A) over three games. Owen Beck continues to impress with the Spirit. The Montreal prospect had six points (3G, 3A) giving him 12 goals and 30 points in 18 games with the Spirit. This week the Spirit welcome the Firebirds, Battalion and Bulldogs as they look to close the four point gap on the first place Knights.
Games this week: vs. Flint (Feb. 21), vs. North Bay (Feb. 23), vs. Brantford (Feb. 24)
6. Prince George Cougars (WHL): The Cougars (38-15-0-3) climb a spot in the rankings this week after earning seven of a possible eight points. The WHL’s Western Conference leading Cougars out scored their opponents 21-5 over four games. The Cougars split a home and home with Kamloops a 7-1 at home and a 2-1 shootout loss on the road, then took a pair from Seattle (8-1, 5-1). Overager Zac Funk (4G, 5A) became the first CHL player to hit 50 goals last week and currently sits tied for the CHL scoring lead with teammate and Minnesota prospect Riley Heidt (4G, 4A) at 95 points. The Cougars, hope to hit the 40 win mark this week when they hit the road for another matchup against Kamloops and one against Kelowna.
Games this week: @ Kamloops (Feb. 23), @ Kelowna (Feb. 24)
7. Portland Winterhawks (WHL): The Winterhawks (37-14-2-1) drop a spot this week after going 2-2-0 last week. Portland started the week with a drubbing of Everett (10-2) where Jack O’Brien (3G, 2A) and Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson (1G, 4A) both had five point nights. Then the Hawks split a home and home with Vancouver (1-3, 8-3) and finished the week getting shutout by Everett (4-0). Portland sits one point behind Everett for first in the U.S. Division but have five games in hand. The Winterhawks hit the road this week for a pair of games against a Victoria team that’s trying to secure home ice in the first round of the playoffs.
Games this week: @ Victoria (Feb. 23), @ Victoria (Feb. 24)
8. Everett Silvertips (WHL): The Silvertips (37-18-2-2) hold steady this week after earning five of a possible eight points. On the road to start the week the Tips fell to the Winterhawks (10-2) then bounced back against Wenatchee (7-1). After failing to close it out against Seattle (4-3 OTL) the Silvertips saved their best game of the week for Sunday once again against Portland (4-0) where Tyler Palmer earned his first shutout of the season. The Silvertips will get a chance to catch their breath this week with just one game against Seattle.
Game this week: @ Seattle (Feb. 24)
9. Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL): Now riding a five-game win streak, thanks to a pair of victories last week, the Tigres make it back into the Top 10 Rankings for the first time since week 13. The team’s strength continues to be from the crease out with Nathan Darveau and Gabriel D’Aigle allowing just five goals over their last five games. Last week after D’Aigle shutout Val-d’Or (3-0), Darveau shutdown Baie-Comeau earning the shootout win (2-1). No rest for the Tigres as they’re right back at it against the QMJHL leading Drakkar this week followed by games in Chicoutimi and Shawinigan.
Games this week: @ Baie-Comeau (Feb. 22), @ Chicoutimi (Feb. 23), @ Shawinigan (Feb. 25)
10. Swift Current Broncos (WHL): The Broncos (30-19-4-2) make their season debut in the CHL Top 10 Rankings this week buoyed by a 4-0-0-0 run last week. The Broncos out scored the opposition 22-7 with wins over Lethbridge (4-1), Regina (7-2, 6-2) and Moose Jaw (5-2). Arizona prospect Conor Geekie led the way with nine points (1G, 8A) including a four assist game against his former running mate Matt Savoie and his Moose Jaw Warriors on Sunday. The Broncos are now 8–1-1-0 in their last 10 games and sit just four points back of Moose Jaw for third in the Eastern Conference. It’s a big week ahead for the Broncos as they face the second place Medicine Hat Tigers twice.
Games this week: vs. Medicine Hat (Feb. 23), @ Medicine Hat (Feb. 24)
