2025-26 CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott: Week 17

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) today unveiled its Week 17 edition of the CHL Top-10 Rankings presented by Delta Hotels by Marriott for the 2025-26 season.

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens (31-6-3-2) held No. 1 for a third straight week on a five-game win streak after sweeping a Maritimes trip (Halifax, Charlottetown, No. 7 Moncton) and improving to 15-1-2-0 over their last 18 since November 30. The Prince Albert Raiders (31-6-4-0) surged three spots to No. 2 after winning three straight – including a statement 8-5 road win that snapped Medicine Hat’s franchise-record 19-game winning streak – while continuing a dominant 14-2-0-0 run dating back to December 6, led by Tempo WHL Player of the Week Daxon Rudolph’s six-point week. At No. 3, the Brantford Bulldogs (30-7-5-1) stayed steady after taking five of six points, setting a franchise mark for the fastest to 30 wins, and extending their post-World Juniors momentum into a six-game point streak (5-0-1-0) with Marek Vanacker hitting 30 goals and Caleb Malhotra remaining among the OHL’s scoring leaders.

This week’s biggest movers were led by a pair of WHL surges and an OHL debutant. The Medicine Hat Tigers (31-7-3-2) climbed to a season-best No. 5 after extending their franchise-record win streak to 19 with back-to-back wins over No. 6 Edmonton before it was halted by No. 2 Prince Albert, yet they still boast a sizzling 21-1-1-1 run over their last 24 behind Markus Ruck, Jonas Woo, and CHL co-goals leader Bryce Pickford (33). The Penticton Vees (26-9-4-3) rose to No. 9 by pushing their winning streak to 11 and improving to 15-1-1-0 since early December, driven by Jacob Kvasnicka’s points in 10 of his last 11 and Ryden Evers’ overtime winner. And at No. 10, the Barrie Colts (28-10-2-4) made their first appearance of the season on the back of the OHL’s longest active point streak (9-0-1-0) and a perfect week, powered by Cole Beaudoin, Kashawn Aitcheson, and Emil Hemming, who each recorded five points.

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 the OHL and QMJHL, while Victory+ offers free access to every WHL game along with playoffs and more.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 17

1. Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL): Riding a five-game win streak and fresh off three straight road victories, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens (31-6-3-2) hold the No. 1 spot for a third consecutive week after an eye-opening trip through the Maritimes that saw them edge Halifax (5-4 OT), handle Charlottetown (5-2), and outgun No. 7 Moncton (7-4) — a Wildcats club that has been among the CHL’s hottest teams. Since November 30, Chicoutimi has been nearly untouchable, going 15-1-2-0 over its last 18 games, with Thomas Desruisseaux (14G-31A in 36 GP) leading the way last week with six points (2G-4A) and points in 15 of his past 16 outings. Emmanuel Vermette (21G-24A in 42 GP) continued to heat up as well, scoring in four of his last five games and starring in Moncton with a four-point effort (1G-3A), while Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxim Massé (33G-28A in 41 GP) added two goals over the week and now shares the CHL lead with 33 on the season. Chicoutimi returns home this week to welcome Val-d’Or before a rematch with No. 7 Moncton, which will be looking for a measure of revenge after last weekend’s statement win.

Games this week: vs. Val-d’Or (Jan. 23), vs. Moncton (Jan. 24)

2. Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): Fuelled by a three-game winning streak capped by a statement 8-5 road triumph over the No. 5-ranked Medicine Hat Tigers, the Prince Albert Raiders (31-6-4-0) surged three spots to No. 2 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, matching their season-best placement for the second time — and first since November 18. Winners of 14 of their last 16 games dating back to December 6 (14-2-0-0), the Raiders have been rolling, and last week they backed it up by taking care of the Brandon Wheat Kings (5-2) at home before road wins over the Lethbridge Hurricanes (3-1) and Medicine Hat, a result that snapped the Tigers’ franchise-record win streak as the Raiders became the first team in 20 games to hand them a loss. Leading a balanced Prince Albert attack that saw five skaters record six points on the week, 2026 NHL Draft-eligible defenceman Daxon Rudolph (20G-28A in 41 GP) earned Tempo WHL Player of the Week honours after posting six points (2G-4A) in three games. He also extended his remarkable run to points in 16 of his last 17 outings, highlighted by 12 multi-point performances. Ranked sixth among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings, Rudolph paces Prince Albert in scoring with 48 points, sits fourth among WHL blueliners, and his 20 goals rank third at the position. The Raiders won’t have long to enjoy the climb, with a busy five-day stretch ahead against Victoria, Moose Jaw, Swift Current, and a rematch with No. 5 Medicine Hat.

Games this week: vs. Victoria (Jan. 20), @ Moose Jaw (Jan. 22), @ Swift Current (Jan. 23), vs. Medicine Hat (Jan. 24)

3. Brantford Bulldogs (OHL): After collecting five of a possible six points last week, the Brantford Bulldogs (30-7-5-1) held steady at No. 3 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, opening with a 4-3 home win over Peterborough before rolling past Kingston 5-2 in Brantford, then settling for a single point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Niagara IceDogs. By reaching 30 wins in just 42 games, the Bulldogs established a new franchise benchmark for the fastest they’ve hit the 30-win mark in a single season, and since returning to full strength following the 2026 World Juniors — with at least five key pieces back in the lineup — Brantford has extended its momentum into a six-game point streak (5-0-1-0). Offensively, Chicago Blackhawks prospect Marek Vanacker (30G-21A in 36 GP) paced the way with five points (1G-4A), reaching 30 goals to become one of only nine CHL skaters to hit that plateau in 2025-26, while top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Malhotra (21G-36A in 42 GP) added four points (1G-3A) and continues to rank third in OHL scoring with 57 points. Minnesota Wild prospect Adam Benák (21G-32A in 31 GP) chipped in four points (1G-3A) across two games and sits fifth among OHL scorers, while captain and Seattle Kraken prospect Jake O’Brien (12G-36A in 29 GP) returned Sunday for his first game since December 19 and marked the occasion with his 12th goal of the season. Brantford will look to keep rolling this week on the road in North Bay and Sudbury before returning home Sunday to host the No. 10-ranked Barrie Colts.

Games this week: @ North Bay (Jan. 22), @ Sudbury (Jan. 23), vs. Barrie (Jan. 25)

4. Everett Silvertips (WHL): After winning two of three games last week, the Everett Silvertips (33-6-2-1) slipped a couple of spots to No. 4 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, but their resume remains as strong as anyone’s across the league. Everett earned convincing wins over the Moose Jaw Warriors (8-3) and Vancouver Giants (4-1), with its lone blemish coming in a 4-0 setback to the Spokane Chiefs, who handed the Silvertips a rare home shutout at Angel of the Winds Arena. Still, the Silvertips have gone 7-3-0-0 over their last 10 and continue to pace the CHL in both wins (33) and points percentage (.821) in 2025-26, while maintaining a 14-week run inside the CHL’s top five dating back to early October. Offensively, 20-year-old forward Rylan Gould (12G-15A in 27 GP) led the way with four points (2G-2A) over the three outings, while Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Bear (16G-18A in 28 GP) has carried his momentum from the 2026 World Juniors — where he helped Canada win bronze — into the WHL, recording points in four of his last five games, including three multi-point efforts. The Silvertips will wrap up their six-game homestand this week with matchups against the 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets, the Brandon Wheat Kings, and the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Games this week: vs. Kelowna (Jan. 21), vs. Brandon (Jan. 23), vs. Seattle (Jan. 24)

5. Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): After winning two of three games last week, the Medicine Hat Tigers (31-7-3-2) climbed two spots to a season-best No. 5 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, powered by a franchise-record 19-game winning streak that spanned back-to-back wins over the No. 6-ranked Edmonton Oil Kings. Medicine Hat opened the week with a 3-2 shootout victory in Edmonton before returning home to Co-op Place and earning a decisive 7-3 win, results that pushed their streak to 19 and extended their point run to 23 games before both were snapped Saturday in an 8-5 loss to the No. 2-ranked Prince Albert Raiders — their first defeat in 20 games and first regulation loss since November 8. Even with the setback, the Tigers remain one of the CHL’s hottest clubs at 21-1-1-1 over their last 24, and they’ve now moved up the rankings for the fourth time in five weeks. Offensively, 2026 NHL Draft prospect Markus Ruck (11G-49A in 43 GP) paced the way with five points, including a four-point showing versus Edmonton on Friday, while 19-year-old defenceman Jonas Woo (23G-37A in 36 GP) extended a four-game goal streak and an 18-game point streak — the second-longest active run in the WHL as of Tuesday. Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford (33G-28A in 41 GP) added two more goals to remain tied for the CHL lead with 33, and his total established a modern WHL record (since 1996) for goals by a defenceman in a single season, surpassing the previous mark of 32 shared by Kris Russell (2006-07), Ian White (2001-02), and Olen Zellweger (2022-23). The Tigers will look to rebound this week at home against Calgary tonight before a road swing to Saskatoon and a rematch with No. 2 Prince Albert.

Games this week: vs. Calgary (Jan. 20), @ Saskatoon (Jan. 23), @ Prince Albert (Jan. 24)

6. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): After collecting three points out of a possible six last week (1-1-0-1), the Edmonton Oil Kings (30-8-3-2) slipped two spots to No. 6 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, with both setbacks coming against the surging No. 5 Medicine Hat Tigers. Edmonton dropped a 3-2 shootout decision in the first meeting before falling 7-3 at Co-op Place, but the Oil Kings responded with a spirited 5-4 win over the Tri-City Americans at Rogers Place to close the week. Even with the dip, Edmonton’s form remains strong, having won eight of its last 10 games while earning points in nine of its last 10 outings. Offensively, right winger Lukas Sawchyn (19G-40A in 43 GP) led the way with five assists across three games as his 59 points sit among the WHL’s top-10 scoring leaders and his 40 helpers rank third league-wide in 2025-26. On the back end, recently acquired defenceman Carter Sotheran (7G-37A in 43 GP) has made an immediate impact since arriving from Portland in early January, producing at a point-per-game clip with one goal and six assists in his first six games as an Oil King. Edmonton will look to finish its homestand on a high note this week with matchups against the Regina Pats and Saskatoon Blades as it aims to climb back up the rankings.

Games this week: vs. Regina (Jan. 21), vs. Saskatoon (Jan. 25)

7. Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL): After splitting their two outings last week, the Moncton Wildcats (29-8-2-1) slipped one spot to No. 7 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings, with their lone setback coming in a 7-4 home loss to No. 1 Chicoutimi on Saturday. Moncton answered with a resilient response in its next game, rallying from behind to top the Cape Breton Eagles 3-2 in overtime, sparked by a two-goal performance from Niko Tournas (30G-19A in 40 GP). Despite the ranking dip, the Wildcats remain one of the CHL’s hottest clubs, having gone 23-4-0-1 over their last 28 games since the beginning of November — with the Saguenéens loss marking just their fourth regulation defeat in that span. Tournas continued to drive the offence with two goals versus Chicoutimi and two more against Cape Breton to reach 30 on the season as the sixth QMJHL skater to hit that mark, and since December 11, he’s been scoring at better than a goal-per-game pace with a league-best 13 goals in 12 contests. 19-year-old forward Simon Binkley (15G-21A in 37 GP) also delivered, piling up five assists over the two games while collecting points in four of his last five. This week, Moncton heads on the road to face Baie-Comeau, Québec City, and No. 1 Chicoutimi, where the Wildcats will have a chance to become just the second QMJHL team to reach 30 wins in 2025-26 — and avenge their earlier loss against the CHL’s top-ranked club.

Games this week: @ Baie-Comeau (Jan. 22), @ Chicoutimi (Jan. 24), @ Québec (Jan. 25)

8. Ottawa 67’s (OHL): Riding a five-game winning streak and coming off a perfect 3-0-0-0 week, the Ottawa 67’s (32-9-1-2) held firm at No. 8 for a second straight week in the CHL Top-10 Rankings after a rivalry sweep of the Gatineau Olympiques — a 2-1 win Friday at TD Place followed by a 5-3 victory Saturday at the Slush Puppie Centre — before closing the weekend with a 5-2 home win over the Peterborough Petes. Ottawa has now won seven of its last 10 games (7-2-0-1), and no OHL club has more wins (32) or points (67) in 2025-26. Cooper Foster (21G-24A in 44 GP) led the way with five points (1G-4A) to extend his point streak to seven games, while Finnish forward Jasper Kuhta (21G-18A in 38 GP) stayed hot by recording points in all three victories. Veteran forward and 2024 Memorial Cup champion Nic Sima (12G-15A in 42 GP) delivered his best outing since arriving from Saginaw with three points (2G-1A) against Peterborough, and 2026 NHL Draft prospect Thomas Vandenberg (16G-16A in 35 GP) paced the club with three goals on the week as he climbed to 32 points in 35 games. Ottawa will look to keep control of the OHL standings this week when it continues its eight-game homestand at TD Place against the Oshawa Generals and Saginaw Spirit.

Games this week: vs. Oshawa (Jan. 24), vs. Saginaw (Jan. 25)

9. Penticton Vees (WHL): Winners of 11 straight, the Penticton Vees (26-9-4-3) continued their climb for a second consecutive week, moving up another spot to No. 9 in this week’s CHL Top-10 Rankings after road success in Vancouver and a dramatic home finish back at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The Vees opened the week by doubling up the Giants 4-2 before returning home to edge the Calgary Hitmen 4-3 in overtime, a result that extended a remarkable surge in their first WHL season that has them among just five league clubs with a points percentage north of .700 in 2025-26. Since the start of December, Penticton has gone 15-1-1-0 and earned points in 16 of 17 games, suffering just one regulation loss over that span. New York Islanders prospect Jacob Kvasnicka (23G-32A in 40 GP) rebounded from being held off the scoresheet against Vancouver by posting a goal and an assist versus Calgary, giving him points in 10 of his last 11 games with eight multi-point performances in that stretch, while remaining among the WHL’s top-15 scorers with 55 points and second among rookies. Ryden Evers (25G-27A in 42 GP) sealed the Vees’ 11th straight win with his team-leading 25th goal in overtime and now owns points in five straight while sitting 12th in WHL scoring with 52 points. Penticton faces another busy slate this weekend, welcoming Spokane on Friday before visiting the 2026 Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets on Saturday and returning home Sunday to meet the Red Deer Rebels.

Games this week: vs. Spokane (Jan. 23), @ Kelowna (Jan. 24), vs. Red Deer (Jan. 25)

10. Barrie Colts (OHL): Powered by the OHL’s longest active point streak at 10 games (9-0-1-0), the Barrie Colts (28-10-2-4) have cracked the CHL Top-10 Rankings for the first time in 2025-26, debuting at No. 10 after a perfect week that featured home wins over the previously ranked Flint Firebirds (5-3) and Oshawa Generals (4-2) at Sadlon Arena, followed by a dominant 5-1 road victory in Owen Sound. Since the start of December, Barrie has been one of the OHL’s most consistent clubs at 14-2-1-0 over its last 17 games, with just two regulation losses in that span, and last week’s surge was driven by familiar headliners coming off the 2026 World Juniors: Utah Mammoth prospect Cole Beaudoin (18G-35A in 31 GP), New York Islanders prospect Kashawn Aitcheson (22G-19A in 33 GP), and Dallas Stars prospect Emil Hemming (12G-24A in 24 GP), who each posted a team-high five points. Beaudoin, tied for fifth in OHL scoring, saw a run of five straight multi-point games snapped Sunday, while Aitcheson continued to make history with a goal and four assists as Barrie’s all-time top-scoring defenceman and one of only four CHL blueliners to reach the 20-goal mark this season. Hemming, meanwhile, had been riding a three-game goal streak and seven points over that stretch prior to being held off the scoresheet against the Attack. The Colts will look to keep rolling this week against Niagara and Brampton before a marquee Sunday showdown with the No. 2-ranked Brantford Bulldogs in a matchup of Eastern Conference heavyweights.

Games this week: @ Niagara (Jan. 22), vs. Brampton (Jan. 24), @ Brantford (Jan. 25)