SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals have made a big jump in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top-20 rankings.
The Caps went from the 12th-ranked team in the country to No. 7 in the latest rankings released Monday. It is the highest the Caps have been ranked this season.
The Capitals are off to a 21-3-1 (won-lost-overtime losses) start and hold a 10-point lead over the Yarmouth Mariners (15-8-3) in the Maritime Junior Hockey League’s overall standings and are 11 points ahead of the Edmundston Blizzard (15-6-2) in the Eastlink North Division.
The Capitals had a 13-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night as the Fredericton Red Wings pulled out a 5-4 win in a 15-round shootout at Eastlink Arena in Summerside.
Top-ranked team
The Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) remain the top-ranked team. Brooks is off to a 27-1-1 start to the 2019-20 regular season.
College Francais de Longueuil of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League remains at No. 2 in the national rankings while sporting a solid record of 21-1-1.
The AJHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders (25-2-0) hold down this week’s No. 3 spot while the Battlefords North Stars (26-3-4) of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The North Stars have won eight of 10 games.
The Carleton Place Canadians (27-3-3) of the Central Canada Hockey League, coming off a 10-0-1 November, round out the top five.
The Capitals, who were the only Maritime Junior Hockey League team ranked, are back in action on Saturday night as they pay a return visit to the Red Wings (12-9-1) and move on to Edmundston to face the Blizzard on Sunday afternoon.
The Capitals’ next home game is Saturday, Dec. 14, against the Miramichi Timberwolves (7-14-4).
- RELATED:
- Click here for story on Saturday's game between Western Capitals and Fredericton Red Wings:
- Click here for story on Thursdays game between Western Capitals and Grand Falls Rapids:
- Click here for feature story on Western Capitals forward Bennett MacArthur:
- Click here for story on last week's Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings:
Rankings
This week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League’s top-20 rankings:
(Last week’s ranking in parenthesis)
1. Brooks Bandits (1), Alberta Junior Hockey League.
2. College Francais de Longueuil (2), Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League.
3. Sherwood Park Crusaders (3), Alberta Junior Hockey League.
4. Battlefords North Stars (4), Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
5. Carleton Place Canadians (6), Central Canada Junior Hockey League.
6. Powassan Voodoos (5), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
7. Summerside Western Capitals (12), Maritime Junior Hockey League.
8. Wellington Dukes (7), Ontario Junior Hockey League.
9. Toronto Patriots (10), Ontario Junior Hockey League.
10. Okotoks Oilers (8), Alberta Junior Hockey League.
11. Coquitlam Express (9), British Columbia Junior Hockey League.
12. Brockville Braves (16), Central Canada Junior Hockey League.
13. Steinbach Pistons (15), Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
14. Braves de Valleyfield (13), Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League.
15. Spruce Grove Saints (14), Alberta Junior Hockey League.
16. Oakville Blades (18), Ontario Junior Hockey League.
17. Penticton Vees (17), British Columbia Junior Hockey League.
18. Portage Terriers (HM), Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
19. Timmins Rock (11), Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
20. Thunder Bay North Stars (20), Superior International Junior Hockey League.
