WINNIPEG STILL CHL’S #1 TEAM
Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 12
1. Winnipeg ICE
2. Edmonton Oil Kings
3. Kingston Frontenacs
4. Charlottetown Islanders
5. Everett Silvertips
6. Quebec Remparts
7. Kamloops Blazers
8. Sherbrooke Phoenix
9. Mississauga Steelheads
10. Guelph Storm
HM. Seattle Thunderbirds
HM. Gatineau Olympiques
HM. Barrie Colts
The Winnipeg ICE remain a favourite to achieve national supremacy. Leading the circuit for the eighth week running, the Manitoba capital club closed out the past week with four of six points highlighted by a 6-0 road triumph over Saskatoon in which four Winnipeg skaters finished with multi-point efforts including rookie centre Matthew Savoie. A projected early round selection in the upcoming NHL Draft, the winter break sees Savoie atop the WHL scoring race with 50 points counting 17 goals and 33 goals through 31 appearances.
With a CHL-leading five players away from the club as they prepare for the upcoming World Juniors – a group which includes leading scorer Jakub Demek (Vegas Golden Knights) and starting goaltender Sebastian Cossa (Detroit Red Wings) – the Edmonton Oil Kings more than held down the fort in their absence in coming away with three straight victories highlighted by a 3-2 overtime thriller versus Swift Current that saw Chicago Blackhawks draftee Jalen Luypen play the hero and help his squad climb within four points of Winnipeg for top spot in the WHL.
Coming in at No. 5, the Everett Silvertips are on the rebound after coming away with four of six points, culminating the week with a big 7-2 victory versus Spokane in which rookie right-wing and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Niko Huuhtanen impressed with a four-point effort. Meanwhile, the week also saw netminder Braden Holt shine Saturday against Seattle as he turned aside a season high of 49 shots to secure the victory. Entering the break, the Silvertips hold down top spot in the WHL’s Western Conference with a 21-6-2-1 showing and 45 points.
Rounding out recognition from the WHL, the seventh-place Kamloops Blazers came away with a lone victory on the week, topping Victoria 3-0, where three different skaters provided the offense including NHL prospects Viktor Persson (Vancouver Canucks) and Josh Pillar (Minnesota Wild). Entering the break, the Blazers stand atop the WHL’s B.C. Division with a 19-8-0-0 record and 38 points, while the coming week will see fans turn their attention to the national stage where netminder Dylan Garand (New York Rangers) is set to star for Canada at the World Juniors.
In the honourable mention category, the Seattle Thunderbirds continue to surge, finding points in nine of their past 10 outings including a 5-2 win over fifth-ranked Everett that saw five different skaters find the back of the net including Dallas Stars draftee Connor Roulette who now sits just one back of fellow forward and 2022 NHL Draft hopeful Jordan Gustafson for top spot in team scoring.
