Weekly Rankings

Every week the Canadian Junior Hockey League releases their list of ranked teams. The top twenty list is a collaborative effort between the CJHL and NHL Central Scouting.

The rankings are based upon a variety of factors which includes the league in which the teams belong to, this season's results in regular season, last season's playoffs, as well as initial recruiting efforts for the upcoming season. Last year's final rankings and the leagues in which the teams belong to are in parenthesis.

Here is the inaugural rankings for the 2012-13 season released Monday September 24, 2012.

1. (1) Penticton Vees (BCHL)
2. (11) Brooks Bandits (AJHL)
3. (HM) Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners (MHL)
4. (3) Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
5. (12) Newmarket Hurricanes (OJHL)
6. (NR) Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)
7. (9) Portage Terriers (MJHL)
8. (NR) Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
9. (NR) Sudbury Nickel Barons (NOJHL)
10. (NR) Flin Flon Bombers (SJHL)
11. (NR) Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
12. (NR) Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
13. (NR) Dryden Ice Dogs (SIJHL)
14. (NR) Pembroke Lumber Kings (CCHL)
15. (NR) Winnipeg Blues (MJHL)
16. (NR) Truro Bearcats (MHL)
17. (NR) College Francais de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ)
18. (NR) Carlton Place Canadians (CCHL)
19. (NR) Oakville Blades (OJHL)

Honourable mention goes to the Canmore Eagles (AJHL), Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL), OCN Blizzard (MJHL), North Bay Trappers (NOJHL) Toronto Lakeshore Patriots (OJHL).

I'm not entirely sure why they only have 19 teams in the top twenty list so I offer up the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) in that available slot after starting the season with a record of 3-0-1-1 to sit in top spot in the Mainland Division and tied for third in the British Columbia Hockey League. Undefeated through regulation time, the Spruce Kings also picked up a big win over the Penticton Vees ... number one ranked team ... and that's good for some bonus points.