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Blades Returned to Top Spot of CHL Top 10

By Les Lazaruk Jan 30, 2024 | 9:41 PM

After a one-week dip to second place last week, the Saskatoon Blades are back in the top spot of the C-H-L’s weekly Top 10 rankings.

News releases from the Bridge City Bunch and the C-H-L follow below. The Blue and Gold return to Wednesday when they they welcome Regina to SaskTel Centre…..

CHL Top-10 Rankings: Saskatoon is back at No.1, while Saginaw cracks the Top-3 for the first time this season

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024

TORONTO, ON — The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today the Week 17 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2023-24 season.

For the second time in three weeks, the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) find themselves in the top spot. Dating back to November 24, the Blades have earned a point in 23 of their last 24 games, with 18 victories over that stretch. In second place, we find the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), who continue to hold the highest point percentage (.830) in the CHL. Meanwhile, the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) have cracked the top three for the first time this season, as they jump up to No. 3. Powered by a seven-game winning streak, the Spirit and 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow hosts now lead the OHL with 32 wins, and their 28 victories in 33 games since November 3 are the most of any club in the CHL.

Among some of the notable risers in this week’s rankings were the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL, who find themselves in fifth after notching points in 14 straight games (13-0-1-0). Right behind them at No.6 is the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, who climbed into first place in the WHL’s Western Conference thanks to three straight wins last week. Additionally, amid a current five-game winning streak, the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL are back in the CHL Top-10 rankings at No. 9 after a two-week absence.

The next rankings will be released the week of February 5, following the 18th week of regular season action in all three member leagues of the CHL.

CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 17
1. Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
2. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
3. Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
4. London Knights (OHL)
5. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
6. Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
7. Prince George Cougars (WHL)
8. Everett Silvertips (WHL)
9. Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
10. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)

For information and details about each club ranked in the CHL’s latest Top-10 Rankings, please visit chl.ca/video/2023-24-chl-top-10-rankings-week-17.

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Jan. 30th: Blades ranked top team in the country

 

Saskatoon, SK – The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced the Saskatoon Blades have topped the Week 17 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings.

 

For the second time in three weeks, the Blue and Gold find themselves in the top spot. Saskatoon’s earned a point in 23 of their last 24 games, with 18 victories over that stretch. The Blades 33 wins and 2.59 goals allowed per game average rank second in the CHL behind only the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL.

 

Over the last week, the Blades won two of their three games, both coming at home to improve their record at SaskTel Centre to 18-1-1-0. Great production continued out of Toronto Maple Leafs’ draft pick Brandon Lisowsky, who collected three points (2G-1A) in those three outings. The Port Coquitlam, BC product has points in 18 of his last 20 games. Fellow Leafs’ property Fraser Minten registered three points (2G-1A) last week, highlighted by a great individual effort to score the overtime winner against the Swift Current Broncos on Sunday. The 19-year-old center has registered a point in 12-of-15 games with the Blades this season. Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk has put together a strong couple of weeks, scoring 11 points (2G, 9A) over his last ten games.

 

Saskatoon continues their seven-game homestand with games against the Regina Pats, the Medicine Hat Tigers, and the Brandon Wheat Kings.

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

 

·    Saskatoon Blades vs Regina Pats – Wednesday, January 31st at 7:00pm

·    Saskatoon Blades vs Medicine Hat Tigers – Friday, February 2nd at 7:00pm

·    Saskatoon Blades vs Brandon Wheat Kings – Sunday, February 4th at 4:00pm