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WHL Prince George Cougars

Cougars Ranked #1 in CHL Top-10: 2023-24 CHL Top-10 Rankings: Week 23

March 12, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today the Week 23 edition of its CHL Top 10 Rankings for the 2023-24 season.

For the first time since week nine, and only the second time all season, the WHL's Prince George Cougars occupy the no. 1 spot. A pair of OHL clubs rank second and third in the Saginaw Spirit and London Knights respectively while last week's top-ranked team, the QMJHL's Baie-Comeau Drakkar, drop to no. 4.

The next rankings will be released the week of March 19 following the 24th week of regular season action in all three member leagues of the CHL.

CHL Top-10 Rankings - Week 23

1. Prince George Cougars (WHL): With a pair of wins against Vancouver last week, the Cougars (43-15-4) move to no. 1 for the first time in 14 weeks. On March 8, Terik Parascak had five points (2G, 3A) while Zac Funk (WSH) scored his 60th goal of the season in a 5-3 win over the Giants. A day later, Funk and Ondrej Becher each had three points (2G, 1A) in a 6-3 victory that pushed the Cougars' streak to 11-0-2. Prince George's 43 wins are tied for the most in the WHL's Western Conference and are the second most in the league.

Games this week: @ Kelowna (March 13), @ Victoria (March 15), @ Victoria (March 16), @ Vancouver (March 17)

2. Saginaw Spirit (OHL): In three games last week, the Spirit (46-15-2) collected five of a possible six points to move up to the no. 2 spot, their highest ranking all season. On March 6, they fell 3-2 in overtime to rivals Flint but on March 8 took down Kingston 7-2 behind an Alex Christopoulos hat-trick. The next night, Andrew Oke made 22 saves in a 6-0 decision over Guelph, a win that earned Saginaw a franchise record 46th victory of the season. The Spirit, who are 6-0-1 in their last seven games, leads the OHL in wins while their .746 winning percentage is tied for the league lead.

Games this week: @ Guelph (March 15), @ Erie (March 16

3. London Knights (OHL): London (45-14-4) won two of its three games as they moved up a spot to no.3, their best placement since Week 19. Their week began with a 5-4 loss to Guelph on March 8 while they rebounded for a 6-1 win over Sarnia 48 hours later thanks to two goals from Ruslan Gazizov. On March 9, they defeated Kitchener 4-1 as Denver Barkey (PHI) and Oliver Bonk (PHI) each had a goal and an assist. The Knights' 45 wins trail only Saginaw in the OHL and marks the fourth time in the last five years Dale Hunter's squad have won at least 45 games.

Games this week: @ Erie (March 13), vs. Sault Ste. Marie (March 15), @ Windsor (March 17)

4. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL): in a trio of games, the Drakkar (49-11-3) collected a single win last week. The Drakkar defeated Drummondville 4-2 March 6 as Louis-Charles Plourde buried the game-winner before they suffered back-to-back losses to Chicoutimi in a home-and-home series over the weekend. Nonetheless, Baie-Comeau's 49 wins and 101 points lead the CHL.

Games this week: vs. Quebec (March 13), @ Quebec (March 16), @ Sherbrooke (March 17)

5. Saskatoon Blades (WHL): a pair of home wins meant the Blades (45-12-5) stand pat in Week 23 of the CHL Top 10. On March 8 Egor Sidorov (ANA) had the game-winner in a 3-1 win against Medicine Hat before Brandon Lisowsky (TOR) scored on a penalty shot in overtime a day later to beat Edmonton 2-1. Saskatoon's 46 wins leads all WHL clubs and are tied for the eighth most in a single season in team history.

Games this week: vs. Brandon (March 12), vs. Moose Jaw (March 15), @ Moose Jaw (March 16)

6. Portland Winterhawks (WHL): in two games, the Winterhawks (43-15-3) scored 13 goals in a pair of victories to move to no. 7. On March 6 they collected a 6-4 road win over Kamloops as James Stefan scored twice. On March 9 they took down Wenatchee 7-1 as captain Gabe Klassen passed the 100-point mark after a three-point (1G, 2A) outing. Portland's 43 wins are tied with Prince George for the WHL Western Conference lead but the Winterhawks hold a slight edge with a .730 winning percentage.

Games this week: @ Spokane (March 12) vs. Tri-City (March 15), @ Wenatchee (March 16), @ Seattle (March 17)

7. Everett Silvertips (WHL): thanks to a home-and-home sweep against Victoria, the Silvertips (41-18-5) moved up a spot to no. 8. Ben Hemmerling (VGK) and Julius Miettinen had three points (1G, 2A) each March 8 in a 4-1 home win while Dominik Rymon tallied four points (2G, 2A) in a 6-2 road victory a night later. Everett's 41 wins are the fourth most in the WHL.

Games this week: vs. Kelowna (March 15), @ Kelowna (March 16)

8. Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL): the Voltigeurs (42-14-6) were victorious in one of its three games as they fell two spots in Week 23. After defeats to Baie-Comeau and Victoriaville, the Volts concluded the week with a 7-0 win over the Tigres as Riley Mercer made 32 saves and Sam Oliver scored twice. Drummondville's .726 winning percentage leads the QMJHL's Western Conference.

Games this week: vs. Val-d'Or (March 13), @ Blainville-Boisbriand (March 15), vs. Rimouski (March 16)

9. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL): the Huskies (42-15-5) won two of three contests last week as they remain at no. 9. Thomas Verdon had a hat-trick March 6 in an 8-6 win over Val-d'Or before they saw a 2-0 lead disappear in a 3-2 defeat to Sherbrooke on March 9. However, they beat Shawinigan 4-0 a day later as William Rousseau made 30 saves to collect his QMJHL record-breaking eighth shutout of the season. The Huskies' 42 wins are tied with Drummondville for the QMJHL's Western Conference lead.

Games this week: @ Victoriaville (March 13), @ Shawinigan (March 14), @ Gatineau (March 16)

10. Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL): after collecting three of a possible four points, Moose Jaw (41-19-3) sit tight at no. 10. They doubled up Regina 6-3 on March 8 behind Matthew Savoie's (BUF) three-point (2G, 1A) showing) while they suffered a 3-2 shootout loss to Lethbridge 24 hours later that extended their streak to 7-0-1. The Warriors' 41 wins are the fourth most in the WHL this year.

Games this week: @ Saskatoon (March 15), vs. Saskatoon (March 16), @ Regina (March 17)

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