Prince Albert Raiders Rise to Fourth in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings
December 4, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL) News Release
Toronto, Ont. - The Canadian Hockey League today announced the week 12 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2019-20 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL's Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
Moving up to the fourth spot this week were the Prince Albert Raiders. Their weekend consisted of a home-and-home sweep of the Swift Current Broncos. Leading forward Aliaksei Protas (Washington Capitals) recorded five points (1G-4A) in the two games to cap off a strong November that saw him record 23 points (9G-14A) in 13 games. Protas is one of three Eastern Conference forwards currently tied for the WHL scoring lead with 42 points each. Protas will now attend Belarus' camp in advance of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship Division 1A tournament. The Raiders return to action on Friday, December 6 (7:00 p.m. CT) when they host the Kelowna Rockets at the Art Hauser Centre.
Finding their way into sixth place for this week's rankings, the Everett Silvertips earned a 4-0 shutout against the Spokane Chiefs before dropping a 2-1 decision against the Seattle Thunderbirds. For goaltender Dustin Wolf (Calgary Flames), Wednesday's victory was the 15th shutout of his WHL career. With a 13-6-0-0 record, 1.94 goals-against average, 0.940 save percentage, and four shutouts, Wolf leads the league in SV% and shutouts, ranking second in GAA and fourth in wins. The Silvertips return to action on Wednesday, December 4 (7:00 p.m. MT) when they begin a Central Division road trip against the Lethbridge Hurricanes at the ENMAX Centre.
Moving into the ninth position this week were the Medicine Hat Tigers. The Tigers extended their winning streak to five games with a trio of victories over the past week. After a 6-0 win against the Moose Jaw Warriors and 5-3 defeat of the Saskatoon Blades, the Tigers earned an 8-3 win against the Hurricanes Tuesday. Captain James Hamblin posted 24 points (11G-13A) in 12 games throughout the month and was recognized as the WHL McSweeney's Player of the Month for November. The Tigers will face the Hurricanes again on Friday, December 6 (7:00 p.m. MT) at the ENMAX Centre.
Earning honourable mentions this week were the Portland Winterhawks and Edmonton Oil Kings.
With a 7-1-1-1 record in their last 10 games, the Winterhawks have risen to the top spot in the U.S. Division and Western Conference. Goaltender Joel Hofer (St. Louis Blues) posted an 8-2-1-0 record, 1.75 GAA, 0.944 SV%, and one shutout during November to earn WHL Vaughn Goaltender of the Month honours. The Winterhawks complete a four-game road trip when they take on the Prince George Cougars at the CN Centre on Wednesday, December 4 (7:00 p.m. PT).
After completing their B.C. Division road trip, the league-leading Oil Kings won three consecutive games on home ice in a four-day span. Forward Josh Williams led the team through the three-game stretch with six points (2G-4A). In a weekend home-and-home set with the Calgary Hitmen, the Oil Kings will host their annual Teddy Bear Toss game on Saturday, December 7 (7:00 p.m. MT) at Rogers Place.
Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - Week 12
Rank: Team: Last Week Ranked: Total Weeks Ranked:
1 Sherbrooke Phoenix (22-4-2-0) 1 12
2 Moncton Wildcats (21-6-0-0) 2 6
3 Ottawa 67's (20-6-0-0) 7 10
4 Prince Albert Raiders (18-5-3-1) 6 9
5 Chicoutimi Sagueneens (20-5-3-0) 5 12
6 Everett Silvertips (17-6-1-0) 4 6
7 London Knights (17-5-1-1) - 5
8 Windsor Spitfires (15-5-3-0) 3 5
9 Medicine Hat Tigers (19-7-1-0) - 2
10 Peterborough Petes (19-6-1-1) - 4
Honourable Mention:
Portland Winterhawks (17-6-1-2) 9 2
Rimouski Oceanic (17-6-2-3) - 1
Edmonton Oil Kings (18-6-4-2) - 10
Western Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2019
- 2019 Fred Meyer/Wireless Vision Teddy Bear Toss Saturday - Tri-City Americans
- Prince Albert Raiders Rise to Fourth in Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings - WHL
- WHL Announces Five-Game Suspension for Thunderbirds' McNelly - WHL
- Blades List Defenceman Matthew Sanders - Saskatoon Blades
- Blades Add Defenceman Matthew Sanders - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Sign Holden Katzalay to a Standard WHL Player Agreement - Vancouver Giants
- Brandonite Thiessen Acquired from Lethbridge - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Hitmen Present Royal LePage Benchmark Toy Drive - Calgary Hitmen
- Warriors Prepare for 2019 Teddy Bear & Toque Toss Coming up on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hurricanes Trade Thiessen to Brandon - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Andrew Kutnikoff Named Broncos Equipment Manager/Athletic Therapist - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: December 4 - Portland Winterhawks
- Tigers' Teddy Bear Toss Totals Announced - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Tigers' Teddy Bear Toss Totals - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Stantec Shootout for Charity Is Back - Saskatoon Blades
- Preview: Broncos Want Short Memory as They Visit Winnipeg - Swift Current Broncos
- ICE and Broncos Clash for Third Time this Season - Winnipeg Ice
- Home No Cure for Scoring Woes in 3-0 Setback - Prince George Cougars
- Spokane Stifles Seattle in 4-1 Win - Spokane Chiefs
- Winterhawks Shut out the Cougars 3-0 - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Fall to Chiefs in Spokane - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Tigers Dominate Hurricanes 8-3 to Win Fifth Straight Game - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Latimer Lights the Lamp in WHL Debut to Help Oil Kings Drop Warriors - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Fall Apart in Third Period in Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
- Road Trip Opens with Narrow Loss in Northern Alberta - Moose Jaw Warriors
- 2020 Memorial Cup Presented by Kia Tickets On Sale To General Public Tomorrow Morning - Kelowna Rockets
- Wheat Kings Roar Back against Broncos - Brandon Wheat Kings
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