SEA DOGS RANKED #1 IN CHL

They are the top team in the Maritimes Division, top team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and now, the top team in the Canada. It has been quite the season for the Saint John Sea Dogs hockey club.

Today, the Canadian Hockey League announced the most recent edition of the BMO CHL MasterCard Top Rankings that featured the Sea Dogs jumping over the Memorial Cup hosting Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors for the No. 1 spot in the nation.

The ranking was most definitely well deserved. The club had an impressive week, going 4-0-0-0 and scoring at least three goals in each contest. Saint John defeated the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 7-2 last Wednesday, downed the Lewiston MAINEiacs 6-2 on Friday, beat-up the Gatineau Olympiques 5-2 Saturday, and then held on for a win over the PEI Rocket, 3-2, last night.

In the four games, the Sea Dogs outscored their opposition 21-8.

Saint John has been unreal for over a month now. They have won nine straight games, and if not for a shootout loss on November 6, they would currently be on an epic 16-game winning streak.

Other QMJHL teams to make the list this week were the Montreal Juniors in at No. 3, Quebec Remparts at No. 5, and the Drummondville Voltigeurs were an honourable mention.

The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top 10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

The BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings for week 12:

1 Saint John Sea Dogs (25-3-0-2)
2 Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (24-3-0-1)
3 Montreal Juniors (23-4-3-1)
4 Portland Winterhawks (22-7-0-3)
5 Quebec Remparts (23-7-0-2)
6 Saskatoon Blades (22-7-0-1)
7 Saginaw Spirit (19-6-3-1)
8 Red Deer Rebels (20-7-1-2)
9 Owen Sound Attack (19-8-0-2)
10 Kootenay Ice (19-7-1-2)

Honourable Mention:
Ottawa 67's (20-9-0-1)
Drummondville Voltigeurs (20-8-3-1)
Kitchener Rangers (18-7-1-1)

In the Buzzing The Net Dynamic Dozen, the Sea Dogs were also ranked first overall out of all 60 CHL teams.

The Sea Dogs also topped the Open Ice Hockey weekly QMJHL Power Rankings.

It will be another tough stretch for Saint John this week. They host the PEI Rocket tonight before travelling to Lewiston on Friday to face a solid MAINEiacs team. They round off the week at home, Sunday, against the Halifax Mooseheads.

Photo Credit: Marc Henwood