It’s hard to believe the World Juniors are right around the corner and we’re already at the halfway mark of the CHL season, and so far there’s been no shortage of action and excitement. The Portland Winterhawks, London Knights, and Halifax Mooseheads are creating powerhouse identities this season, and they lead this month’s CHL Power Rankings.
HOT
LONDON KNIGHTS (29-5-0-2)
Thanks to their 21-game win streak, the Knights claim top spot in this month’s CHL Power Rankings. Seth Griffith and Max Domi continue to produce on a nightly basis, and Bo Horvat’s current nine-game point streak has added depth to a team that won three of three last weekend without blueliners Scott Harrington (Canada), Olli Maatta (Finland), and Nikita Zadorov (Russia), who attended their respective world junior camps. Competing in the OHL’s toughest division hasn’t slowed the Knights either, as London has gone 11-2-0-2 against their Midwest opponents this season.
HALIFAX MOOSEHEADS(28-3-1-1)
Offensive depth has been synonymous with the Mooseheads all season, but it was even more evident this weekend. Despite missing their top three point producers – Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, and Martin Frk – who prepare for world junior competition, and with offensive defenceman Konrad Albetshauser still on the injury shelf, the Mooseheads won all three games to tighten their stranglehold in the QMJHL standings. Fourth-line forward Dominic Beachemin stepped up with three goals and five points in the three wins.
PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS (29-5-1-0)
Much like their fellow juggernauts from London and Halifax, the Winterhawks are dominating their respective league with or without their best players. As many as six Winterhawks have been out of the lineup this month due to international competition, but that hasn’t stopped Portland from winning eight of nine games in December. Their +83 goal differential is by far the best in the CHL, and a good indicator of just how deep this team is from top to bottom.
RIMOUSKI OCÉANIC(22-10-1-3)
Winners of five-straight and nine of their last 11 games, the Océanic find themselves just one point behind the Québec Remparts for first place in the QMJHL East Division. The best penalty kill in the Q has been stellar as of late, allowing just one powerplay goal on 23 attempts through the last six games, and the offence isn’t hurting either this month. Scott Oke (5 goals), Peter Trainor (3 goals, 8 assists), and rookie Frédérik Gauthier (2 goals, 10 assists) are three reasons behind the team’s 6-1 December record.
EDMONTON OIL KINGS(23-7-2-3)
The WHL top-ranked powerplay and penalty kill units are two important factors behind the Oil Kings’ recent success. In their current five-game win streak, Edmonton’s powerplay has capitalized on 11 of 23 chances (47%), and their penalty kill has been perfect by shutting down the opposition on 24 consecutive powerplays. With 23 wins and 51 points, the Oil Kings lead the Eastern Conference.
ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES(23-10-0-1)
A 6-3 win against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Saturday not only extended the Huskies win streak to six games, but also put them within a point of the Armada for a division lead. An offensively talented pack which has four players with 18 or more goals already this season grew even stronger since the acquisition of Nikita Kucherov. The Huskies are 5-2 with Kucherov in the lineup, with the Russian sniper generating six goals and 12 points.
RED DEER REBELS(20-13-2-1)
What a difference a coaching change can make. Since Rebels owner Brent Sutter took over behind the bench, his team has gone 10-2-1-1. That record in itself says a lot, but to put it into perspective, the Rebels had just 10 wins in 23 games before the coaching change. CHL Goaltender of the Week honours in November from Patrik Bartosak not only earned the Czech netminder a trip to the world junior stage this month, but helped push the Rebels into fourth place in the WHL Eastern Conference standings.
SARNIA STING(20-11-0-3)
With the exception of the London Knights, the Sting are the hottest team going in the OHL right now with an eight-game win streak, and a big reason for that is Alexander Galchenyuk. The Montréal Canadiens first rounder seems to be scoring nearly every time he touches the puck, with 11 goals and 17 points in seven games this month. The Sting’s third ranked powerplay unit is clicking, and veteran J.P. Anderson has been rock solid with a 1.84 GAA, .948 SV% and 6-0-0-1 December record.
KELOWNA ROCKETS(23-10-1-1)
In six nights last week, the Rockets went 4-1 on a five-game Alberta road trip to improve to 6-2 this month. Sitting third in the Western Conference with 48 points, Kelowna’s recent road success is just what they need to go along with their solid home record of 13-2, which translates into a WHL-best .867 home-win percentage. Goaltender Jordan Cooke’s 5-0 record and 2.20 GAA in December demonstrates how the Rockets own one of the best goal-differentials (+56) in the CHL.
OSHAWA GENERALS(20-12-1-2)
With Lucas Lessio and Mat Petgrave sidelined with long-term injuries, OHL goal scoring leader Boone Jenner overseas with Team Canada, and now Tyler Biggs attending camp for Team USA, the Generals had no choice but to go to work. Even without the services of their top-end talent, Oshawa won three straight this past weekend – including wins against the conference-leading Barrie Colts, and division rival Belleville Bulls – to head into the break leading its division.
COLD
PLYMOUTH WHALERS(14-11-5-3)
Winless in their last seven games, the Whalers are a prime example of a team that has hit a cold streak. In a division full of inconsistency, Plymouth have four wins in 10 games against division opponents this season, and currently sit just three points ahead of Saginaw for last spot. With the fourth fewest powerplay goals scored in the OHL, the Whalers will need to turn around their 17th ranked powerplay to help win games in a very challenging Western Conference.
SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS(16-17-1-1)
It’s been three years since the Thunderbirds made the playoffs, and this year is going to be a battle every night if that’s going to change. Seattle currently sits seventh in the Western Conference, and were outscored 27-13 on a current five-game losing streak. The future, however, looks bright in Seattle with names like Shea Theodore, Roberts Lipsbergs, Alexander Delnov, and Connor Honey at the core of this rebuilding franchise.
MISSISSAUGA STEELHEADS(18-12-0-3)
For the majority of the season’s first half, the Steelheads were finding ways to win games, but these days, the wins aren’t coming as easily. After posting an unimaginable 17 victories in their first 25 games, the young Steelheads are now facing the harsh reality of just one win in their last eight contests and have slipped into fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.
QUÉBEC REMPARTS(23-8-1-2)
Not that the Remparts aren’t playing good hockey these days, but for their standards, they certainly haven’t been as consistent. Patrick Roy’s club hit a minor bump in the road with a three-game losing streak in late November, and have just four wins in their last 10 games. Obviously, losing their European firepower in Mikhail Grigorenko and Nick Sorensen to world junior competition doesn’t help, so expect the frequent wins to return when those two do.
NIAGARA ICEDOGS(20-13-1-1)
Unlike others, the IceDogs haven’t adjusted as easily to life without their best. With the team’s top three scorers — Ryan Strome, Brett Ritchie, and Dougie Hamilton — wearing the Maple Leaf overseas, the IceDogs have just one win and recently took a 7-1 beating from the Brampton Battalion. Consider the loss a learning experience for a strong team, and they’ll have plenty of time to recover with 12 days off before returning to action.
BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR(21-11-1-2)
While the red-hot Rimouski Océanic challenge the Remparts for top spot in the East Division, the Drakkar haven’t been able to keep pace with six losses in their last 10 games. As a result of their recent play, Baie-Comeau now sit behind the Océanic for third in the division, while slipping from fourth to seventh in the conference standings.
MOOSE JAW WARRIORS(12-17-3-4)
The Warriors have lost three straight, while posting a 2-5 record in December. Offensive production has been the Warriors’ achilles heel this season with an average of 2.47 goals-per-game, and that trend continues this month with two goals or fewer in five of their seven contests. In the grand scheme of things, the Warriors’ next three games could lead to significant points in the playoff picture. Moose Jaw, sitting just one point out of eighth place, returns to action against Brandon and then Regina, who are both in the Warriors’ rear-view mirror.
KINGSTON FRONTENACS(17-15-2-0)
While the Belleville Bulls and Oshawa Generals continue their seesaw battle for top spot in the East Division, the Frontenacs haven’t been able to make any ground on their division rivals. Three wins in eight games this month has Kingston sitting seven points behind the Generals for the division lead. If there is a positive in the Frontenacs recent play, you don’t have to look further than last Sunday, when they took the London Knights to 65-minutes of competition before falling 6-5 in extra time.
