The Penticton Vees dropped one spot in the Nov. 28/11 Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings to No. 4.
The Vees switched positions with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Remaining at No. 1 are the Woodstock Slammers of the Maritime Hockey League.
To see how the Vees compare with the other top four, here’s a closer look at the other teams.
Starting with the Slammers, they are 24-1-0-1 and have six players scoring at a point-per-game pace or higher. The Slammers top scorer is defenceman Tim Campbell, who has five goals and 36 points in 26 games. Their next highest scorer is centre Connor Tresham, with 17 goals and 34 points in 26 games. Goalie Matt Murphy has a 16-1-2 record with a 1.71 goals against average and .942 save percentage. In their past 10 games, the Slammers are 8-1-0-1. Of the top-five teams, they are the most penalized with 855 penalty minutes. They have scored 130 goals and allowed 53. Their power play scores 27 per cent of the time.
The Spruce Grove Saints are 26-2-0-4 and have three players scoring at a point-per-game pace or higher. Leading the charge is Nolan Huysmans with 22 goals and 39 points. Their leading defenceman is Austin Sevalrud with two goals and 13 points. Goalie Joel Miller is 12-2-2 with a 1.73 goals against average and .926 save percentage. They have amassed 773 penalty minutes and have scored 108 goals and allowed 69.
The Saints’ divisional rivals, the Barons, are 24-3-0-2. They have three players scoring at a point-per-game pace starting with winger Justin Rose with 15 goals and 39 points. Defenceman Brock Maschmeyer has four goals and 23 points, while goalie Brody Hoffman is 14-3-1 with a 1.81 goals against average and .932 save percentage. The Barons have amassed 610 penalty minutes and their penalty kills works 86.5 per cent of the time. Their power play works 26 per cent of the time.
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Battlefords Stars are 23-5-0-2.They have three players scoring at a point-per-game pace starting with Blake Tatchell with 27 goals and 54 points in 30 games. Defenceman Brody Luhning has seven goals and 26 points in 25 games. Netminder Graham Hildebrand is 13-3-1, 2.33 goals against average, three shutouts and a .921 save percentage. They have amassed 554 penalty minutes. Specialty teams stats were not available.
The BCHL’s Vees are 22-3-0-2 and riding a 10-game winning streak. The Vees have eight players scoring at a point-per-game pace or better starting with Connor Reilly with 23 goals and 51 points in 27 games. Mike Reilly is the highest scoring defenceman with 12 goals and 32 points. In goal, Michael Garteig is 18-4-0 with a 2.45 goals against average and .913 save percentage. The Vees have served 362 penalty minutes, the lowest of the five teams. Their offence has scored 146 goals and they have allowed 75. The power play is tops in the league at 31 per cent, while their penalty kill is 82 per cent efficient.
To see the full CJHL rankings, check http://www.cjhlhockey.com/standings.html.