Minnesota Iron Rangers Kinsman named SIJHL player of the week
CJHL Ranking Week 14
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THUNDER BAY, Ontario – January 8, 2018 (LSN) The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Monday that Minnesota Iron Rangers forward Eli Kinsman has been named its initial Play It Again Sports player of the week for 2018.
In two appearances to commence the second half of the SIJHL’s regular season schedule, the 20-year-old Cocoa Beach, Fla., product amassed six points for Minnesota, including a personal single-game high five points in a shootout victory at Fort Frances this past Wednesday.
Averaging a point-per-game for the Iron Rangers so far during the campaign, Kinsman has collected 28 in as many outings on eight goals and 20 assists.
His tally, assist and point totals to date are all personal highs in a season for the Minnesota forward, who earlier this season was named a SIJHL All-Star where he helped lead his U.S. side to a victory over his Canadian counterparts in the league match-up held in Eveleth, Minn.
Also earning consideration for SIJHL Play It Again Sports player of the week honours were the following:
Tristan Simm, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs; Brody Jennings, (F) English River Miners; Keighan Gerrie, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars & Ian Jarvis, (F) Fort Frances Lakers.
NOTE: The Thief River Falls Norskies did not play last week thus did not have a nominee.
SIJHL – Play It Again Sports players of the week
Week 1: Jacen Bracko, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Week 2: Parker Simonson, (F) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 3: Brock Lefebvre, (G) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 4: Parker Simsonson, (F) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 5: Jared Janke, (F) English River Miners
Week 6: Jared Janke, (F) English River Miners
Week 7: Ryan Mignault, (F) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 8: Parker Simonson, (F) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 9: Michael Di Lullo, (F) English River Miners
Week 10: Dougie Newhouse, (G) Thunder Bay North Stars
Week 11: Eric Stout, (F) Dryden GM Ice Dogs
Week 12: Jared Pedersen, (F) Thief River Falls Norskies
Week 13: Michael Di Lullo, (F) English River Miners
Week 14: Eli Kinsman, (F) Minnesota Iron Rangers
Thief River Falls (SIJHL) No. 1; Carleton Place (CCHL) No. 2; Okotoks (AJHL) No.3
CALGARY, Alta. – The initial Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Top 20 rankings for 2018 has been released with the Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) starting the New Year as No. 1 overall.
A strong Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) side is slotted No. 2 in the 132-team CJHL while the Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) were tabbed No. 3 nationally.
MHL: The first-year Edmundston Blizzard continue to pace the MHL standings and are ranked No. 18 while the South Division-leading Yarmouth Jr. A Mariners garnered Honourable Mention laurels to begin 2018.
LHJAAAQ: The No. 4 Cobras de Terrebonne remain neck-and-neck in the quest for top spot in the LHJAAAQ with No. 10 College Français de Longueuil.
CCHL: Despite suffering their first loss in regulation since late September, at the hands of Fred Page Cup-host Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators, Carleton Place is still No. 2 in the CJHL while Ottawa jumps to No. 6 in the country.
OJHL: The No. 11 Toronto Patriots lead their league in terms of points and winning percentage. The Oakville Blades (15th) and North York Rangers (17th) also crack the Top 20 with the Wellington Dukes getting HM status.
NOJHL: The No. 8 Powassan Voodoos were knocked off by No. 16 Soo Thunderbirds Saturday to narrow the points gap between the NOJHL’s top two clubs.
SIJHL: No. 1 Thief River Falls has won 10 straight games and are 28-1 overall. The defending SIJHL champion and 2018 Dudley-Hewitt Cup-host Dryden GM Ice Dogs are rated 12th in the CJHL.
MJHL: At No. 13, the Steinbach Pistons are nine points up on the Portage Terriers, who hold two games in hand and also picked up an Honourable Mention slot.
SJHL: The Battlefords North Stars move to No. 5 in the CJHL while the Nipawin Hawks jump to No. 7. The Melfort Mustangs picked up a HM listing.
AJHL: Up to No. 3 in the CJHL is Okotoks with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons 9th and Spruce Grove Saints 19th. The Brook Bandits earned an honourable mention.
BCHL: Continuing to climb, the Vernon Vipers are now 14th while the Penticton Vees were ranked 20th as those two perennial powers sit one-two respectively in terms of winning percentage in the highly competitive BCHL.
CJHL 2017-18 TOP 20 (As of Jan. 8/18)
RANK TEAM (LEAGUE) (LAST RANKING)
1. Thief River Falls Norskies (SIJHL) (1)
2. Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL) (2)
3. Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) (4)
4. Les Cobras de Terrebonne (LHJQ) (3)
5. Battlefords North Stars (SJHL) (6)
6. Ottawa Jr. ‘A’ Senators (CCHL) (9)
7. Nipawin Hawks (SJHL) (10)
8. Powassan Voodoos (NOJHL) (5)
9. Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) (7)
10. College Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) (10)
11. Toronto Patriots (OJHL) (13)
12. Dryden GM Ice Dogs (SIJHL) (12)
13. Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (11)
14. Vernon Vipers (BCHL (15)
15. Oakville Blades (OJHL) (20)
16. Soo Thunderbirds (NOJHL) (16)
17. North York Rangers (OJHL) (HM)
18. Edmundston Blizzard (MHL) (14)
19. Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) (17)
20. Penticton Vees (BCHL) (19)
Honourable Mention: Brooks Bandits (AJHL); Melfort Mustangs (SJHL); Portage Terriers (MJHL); Wellington Dukes (OJHL); Yarmouth Jr. ‘A’ Mariners (MHL)
ABOUT THE CJHL: The Canadian Junior Hockey League is made up of the 10 Junior ‘A’ leagues across Canada. Representing 132 teams and over 3,000 players, the CJHL also boast over 2,800 alumni furthering their hockey careers at the NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL, NCAA and CIS level across North America.
ABOUT THE CJHL RANKINGS: Selected by an independent scouting service, the rankings are based upon a variety of factors, including winning percentage; win-loss record; point totals; goals-for versus goals-against ratio, etc., and the league they compete in.