As the lone remaining unbeaten team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Powassan Voodoos received top billing in the latest Pointstreak top 20 and honourable mention rankings announced Monday.
The Voodoos were tabbed No. 1 overall in the 131-team CJHL in the latest listings, which are compiled in conjunction with International Scouting Services.
"This is very flattering news for our organization and there are so many people in our group to share this with, including our affiliate the North Bay Battalion, but this is all about the players and the coaching staff," stated Voodoos GM Chris Dawson about the accolades.
"Obviously you don't win anything for being rated number one, but we are collectively very proud of the achievement. We have had some very tough games and to be 9-0 at this point of the season is very impressive," said Dawson about the Voodoos who were also 1-0 in pre-season action this year.
It's the first time any NOJHL team has held the #1 CJHL ranking. The Voodoos came into the week (7-0) ranked third in the nation.
Meanwhile two other NOJHL clubs also garnered attention in the weekly rankings as the Soo Thunderbirds were slotted eighth nationally and the Cochrane Crunch came in at No. 16.
Boasting a perfect 9-0 record to start the 2015-16 season, Powassan continues to impress in just their second year in the league.
Surging Sault Ste. Marie is also hot having won six straight games as they sit in top spot overall, points wise, with 22 on an 11-1 record.
Cochrane meanwhile is 10-2 to date with 20 points to their credit.
The Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) dipped to No. 2 in the CJHL this week while the Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL) moved to No. 3.
Voodoos get 2 of 3 Stars
Meantime Voodoos linemates Nathaniel McLeod and Steven Harland took two of the three Star awards in the NOJHL East Link 3 Stars of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
In two games last week for the No. 1-Canadian Junior Hockey League ranked Voodoos, Harland registered five points in a pair of Powassan victories.
The 19-year-old Scarborough, Ont., native began by dishing out three assists in a 5-2 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Minerson Friday.
One night later he set-up two more markers in his club’s 7-2 decision over Iroquois Falls.
Averaging two points-per-game through nine contests, Harland has 18 points overall on five goals and 13 assists.
He is also riding a nine-game point streak to begin the 2015-16 campaign as well as 12 straight dating back to last season.
Meantime Mcleod, the soon-to-be 19-year-old Sturgeon Falls, Ont., product secured three points in each of the Voodoos victories last week.
McLeod started with a pair of markers, including the game-winner and an assist in the win over Kirkland Lake.
In the match-up against the Eskis he tallied twice more and added a helper as Powassan skated past Iroquois Falls.
Currently riding a five-game point streak, McLeod has a team-best 10 goals to his credit this season along with three helpers for 13 points in nine outings.
