Quebec Remparts top first CHL rankings Photo: NHL Hall of Famer and current Quebec Remparts head coach Patrick Roy leads his charges into the 2012-13 season as the CHL's top-ranked team (courtesy of Leon T. Switzer/ Icon SMI) Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the first edition of the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings for the 2012-13 season. The weekly rankings of the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts. 2012-13 QMJHL season preview Photo: 2013 prospect Nathan MacKinnon leads a talented Halifax Mooseheads team that should contend for the QMJHL title in 2012-13 (courtesy of Dave Connelly/HF) As is always the case, the new QMJHL season approaches with a clear shift in the balance of power across the league. The 2011-12 season featured an extremely strong TELUS East Division which eventually led to the Memorial Cup champion Shawinigan Cataractes. MacKinnon, Domi help lead Canada to gold Photo: London Knights' forward Max Domi nearly won the Memorial Cup with the Knights back in May, but has now brought home a gold medal from the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Tournament (courtesy of Aaron Bell/OHL Images) The Canadians won the gold medal at this year's Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament held in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They truly deserved it because they played with passion, pride and will. Even their team motto says "I'm willing“ so there must have been a lot of willingness to obtain that golden piece of metal. And it wouldn't happen if it wasn't for their widespread qualities; Canada just dominated the tournament – in net, in their own zone and in the offensive zone. NHL lockout provides opportunity for development leagues Photo: Buffalo Sabres prospect Mikhail Grigorenko might be on the cusp of a NHL career, but he and other young players may find themselves back in the development leagues if the NHL lockout proceeds (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) Lockout. It's on the tip of the tongue of every person involved with hockey right now. As the Collective Bargaining Agreement's expiration date of September 15th approaches, a work stoppage between the NHL and the NHL Player's Association (the third such interruption over the last 18 years) is seemingly inevitable at this point. Not only will a lockout affect the individual teams and their staff and personnel, as well as the players, but a work stoppage in hockey's top league will have a trickle down effect for many prospects at various levels around the world. Danault looks to complete unfinished business from last season Photo: Chicago Blackhawks prospect Phillip Danault will look to lead his Victoriaville Tigres squad to an extended season in 2012-13 (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
Phillip Danault is entering his final season of junior hockey but he has some unfinished business to take care of before he makes the jump to pro. |
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