WHL Writers Poll - Week Two

Oct. 1, 2007 - WHL Writer's Association Poll

Oh, how the mighty have fallen, at least in the eyes of those
who cover the Western Hockey League.
The Everett Silvertips spent most of last season in the No. 1 position of
the weekly WHL newspaper writers poll and debuted at No. 7 this season.
After posting a 0-4-0-0 record to open the 2007-08 campaign the ŒTips
dropped all the way to No. 16 while their U.S. Division counterparts
solidified three of the top six positions.
The Calgary Hitmen sit a top the poll for a second straight week, garning 10
of the 15 first-place votes cast.
The Vancouver Giants, with five first-place nods, gained ground on the
Hitmen, but remained at second place.
Spokane, Tri City and Kamloops rounded out the top-five, in that order,
followed by No. 6 Seattle.
The No. 7 Regina Pats were the top-rated East Division team.
Among the big gainers this week were the Tri City Americans, up four places
to No. 4, and the Chilliwack Bruins who cracked the top-10 for the first
time in their two-year franchise history.
The No. 9 Swift Current Broncos moved up three spaces after completing
weekend trades that added former Calgary Hitman Keegan Dansereau.

Ranking (last week¹s ranking) Team (First place votes in parenthesis) Points

1. (1) Calgary Hitmen, (10) 325
2. (2) Vancouver Giants, (5) 318
3. (4) Spokane Chiefs, 295
4. (8) Tri City Americans, 265
5. (3) Kamloops Blazers, 263
6. (5) Seattle Thunderbirds, 247
7. (6) Regina Pats, 232
8. (10) Brandon Wheat Kings, 227
9. (12) Swift Current Broncos, 213
10. (14) Chilliwack Bruins, 205
11. (9) Medicine Hat Tigers, 182
12. (11) Lethbridge Hurricanes, 181
13. (18) Red Deer Rebels, 139
14. (13) Moose Jaw Warriors, 122
15. (16) Kootenay Ice, 104
16. (7) Everett Silvertips, 104
17. (17) Edmonton Oil Kings, 99
18. (15) Kelowna Rockets, 85
19. (19) Saskatoon Blades, 71
20. (20) Prince Albert Raiders, 73
21. (21) Prince George Cougars, 30
22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks, 15


A first-place vote is worth 23 points, with 22 for second, and so on, down
to one point for a last-place vote.

The Western Major Junior Hockey Writers Association is comprised of members
of the print media located in each of the WHL's 22 cities.

Participating papers: The Brandon Sun, Calgary Sun, Lethbridge Herald,
Medicine Hat News, Prairie Post (Swift Current), Prince Albert Daily News,
Red Deer Advocate, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kelowna Capital News, Prince
George Citizen Kamloops Daily News, Kootenay News-Advertiser, Spokane
Spokesman-Review, Everett Herald, and Seattle Times.