WHL Writer's Poll - Week 12

WHL Writer's Association Poll - Week 12



For the sixth time in as many weeks, the Spokane Chiefs are the Western Hockey League's top-ranked team. Receiving 17 of 18 first-place votes for 395 total points, the U.S. Division-leading Chiefs remained atop the WHL writer's poll released Monday by the Western Major Junior Hockey Writer's Association.

The Chiefs lead the league with 51 points and a 24-5-1-2 record - which works out to a .797 winning percentage.

The top eight spots in the poll remained unchanged from last week, with the B.C. Division-leading Vancouver Giants earning the No. 2 ranking. The defending Memorial Cup champion Giants (22-7-1-3, 48 points) are second in the Western Conference and are 4-0-0-1 in their last five contests.

Third in the Western Conference and in the poll for the second-straight week are the Tri-City Americans (22-7-1-0), who trail the Chiefs by six points in the U.S. Division.

Also receiving a first-place nod, the Calgary Hitmen held their ground to earn the poll's fourth position. The Hitmen (21-9-1-2, 45 points) fell to second in the Central Division behind this week's fifth-ranked Lethbridge Hurricanes (22-10-1-1, 46 points). The Hurricanes currently lead the Eastern Conference while Calgary is second.

The Brandon Wheat Kings (21-9-0-1, 43 points), riding a seven-game winning streak and tied for the East Division lead with the Regina Pats(21-13-0-1), finished sixth in the poll. Regina came in eighth behind the Kootenay Ice (19-12-3-0), third in the Central.



CHL RANKINGS: Four WHL clubs remain ranked in the Canadian Hockey League Top 10. Spokane is ranked second, Tri-City is third, Vancouver is ranked eighth and Calgary came in at ninth.



LARGEST LEAP: With little movement in the poll this week, the Moose Jaw Warriors managed to climb four spots to ninth. The Warriors are fourth in the East with a 16-9-4-2 record, good for 38 points. They have won seven of their last 10 contests.



BIGGEST FALL: Three teams fell two spots. The Kelowna Rockets (17-11-2-3, 39 points, second in B.C.) dropped the No. 11, while Medicine Hat fell to 12th. The Tigers (17-12-3-1, 38 points) are fourth in the Central Division. The B.C. Division's third-place team, the Chilliwack Bruins (17-13-3-1, 38 points), fell to 14th.



THE BASEMENT: The bottom third of the poll also remained unchanged. The Portland Winter Hawks (5-25-0-1) picked up their 11th point in a shootout loss to Spokane on Sunday, but they are still the league's lowest-ranked team.



Poll results

Rank (last week), team (first-place votes), total points

1. (1) Spokane Chiefs (17) 395

2. (2) Vancouver Giants 373

3. (3) Tri-City Americans 355

4. (4) Calgary Hitmen (1) 338

5. (5) Lethbridge Hurricanes 324

6. (6) Brandon Wheat Kings 319

7. (7) Kootenay Ice 277

8. (8) Regina Pats 275

9. (13) Moose Jaw Warriors 231

10. (11) Swift Current Broncos 229

11. (9) Kelowna Rockets 226

12. (10) Medicine Hat Tigers 209

13. (T15) Seattle Thunderbirds 177

14. (12) Chilliwack Bruins 163

15. (14) Everett Silvertips 153

16. (T15) Kamloops Blazers 132

17. (17) Edmonton Oil Kings 92

18. (18) Prince Albert Raiders 89

19. (19) Saskatoon Blades 72

20. (20) Prince George Cougars 69

21. (21) Red Deer Rebels 38

22. (22) Portland Winter Hawks 18



Voters (18): Everett Herald, Seattle Times, Spokesman-Review (Spokane),Tri-City Herald, Kelowna Daily Courier, Kelowna Capital News, Calgary Sun, Red Deer Advocate, Swift Current Prairie Post, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Prince Albert Daily Herald, Brandon Sun, Prince George Citizen, Edmonton Sun, Chilliwack Progress, The Kootenay NewsAdvertiser,Lethbridge Herald, Medicine Hat News.