KIJHL Power Rankings (Week 12)
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) is pleased to announce its Power Rankings for Week 12.
The Kamloops Storm are No.1 for a second straight week. They opened their week with a 6-5 shootout loss to the Wranglers. Joshua Nuttall was very strong making 44 saves. On Saturday, the Storm doubled up the Kelowna Chiefs 4-2. Luca D’Amore scored twice, including the winner, and Brenner Fyfe was excellent while making 48 saves. On Friday, Fyfe was named the KIJHL’s Top Goalie for November. The Storm are now 19-4-1-1 and are first overall in the KIJHL.
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks won their lone game of the week, 5-3 over the 100 Mile House Wranglers. Michiel Leenders netted the winner and Preston Shumate made 23 saves. Ollie Clement scored twice in his return. The Nitehawks are now 18-5-0 on the season for third overall in the KIJHL.
The Revelstoke Grizzlies pocketed a pair of wins, starting with a 5-4 victory over the Sicamous Eagles. Connor Shymoniak scored the winner and Austin Seibel made 24 saves. The Grizzlies then hit the road for Osoyoos and defeated the Coyotes 6-3. Jett Patola scored the winner and William Stewart had an excellent night making 40 saves. The Grizzlies are now 17-4-0-2 and are fourth overall in the KIJHL.
The Kelowna Chiefs won two of their three games. They started the week with a 6-2 win over the Eagles. Christian Stephanson scored the winner and Michael Makowsky made 25 saves. On Friday, the Chiefs defeated the Coyotes 6-3. Kaiden Sydenham scored the winner short-handed and Andrik Lygas stopped 22 of 25 shots. The Chiefs closed out the week with a 4-2 loss to the Storm in a battle of the top two KIJHL teams. Brenden Stirbu scored his 15th goal, Owen Miller had two points and Michael Makowsky stopped 18 of 22 shots. The Chiefs are now 18-4-1-0 for second overall in the KIJHL.
The Fernie Ghostriders crack the Power Rankings for the first time this season. They won two of their three games. They opened the week with a 5-4 shootout loss to the Golden Rockets. Kael Svenson made 33 saves and Ben Skarsen had two assists. The Ghostriders then earned back-to-back 3-0 wins against the Creston Valley Thunder Cats. In the first game, Liam Breakenridge scored the winner on the power-play and Leo den Besten earned his first career KIJHL shutout with a 33-save performance. In the second win, den Besten posted a 28-save shutout and Coden Fournier scored the winner. The Ghostriders are now 12-9-2-2 for eighth overall in the KIJHL.