Everett reigns supreme as No. 1, while Prince Albert, Medicine Hat, and Penticton secure top-10 spots in the final CHL rankings.
Every week, the CHL releases a list of the top-10 teams in the league. Throughout the season, we at The Hockey News will be keeping track of which WHL teams are in the rankings, as well as who finishes the year ranked highest. Here is a look at the four WHL teams that made the Week 26 rankings.
Everett Silvertips - 1st
The Everett Silvertips finish the season as the undisputed No. 1 team in Canada with a 57-8-2-1 record. The club captured its second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as WHL regular-season champions. Everett closed the year with dominant wins over Victoria and Wenatchee. Rookie Hunter Rudolph netted his first career WHL hat trick, while overager Rylan Gould reached the 50-point milestone. The Silvertips will now gear up for a playoff matchup against Portland.
Prince Albert Raiders - 4th
The Prince Albert Raiders (52-10-5-1) hold steady at No. 4 after clinching the Eastern Conference title. Forward Braeden Cootes and rookie Alisher Sarkenov led the charge in the final week to secure home-ice advantage through the conference finals. Next up, the Raiders get ready for a first-round clash against Red Deer.
Medicine Hat Tigers - 5th
The Medicine Hat Tigers remain at No. 6, finishing the year as the most lethal offence in the entire CHL, averaging 5.12 goals per game. Markus Ruck (102 pts) and Liam Ruck (100 pts) became the first brothers in CHL history to each record 100 points in the same season. Next up, the Tigers will face off against Regina in the opening round of the playoffs.
Penticton Vees - 8th
The Penticton Vees cap their first-ever WHL season at No. 7, setting a new CHL record for wins by an expansion team (44). Despite being a first-year program, the Vees captured the B.C. Division title and enter the playoffs as a legitimate contender for the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Penticton will face Seattle in the first round matchup.
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