(Amherst, NY) – The Buffalo Junior Sabres franchise is making history this week, with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) ranking the Jr. Sabres 11th in its latest weekly Top 20 List of Junior “A” teams throughout Canada, released today, November 12, 2012.
The CJHL, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, is an organization that oversees ten Canadian junior leagues including the Ontario Junior Hockey League, in which the Jr. Sabres compete as the league’s lone U.S. franchise. The CJHL’s role includes development of consistent rules and disciplines and determining a Canadian Junior-A national champion.
It is the first time the Jr. Sabres have appeared in the CJHL’s Top 20. Twice this season the team has earned “honourable mentions” as part of the weekly rankings, last week and in the rankings released October 1.
“They have all committed to putting in the work,” said Jr. Sabres head coach and general manager Michael Peca. “When we put work ahead of skill, we become a tough team to play against.”
Buffalo is currently enjoying a five-game winning streak and raised its standing in the CJHL over the past week thanks to convincing wins over two of the OJHL’s traditional powerhouses, the Oakville Blades and Georgetown Raiders. Goaltender Parker Gahagen (Williamsville, NY) has registered three shutouts during the team’s winning streak and has five so far this season. Leading scorer Tyler Gjurich (Hatfield, PA) has scored ten goals in his past four games, including a four-goal output in Buffalo’s 7-0 win over then-12th ranked Georgetown on November 8.
The Raiders remain in the CJHL’s Top 20, ranking 14th this week. Besides Buffalo and Georgetown, only one other team appears in the latest CJHL Weekly Top 20, the Trenton Golden Hawks, who are ranked 5th.
The CJHL’s ranking is compiled in conjunction with the National Hockey league Central Scouting. You can read the CJHL’s weekly rankings in full at www.cjhlhockey.com.
The Jr. Sabres return to game action on Wednesday, November 14 when they host the North York Rangers at the Northtown Center at Amherst, beginning at 7:30pm.
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