VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Tri-City Americans continue to make an impact in the WHL, and are this week’s highest ranked WHL team. The Americans have won their last four games and are ranked third #3 in the CHL’s top ten, their highest ranking this season. Additionally, Tri-City sniper Brendan Shinnimin was named last week’s WHL player of the week. Shinnimin posted six points, including three goals, in both of his team’s games last week. The undrafted Shinnimin is second overall in WHL scoring race with 34 points in 19 games. The Portland Winterhawks sit just two points behind first place Tri-City in the U.S. Division after going 1-1 last week. However, the ‘Hawks have played three more games than the surging Americans. The way things are going Tri-City could have a sizeable lead on the other U.S. teams in a matter of a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, improved play from the Everett Silvertips and Spokane Chiefs means that Portland will be looking over its shoulder in the games to come. The lowly Seattle Thunderbirds are the only team who are currently a non-factor in the U.S. Division this season. Seattle has won just two of its last ten games and has the second worst record in the WHL. Just north of the border, the B.C. Division standings stay tightly-packed, with three points separating second and fourth place. In first place are the Vancouver Giants, whose play has cooled off after a hot start. For the second straight week, the Giants found themselves outside the CHL top ten after having been a mainstay on the list earlier in the season. The Giants were a mediocre 2-2 last week, but suffered an 8-2 loss to Tri-City in the process. The Saskatoon Blades put their stamp on the East Division, despite a shootout loss to the Regina Pats. The Blades victory in their other two games leaves them nine points ahead of the second place Moose Jaw Warriors. Also, Saskatoon’s streak of 8-0-0-1 is good enough to earn them sixth place in this week’s CHL top ten, one point ahead of powerhouse Calgary Hitmen. The rest of the East Division is a much murkier picture. Four points separate second place from the sixth and final spot in the division. The basement dwelling Regina Pats have put together a four game win streak, including a shootout win over the mighty Blades. Their improved play of late has vaulted them into contention, making the East Division one to watch in the coming weeks. The scene in the Central Division has been more or less the same all season. This week’s #7 CHL ranked team, the Calgary Hitmen persist in their stranglehold on first place, a full ten points ahead of the second place Medicine Hat Tigers. Only the division’s fifth place team, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, have been able to string together consecutive wins lately, but are still nobody’s pick to threaten the league’s top teams. Meanwhile the Edmonton Oil Kings finished up a winless road trip last week, and still have just seven wins in 23 games. The similarly woeful Kootenay Ice, who were a respectable 1-0-0-1 last week, were bumped to last place in the Central Division thanks to the Hurricanes mini-streak. Contact the author at Happy.Kreter@prohockeynews.com
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