The Western Hockey League’s Kootenay Ice are ranked as the number one team in the Canadian Hockey League Bank of Montreal/MasterCard Top Ten Rankings for the second week in a row. The weekly CHL rankings are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

The defending Memorial Cup champions had a pair of wins and an overtime loss in action last week. The Ice have yet to lose in regulation time in 10 starts and have a won-lost-tie-overtime loss record of 7-0-1-2 outscoring their opponents’ 39 to 23. Kootenay has three games on their schedule this week starting in Calgary against the Hitmen on Wednesday. The Ice have a pair of home games on the weekend hosting the Red Deer Rebels, who are ranked fourth this week, on Friday and the Lethbridge Broncos on Saturday.

The Victoriaville Tigres move up to the number two spot in this week’s CHL Bank of Montreal/MasterCard Top Ten. The defending Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champions were listed in the number 4 spot last week. The Tigres went undefeated on a three game swing through the Maritimes last week posting road wins in Moncton, Cape Breton and Halifax to improve their 2002-2003 record to 10-1-1-0. Victoriaville will have another challenging week as they have home ice contests against opponents who are in this week’s Top Ten. On Friday the number seven ranked Baie-Comeau Drakkar will visit the Colisee des Bois-Francs. On Saturday the Tigres will host the fifth ranked Val-d’Or Foreurs.

The Ottawa 67's three game winning streak has moved them into the third spot in the CHL Bank of Montreal/MasterCard Top Ten Rankings. The 67's won twice at home last week to improve their record to 6-2-0-0. This week Ottawa will play three games against Midwest Division opponents starting in Kitchener on Friday. On Saturday the 67's will face the Attack in Owen Sound and they close out the week in London on Sunday.

Listed below is this week’s CHL Bank of Montreal/MasterCard Top Ten Rankings

Rang - Equipe
1 - Kootenay Ice
2 - Victoriaville Tigres
3 - Ottawa 67's
4 - Red Deer Rebels
5 - Val-d’Or Foreurs
6 - Sarnia Sting
7 - Baie-Comeau Drakkar
8 - Brandon Wheat Kings
9 - Barrie Colts
10 - Prince Albert Raiders

Dave Lord
Director of Information
Canadian Hockey League

&
Claude Rompré
Directrice des relations publiques, communications