CJHL Rankings: Jr. Sabres at #8

The Canadian Junior Hockey League released its weekly rankings, and the Buffalo Jr. Sabres of the OJHL moved up two spots to #8 this week.

Buffalo is coming off a Monday evening loss to St. Michael’s. Brian Ruff, Tyler Gjurich and Pat Egan scored for the Jr. Sabres.

That was the team’s first loss in the month of December, having gone 3-0 so far. A shutout victory over the Georgetown Raiders on December 1 was followed by a 7-3 win over the Milton IceHawks. The team’s third game in the first three days of December resulted in an 8-6 win over the Hamilton Red Wings.

The Jr. Sabres were one of just two OJHL teams to be ranked in the top 20 by the CJHL. The Trenton Golden Hawks were the sole other OJHL squad on the list, at #4. The Brooks Bandits of the AJHL remained in the top spot.

The Jr. Sabres have four games remaining in the month of December: an away match at Mississauga, followed by two home games against Toronto Lakeshore and the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. An away game at Toronto Lakeshore on December 22 closes the month, due to the Christmas and New Year’s Eve holidays the following weeks.

Leading the way for the Jr. Sabres is forward Tyler Gjurich, who has scored 32 goals and 25 assists for 57 points in 36 games this season. Gjurich leads the team with seven power play goals, while defenseman Sean Federow’s 14 powerplay assists are most on the team.

Gjurich also has six game-winning goals.

The Raiders and Buzzers also received honorable mentions by the CJHL.

Despite the Monday night loss, Buffalo holds onto the lead in the OJHL’s West Division, South West Conference, and the league overall. The team has lost just nine games of 36 this season, going 10-2-1-4 at home and 13-0-1-5 on the road.