Jordan Gustafson heads down the ice for the Seattle Thunderbirds against the Vancouver Giants on Dec. 11 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Jordan Gustafson heads down the ice for the Seattle Thunderbirds against the Vancouver Giants on Dec. 11 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Seattle Thunderbirds move to No. 1 in Canadian Hockey League poll

First top ranking of the season for Kent-based team

The Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds moved to the top of the Kia Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Top-10 Rankings for the 2022-2023 season among 60 teams.

Seattle (20-4-1-1) entering its Tuesday, Dec. 13 game, has been in the top-10 all season but never No. 1 until this week, the 11th week of the season. The poll is released each Tuesday by the CHL.

“The Seattle Thunderbirds closed out the week with seven of eight points to push their undefeated in regulation streak to six games,” according to the CHL. “Among the highlights, the Thunderbirds capped off the weekend with a 5-2 win over Vancouver that saw the squad score five unanswered, including four coming in an offensive-filled middle frame. Montreal Canadiens draftee Jared Davidson pushed the pace for Seattle as he tallied twice.”

Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 11

1. Seattle Thunderbirds (20-4-1-1)

2. Winnipeg ICE (25-4-0-0)

3. Quebec Remparts (24-5-0-1)

4. Saskatoon Blades (21-5-0-0)

5. Portland Winterhawks (21-4-2-1)

6. Ottawa 67’s (22-5-0-1)

7. Victoriaville Tigres (21-6-1-3)

8. London Knights (19-8-1-0)

9. North Bay Battalion (20-8-0-1)

10. Halifax Mooseheads (19-7-2-1)

HM. Kamloops Blazers (16-6-3-2)

HM. Red Deer Rebels (21-5-1-3)

HM. Saginaw Spirit (19-9-2-0)


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