Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings: Preseason Edition
September 20, 2022 – Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) News Release
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League announced today the preseason edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2022-23 season.
The rankings were selected with input from NHL Central Scouting and come prior to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League opening the 2022-23 CHL regular season Thursday and the Western Hockey League beginning action September 23. The 2022-23 Ontario Hockey League regular season begins September 29.
Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Preseason
1. Winnipeg ICE
2. Quebec Remparts
3. Seattle Thunderbirds
4. Guelph Storm
5. Kamloops Blazers
6. Gatineau Olympiques
7. Flint Firebirds
8. Mississauga Steelheads
9. Sherbrooke Phoenix
10. Moose Jaw Warriors
HM. Owen Sound Attack
HM. Halifax Mooseheads
HM. Portland Winterhawks
Headlining the QMJHL, the Quebec Remparts will look to build on a dominant 2021-22 campaign that saw the club finish atop the circuit with 104 points backed by the solid pairing of St. Louis Blues draftee Zachary Bolduc and now overager Theo Rochette, both of whom neared triple-digit production a year ago. The summer also saw the Remparts see another of their own realize a lifelong goal as the Anaheim Ducks called upon centre Nathan Gaucher with the 22nd pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.
Ready to take the next step, the Gatineau Olympiques showed early signs a year ago of what was to come with an exciting crop that will only continue to blossom. Backed by an impressive back end that counts recent draftee Tristan Luneau and Noah Warren – both of whom were chosen by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2022 class – the Olympiques bring a well-balanced attack up front where they will look for talents like the undrafted Antonin Verreault to continue to show solid progression.
Rebuilt and ready, the Sherbrooke Phoenix return with reigning QMJHL point producer and Montreal Canadiens prospect Joshua Roy in tow who dazzled last season to the tune of 51 goals and 68 assists coming in 66 games. Beyond Roy, among the other names to circle is 17-year-old centre Ethan Gauthier, the first-overall selection from the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft who the scouting community sees as an early selection in the upcoming NHL Draft following impressive early results in the junior ranks.
The climb up the ranks begins this season for the Halifax Mooseheads as the club returns a well-rounded offensive core headlined by newly minted Columbus Blue Jackets draftee Jordan Dumais who was one of only seven QMJHL skaters to reach triple-digit production last season.
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