Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the first week of BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings prior to the start of the 2011-12 season. The weekly rankings of the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

The defending QMJHL and MasterCard Memorial Cup Champions the Saint John Sea Dogs open the season in top spot after spending an incredible 23 weeks in the rankings in each of the past two seasons. The Sea Dogs led the CHL with three players selected in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft including Jonathan Huberdeau selected third overall by the Florida Panthers, Nathan Beaulieu selected 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens, and Zack Phillips selected 28th overall by the Minnesota Wild. The Niagara IceDogs enter the 2011-12 campaign as the top-ranked OHL team at number two in the CHL and feature two top-10 picks from the 2011 NHL Entry Draft including Ryan Strome selected fifth overall by the New York Islanders, and Dougie Hamilton selected ninth overall by the Boston Bruins. In the WHL, the Portland Winterhawks are the top ranked team at number three and have had 12 players selected in the last two NHL Entry Drafts including Sven Baertschi selected 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2011, and Joe Morrow who was also selected this year 23rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 2011-12 CHL season opens with the top-ranked Sea Dogs hosting the Moncton Wildcats Thursday night at Harbour Station. The OHL and WHL schedules begin on Wednesday September 21, 2011, and Thursday September 22, 2011, respectively.

Week two of the BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings will be issued on Wednesday September 28, 2011.

BMO CHL MasterCard Top 10 Rankings – Week 1

Saint John Sea Dogs Niagara IceDogs Portland Winterhawks Shawinigan Cataractes Plymouth Whalers Quebec Remparts Kelowna Rockets Sarnia Sting Red Deer Rebels Victoriaville Tigres

Honourable Mention:

Oshawa Generals

Moose Jaw Warriors

London Knights