Monday, September 7, 2026

Season Preview: Top 10 goalies in the CCHL for 26-27 (FOR blog)

*Rankings are built from each goalie's overall rating and underlying tools — rebound control, agility, reaction time, size, and hand speed — pulled from the league's roster page. Wins, save percentage, and GAA are projections, not results: workload is split against each team's actual goalie depth chart, and the shots-against and win-percentage inputs are scaled to that team's projected strength from the season preview. Treat the numbers as an educated guess at how the season plays out, not a promise.*

Forward talent might be what gets a fanbase excited in August, but a look across all 22 CCHL rosters says the same thing it says most years: the teams built to actually contend are the ones that can also stop the puck. Four different clubs enter the season with a goalie rated 87 or better, and every one of them cracks the top five of the overall standings projection. Here's how the CCHL's ten best pencil out heading into the year.

### 1. Scott Wedgewood, Amos Comets

Wedgewood grades out as the best all-around goalie in the league, and it isn't close on tools — elite hands (90 HS), plane-clearing agility (89 AG), and reaction time (88 RT) that lets him get to pucks a beat before most starters even see them. He's the single biggest reason a team with no assigned general manager still projects near the top of the standings. **Projection: 70 GP, 45-25, .925 SV%, 2.04 GAA.**

### 2. Logan Thompson, Victoria Ronin

Thompson's calling card is rebound control — an 88 rating there is tied for the best in the league — which matters enormously behind a Ronin blue line that's solid but not overwhelming. He won't blow you away with flash, but he doesn't give second chances, and that's exactly the profile a team leaning on offense from Zibanejad, Horvat and Panarin needs in net. **Projection: 70 GP, 43-27, .925 SV%, 2.09 GAA.**

### 3. Andrei Vasilevskiy, Chattahoochee Crawdads

Still built like a battleship (89 SZ) and still one of the best in the business at swallowing rebounds (88 RB), Vasilevskiy is the anchor that lets a stacked Crawdads forward group play fast without worrying about the other end. His agility rating has ticked down a bit from his absolute peak, which is the only thing separating him from the very top of this list. **Projection: 70 GP, 45-25, .925 SV%, 2.04 GAA.**

### 4. Igor Shesterkin, Halifax Norsemen

The best goalie on the best team in the CCHL. Shesterkin's hands (90 HS) are as good as anyone's in the league, and he's the final piece that turns a loaded Halifax lineup — Necas, Celebrini, Guentzel, Crosby — from a good team into the favorite. **Projection: 66 GP, 43-23, .924 SV%, 2.06 GAA.**

### 5. Jeremy Swayman, Fort Erie Falcons

Swayman gives the Falcons a legitimate difference-maker behind an already-elite top six, with reflexes and agility that both grade in the low-80s and hold up shot after shot. John Gibson is a perfectly good backup, but this is Swayman's net, and the workload projection reflects it. **Projection: 57 GP, 37-20, .921 SV%, 2.14 GAA.**

### 6. Dan Vladar, Las Vegas Aces

Here's the outlier on this list: Vladar's individual tools are right there with the top five — good size (87 SZ), good hands (87 HS) — but he's also the *only* goalie on the Aces' roster. That means a season-long workhorse projection with no relief in sight, and offensively the Aces don't give him much cover. Wins will come harder here than the pure talent suggests. **Projection: 76 GP, 43-33, .921 SV%, 2.32 GAA.**

### 7. Anton Forsberg, Fergus Flapping Kilts

Forsberg is the classic high-floor veteran: nothing about his profile jumps off the page, but agility (83) and reaction time (80) are both comfortably above average, and he's playing behind one of the deeper, more veteran-laden rosters in the league. Expect a lot of quietly effective nights. **Projection: 55 GP, 32-23, .918 SV%, 2.38 GAA.**

### 8. Jesper Wallstedt (R), Wisborg Donuts

The highest-graded rookie goalie in the CCHL, and not by accident — his reaction time (84) is actually the best of anyone in this top ten. The catch is that Wisborg is still splitting the net closely with veteran Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, so Wallstedt's workload comes in lighter than his talent alone would suggest. If he takes the job outright by midseason, this projection undersells him. **Projection: 47 GP, 27-20, .917 SV%, 2.43 GAA.**

### 9. Joel Hofer, Chippawa Crackerjacks

Hofer's rebound control (82) is the best asset in his game, which pairs nicely with a Crackerjacks blue line — Trouba, Skjei, Faulk — built to clear traffic in front of him. He's clearly the workhorse over Cam Talbot, and the starts reflect it. **Projection: 66 GP, 36-30, .917 SV%, 2.51 GAA.**

### 10. Philipp Grubauer, Georgetown Millers

Grubauer rounds out the top ten on the strength of solid, unspectacular tools across the board — nothing below average, nothing elite. On a Millers team still finding its identity in front of him, that steadiness has real value, even if the win total won't be gaudy. **Projection: 53 GP, 28-25, .917 SV%, 2.51 GAA.**

*Just missing the cut: Ilya Sorokin (Parry Sound Orrsmen), who splits time closely enough with Jet Greaves that neither gets the workload to crack this list outright — watch that timeshare if one of them takes the net and runs with it.*

Millers Draft Review

The Picks

Viggo Bjorck, C (1-6)

Malte Gustaffson, D (1-24)

Thomas Vandenberg, C (3-64)

Noah Kosick, C (5-90)

Alexander Bielecki, D(5-94)

Zach Olsen, RW (5-110)

Matthew Minchak, G (6-116)

Alexei Vlasov, LW (7-138)

Ludvig Johnson,D (8-160)

Mans Josbrant, LW (9-182)

Viggo Bjorck - Millers management loves his motor and his fearlessness and feel that the worst

case scenario is a high-end 2nd line Center and top PP unit contributor. He’s small but does not

play that way. Potential future captain material.

Malte Gustaffson - Millers had him as the 12th best prospect in the draft and worked out a deal

with Fort Erie to acquire this pick and some later ones in this draft in exchange for their 2027

2nd rounder and a couple of 2026 3rd rounders. A steal at 24th overall. Should be a top 4

shutdown D at his peak with good puck moving skills if not a big point producer.

Thomas Vandenberg - Probably tops out as a 3rd line Center and penalty-killer who won’t

embarrass himself if temporarily playing up in the lineup. Another one with a high motor and

also excellent hockey sense.

Noah Kosick - A bit of a reach at his draft spot, but has tantalizing offensive upside. Has one

more year in the WHL before moving to Michigan so he has time to put on some weight and

improve his defense and off-puck play.

Alexander Bielecki - Traded to Chippewa later in the summer, but the Millers liked his long-

range potential as a bottom 4 D-man with some length and a developing offensive game.

Zach Olsen - High-character worker bee type of forward who utilizes his great skating to

terrorize opponents on the forecheck. Likely a bottom 6 penalty killer at the top level.

Matthew Minchak - 6’5 OHL Goalkeeper who is at best a half-decade away from anyone

knowing what he’ll be. A worthwhile flyer since goalies are voodoo.

Alexei Vlasov - High scoring QMJHL winger who is small, not a great skater and not a good

defender. The hope is that the NCAA can iron out the kinks and that the offense translates to

college. Passed over in the NHL draft, but received an invite to Montreal’s rookie camp.

Ludvig Johnson - Smallish Swiss defender with some offensive chops. Has played against men

and not looked out of place. A long-shot pick who could come good with physical maturity.

Mans Josbrant - Another one passed over in the NHL draft, Josbrant is a smallish winger with a

great shot at this time and not a whole lot else. May never cross the pond but worth a late pick

just in case something clicks.

New Address, New Ceiling: 10 CCHL Players Ready to Break Out for Their New Team (FOR BLOG)

It's been a busy offseason across the CCHL. Since April 1st, dozens of trades have reshuffled rosters league-wide — some rentals, some change-of-scenery deals, and a few outright blockbusters. I went through every transaction posted since 4/1/26 and cross-referenced it against the current (August 30) rosters to see who actually landed where, and why. A handful of those moves stand out as more than just a name swap — they're players who were miscast, buried, or under-deployed on their old team and have landed somewhere that plays to exactly what they do well.

Here are 10 names to watch when the season kicks off.

1. Brayden Point — Chattahoochee Crawdads → Springfield Isotopes

Point was a luxury piece on a Chattahoochee roster that already ran Kucherov, Trocheck, Matthews, and Karlsson out front — plenty of talent to go around, but not exactly a lineup starved for a play-driving center. He and Jamie Benn were shipped to Springfield on 5/5/26 in exchange for Valeri Nichushkin and two picks, and the fit could hardly be better: Point's 94 skating and 95 puck-handling are two of the best combinations in the league at his position, and Springfield simply doesn't have another forward who can separate from a defender the way he can. He's not a complementary piece anymore — he's the engine.

2. Sebastian Aho — Iceland Icecats → Chippawa Crackerjacks

Being the third-best center on a roster that also features Connor McDavid and Nick Suzuki is a rough way to spend a season, however talented you are. Iceland shipped Aho (and a prospect) to Chippawa on 6/30/26 for Roope Hintz and a pair of future first- and second-round picks — a deal that reads like a team cashing in a player it couldn't fully use. On Chippawa, Aho isn't fighting for minutes anymore: he's one of the two or three best skaters on the roster (78 overall, just behind captain Jacob Trouba), and an elite faceoff man (90) and playmaker (88 passing) who instantly becomes the top offensive option and power-play quarterback. This is as clean a "change of scenery unlocks a star" setup as you'll find in this transaction log.

3. Adam Fantilli — Halifax Norsemen → Las Vegas Aces

Halifax's forward group is, without exaggeration, the deepest in the league — Necas, Celebrini, Guentzel, Schmaltz, Marchand, and (as of 5/4/26) Sidney Crosby, acquired in the very trade that sent Fantilli out the door. Fantilli was miles down that depth chart. On Vegas, a team that entered the summer without a single 78-overall skater, his 91 skating is the best of any player on the roster, and paired with a 99 durability and 87 faceoff rating, he gives Vegas a legitimate workhorse top-line center for the first time. Vegas already had one of the league's best goaltenders in Dan Vladar; adding a legitimate top-line center gives them a real identity.

4. Cole Perfetti — Chattahoochee Crawdads → Las Vegas Aces

Perfetti arrived in the same stretch as Fantilli — Vegas sent two draft picks to Chattahoochee for him on 5/4/26 — and the theme is identical: a skilled player who was buried in a loaded lineup now gets first crack at real minutes. His 74 passing and 75 penalty-shot ratings suggest a set of hands that were mostly going to waste as a depth piece behind Chattahoochee's stars. Pair him with Fantilli and Vegas quietly built two legitimate top-six forwards in a single week, for the price of futures. Watch this team.

5. Alexander Wennberg — Wisborg Donuts → Iceland Icecats

Speaking of Iceland — after moving Aho out, they turned around and used the return to retool the middle of their lineup, and Wennberg (acquired 5/11/26 for David Savard and a prospect) might be the shrewdest addition of the bunch. He's a genuine two-way center (85 defense, 91 puck-handling, 81 passing) who now gets to play down the lineup from Connor McDavid, drawing softer matchups and lesser checking lines all season. A smart, safe player who suddenly has far more room to operate is exactly the profile that outperforms its rating.

6. Artemi Panarin — Las Vegas Aces → Victoria Ronin

Before the Fantilli/Perfetti additions, Panarin was arguably Vegas's best offensive weapon — and one without a real center to set up. That's not a problem anymore. Traded to Victoria on 5/21/26 for a prospect and a first-round pick, he now lines up with Mika Zibanejad and Bo Horvat, two legitimate 81-overall playmaking centers. Panarin's 90 passing rating is among the best of any skater in the CCHL; put that next to finishers who can actually cash in his looks and the points should follow fast.

7. Fort Erie's Big Three — Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk & Filip Hronek

No team reshaped itself more aggressively this summer than Fort Erie, and three separate deals stand out as the kind that can turn a good roster into a genuine Cup favorite.

Mitch Marner arrived from Amos on 5/5/26 in a straight swap for Tom Wilson. On the surface it looks like an even trade of 79-overall players, but the fit is what makes it work: Marner's 89 passing and 93 puck-handling are elite set-up numbers that were somewhat wasted on an Amos roster without a true finisher to match him. On Fort Erie, he lines up next to Leon Draisaitl — a 95-scoring finisher who can cash in exactly the kind of looks Marner specializes in creating. Pure carrier-and-distributor meets a shooter who doesn't miss.

Matthew Tkachuk cost Fort Erie two prospects and a future first-round pick, acquired from Calgary on 8/1/26. He's an unusual blend — an 86 fighting rating and 73 checking mark alongside 94 puck-handling and 89 scoring, the rare player who can both punch and finish. He was a solid piece on a middle-of-the-pack Calgary team; on Fort Erie he steps into a stacked, contention-ready lineup and gives it a physical, top-six identity that pairs with the skill already up front. He also slots right in with the hard-nosed reputation the Falcons' back end (Ferraro, Slavin, McCabe) has already built.

Filip Hronek was the priciest of the three — Fort Erie sent Thomas Harley, a promising young defenseman in his own right, plus four prospects to Springfield on 8/1/26 to get him. That's a real price tag, and Hronek's profile explains why: 89 defense and 81 checking make him a legitimate two-way defenseman, but unlike the pure shutdown types already on the roster, he also has enough offensive touch (72 passing) to help move the puck out of the defensive zone and jump into a rush. He gives Fort Erie a defense corps that can both smother the other team's top line and actually generate offense from the back end — a rare combination.

Individually, each of these three would be a nice pickup. Together, they turn Fort Erie's offseason into arguably the best of any team in the CCHL.

8. Quinton Byfield — Val-d'Or Nuggets → Fort Erie Falcons

Byfield was the best player on a rebuilding Val-d'Or team with nowhere to go this year. Fort Erie flipped Jack Drury and goaltender Charlie Lindgren to get him on 5/25/26, and the change in context is stark: instead of anchoring a lottery roster, the big, mobile center (89 skating, 87 strength, 96 durability) slots into a stacked Falcons middle six behind Draisaitl, Reinhart, and Marner. Less pressure to be everything, real support around him, and a legitimate reason to play meaningful games in the spring — that's the recipe for a young player's numbers finally catching up to his tools.

9. Vincent Trocheck — Fort Erie Falcons → Chattahoochee Crawdads

The flip side of the Byfield deal: Fort Erie sent Trocheck to Chattahoochee (for Egor Chinakhov and a prospect) on 5/5/26, and he lands in maybe the best possible spot for a 98-faceoff, 84-passing center — next to Nikita Kucherov. Trocheck has never lacked for two-way ability; what he's lacked is a running mate who finishes at an elite level. He has one now.

10. Morgan Rielly — Chippawa Crackerjacks → Georgetown Millers

Chippawa's blue line was never going to be a place for a puck-mover to breathe — Trouba, Skjei, and Faulk turned it into one of the most physical, defense-first groups in the league. Rielly, dealt to Georgetown for Colton Sissons on 6/8/26, steps into a much more open lane. Georgetown's back end already leans on Mikey Anderson for shutdown work, which frees Rielly to do what he does best: jump into the rush and run a power play. His 82 skating and 88 leadership rating suggest a player ready to be the guy quarterbacking Georgetown's transition game, not just another piece of a crowded rotation.

Honorable mentions: Fort Erie wasn't done even after those three deals — goaltender John Gibson and shutdown defenseman Jaccob Slavin both arrived in separate trades and would headline this list on almost any other team. Keep an eye on Springfield, too — Point wasn't their only pickup; Jamie Benn and Jean-Gabriel Pageau both joined this summer as well, and that's a roster quietly getting a lot more interesting.

CCHL 2026–27 PRESEASON POWER FORECAST (CGY SUBMITTED)

An 84-Game Marathon Should Separate the Loaded Contenders From the Pretenders

The CCHL enters 2026–27 with perhaps as much high-end talent as the league has ever seen.

Connor McDavid is in Iceland. Nathan MacKinnon leads Parry Sound. Auston Matthews and Nikita Kucherov share a lineup in Chattahoochee. Halifax can roll out Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby, Martin Necas, Jake Guentzel and Cole Caufield. Fort Erie counters with Leon Draisaitl, Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Seth Jarvis and Matthew Tkachuk.

And somehow that doesn’t even include Calgary’s absurd collection of Connor Bedard, Mikko Rantanen, Steven Stamkos, Alex DeBrincat, Alex Ovechkin and Cale Makar.

Over 84 games, however, championships aren’t won on name recognition alone. Depth matters. Defence matters. Special teams matter. And when the schedule reaches its dog days, goaltending usually becomes the great separator.

With that in mind, here is our projected 2026–27 CCHL table.

PROJECTED 2026–27 CCHL STANDINGS

RK	TEAM	W	L	OTL	PTS
1	Fort Erie Falcons	53	22	9	115
2	Halifax Norsemen	52	23	9	113
3	Chattahoochee Crawdads	51	24	9	111
4	Victoria Ronin	50	25	9	109
5	Parry Sound Orrsmen	49	25	10	108
6	Capeside Loons	49	27	8	106
7	Iceland Icecats	48	27	9	105
8	Wisborg Donuts	47	28	9	103
9	Calgary Chinook	46	29	9	101
10	Amos Comets	45	30	9	99
11	Fergus Flapping Kilts	44	31	9	97
12	Chippawa Crackerjacks	43	32	9	95
13	Georgetown Millers	41	34	9	91
14	New Mexico Scorpions	40	35	9	89
15	Springfield Isotopes	39	36	9	87
16	Denver Spurs	37	37	10	84
17	Las Vegas Aces	36	39	9	81
18	Seattle Reign	35	39	10	80
19	Val-d’Or Nuggets	34	40	10	78
20	Beartown Bears	33	41	10	76
21	Senneterre Beavers	29	46	9	67
22	Willowdale Rush	25	50	9	59

1. FORT ERIE FALCONS

Projected: 53–22–9, 115 points

The CCHL’s most complete roster.

You could make an argument for several teams having more explosive individual stars, but nobody appears to enter the season with fewer weaknesses than Fort Erie.

Leon Draisaitl is the centerpiece and carries an 83 OV rating, but this isn’t a one-man attack. Mitch Marner, Sam Reinhart, Seth Jarvis, Brandon Hagel, Owen Tippett, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinton Byfield give the Falcons enough firepower to attack opponents in waves.

Then look at the defence.

Jake McCabe, Mario Ferraro, Filip Hronek, Ryan Pulock, Owen Power, Jaccob Slavin, Adam Fox and Luke Hughes give Fort Erie an enviable combination of puck movement and defensive awareness.

The final piece is Jeremy Swayman.

At 85 OV, Swayman gives the Falcons the kind of goaltender who can erase an ordinary night from an otherwise elite team. John Gibson at 79 provides outstanding insurance.

Magazine verdict: There are flashier teams. There may not be a better one.

2. HALIFAX NORSEMEN

Projected: 52–23–9, 113 points

Halifax could finish first and nobody should be surprised.

Macklin Celebrini is already rated 81. Sidney Crosby remains an 80. Wyatt Johnston is an 80. Martin Necas checks in at a team-leading 83, while Jake Guentzel is an 81, Nick Schmaltz an 80 and Cole Caufield a 79.

That’s frightening.

Halifax also possesses something many offensive juggernauts don’t: defensive credibility. Ivan Provorov leads a solid group that also includes Josh Manson, Bowen Byram, Jonas Brodin and Vince Dunn.

And then there’s Igor Shesterkin.

An 87 OV No. 1 goaltender behind this much offence makes Halifax extremely difficult to pick against.

The only reason the Norsemen sit second is that Fort Erie appears slightly deeper defensively from top to bottom.

Magazine verdict: Halifax might lead the CCHL in goals. If Shesterkin gets hot at the right time, they could lead it in playoff wins too.

3. CHATTAHOOCHEE CRAWDADS

Projected: 51–24–9, 111 points

Imagine preparing for Auston Matthews only to realize Nikita Kucherov is coming over the boards next.

That is life against Chattahoochee.

Kucherov’s 82 OV rating and ridiculous 97 passing/95 scoring combination make him one of the most dangerous offensive pieces in the league. Matthews gives the Crawdads an elite finisher, while Vincent Trocheck, Pavel Zacha, Cutter Gauthier, Matthew Knies and Valeri Nichushkin give the lineup both skill and weight.

Erik Karlsson drives the defence offensively, while Adam Larsson, Philip Broberg, Seth Jones and K’Andre Miller make this more than a run-and-gun roster.

But the real reason Chattahoochee belongs near the top?

Andrei Vasilevskiy: 88 OV.

There aren’t many teams in the league that can match this combination of superstar scoring and superstar goaltending.

Magazine verdict: The Crawdads look built for a long playoff run rather than merely a spectacular regular season.

4. VICTORIA RONIN

Projected: 50–25–9, 109 points

Victoria may be the team nobody enjoys playing.

Mika Zibanejad and Bo Horvat are both rated 81 and give the Ronin a tremendous one-two punch through the middle. Artemi Panarin and Clayton Keller create offence from the wings, while Andrei Svechnikov and Drake Batherson give Victoria additional scoring options.

The defence is even more impressive than the names initially suggest.

Esa Lindell owns a 99 DF rating. Gustav Forsling, Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider, Brayden McNabb, Adam Pelech and Quinn Hughes form a unit capable of playing virtually any style.

And Logan Thompson’s 88 OV rating changes the equation completely.

Victoria doesn’t need to score five every night. It can win 5–4, 3–2 or 2–1.

That flexibility is championship material.

Magazine verdict: Possibly the most difficult CCHL team to game-plan against.

5. PARRY SOUND ORRSMEN

Projected: 49–25–10, 108 points

Nathan MacKinnon is the type of player around whom entire seasons can revolve.

His 85 OV rating is supported by 99 skating, 98 puckhandling, 95 passing and 97 scoring. Mark Scheifele gives Parry Sound another elite centre at 81, and Jack Hughes adds yet another dynamic weapon.

Nikolaj Ehlers, Kevin Fiala, William Eklund and Jordan Kyrou provide speed throughout the wings.

The blue line is excellent, too. Mike Matheson, Aaron Ekblad, Roman Josi, Alex Vlasic and Erik Cernak give the Orrsmen both offence and defensive stability.

Then comes perhaps the CCHL’s best one-two goaltending combination:

Ilya Sorokin — 81 OV
Jet Greaves — 80 OV

There will be almost no soft nights in goal.

Magazine verdict: Maybe the safest preseason bet to remain near the top of the standings from October through April.

6. CAPESIDE LOONS

Projected: 49–27–8, 106 points

This forward group is loaded.

Jack Eichel. Dylan Larkin. Jason Robertson. Matt Boldy. Chris Kreider. Brady Tkachuk. Alex Tuch.

Robertson and Boldy both sit at 82 OV, Eichel at 81 and Larkin at 80.

That’s four legitimate first-line calibre forwards before getting to the supporting cast.

Capeside also boasts perhaps the league’s deepest collection of established defencemen: Charlie McAvoy, John Carlson, Zach Werenski, Noah Hanifin, Brock Faber and Cam York.

Jake Oettinger’s 78 OV rating isn’t quite at the Shesterkin/Vasilevskiy/Thompson level, but he won’t need to steal many games.

Magazine verdict: There’s enough talent here to finish first. Sixth reflects how absurdly strong the CCHL’s upper tier is rather than any major weakness in Capeside.

7. ICELAND ICECATS

Projected: 48–27–9, 105 points

Any team employing Connor McDavid begins the season with championship expectations.

At 86 OV, McDavid is the highest-rated skater on these rosters and remains exactly what opponents fear: an offensive cheat code.

Nick Suzuki at 82 gives Iceland another elite centre. Bryan Rust and Mark Stone are both 79, with Rickard Rakell and Travis Konecny further strengthening the attack.

The Icecats’ blue line may actually be more impressive.

Miro Heiskanen and Jake Sanderson are both 79. Evan Bouchard is 77, Rasmus Dahlin 76 and Victor Hedman 75.

That’s ridiculous puck-moving talent.

The question is goaltending.

Connor Hellebuyck carries only a 77 OV rating in this particular ratings set, with Jake Allen at 76 and Yaroslav Askarov at 73.

Against ordinary opponents, McDavid can cover that deficiency.

Against Fort Erie, Halifax or Chattahoochee in a seven-game series, it becomes more significant.

Magazine verdict: A legitimate championship roster with one identifiable pressure point.

8. WISBORG DONUTS

Projected: 47–28–9, 103 points

Wisborg might be one of the league’s most underrated teams.

Tim Stutzle is an 82. Adrian Kempe an 81. David Pastrnak a 79. Lucas Raymond a 78. Joel Eriksson Ek a 77.

That is serious offensive talent.

The defence lacks a Makar or Hughes type superstar, but Mattias Samuelsson and Ian Cole are both 78 while Marcus Pettersson, Ryan McDonagh and Oliver Ekman-Larsson provide tremendous stability.

Most importantly, Wisborg should never have to worry about goaltending.

Jesper Wallstedt is rated 81, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen 80 and Filip Gustavsson 78.

Three playable goalies over an 84-game schedule is a luxury.

Magazine verdict: The Donuts have fewer holes than several more glamorous teams and could be this season’s surprise top-five finisher.

9. CALGARY CHINOOK

Projected: 46–29–9, 101 points

If CCHL games were decided strictly by offensive talent, Calgary might be No. 1.

The Chinook can send out Connor Bedard, Steven Stamkos, Alex DeBrincat, Alex Ovechkin and Mikko Rantanen — and that’s before mentioning John Tavares, Alexis Lafreniere, Nazem Kadri or Matt Coronato.

Rantanen leads the group at 80 OV. Stamkos and DeBrincat sit at 79. Bedard, Tavares and Ovechkin are all 78.

And directing traffic from the back end is Cale Makar, with 97 skating, 97 puckhandling and a 79 OV rating.

Nikita Zadorov adds a completely different dimension. Rasmus Andersson, Kevin Bahl and Will Borgen make Calgary’s defence deeper than it receives credit for.

So why only ninth?

The crease.

Dustin Wolf is rated 76 overall and Adin Hill 70. Against the middle of the standings, Calgary’s firepower should simply overwhelm teams. Against the elite clubs, the Chinook may occasionally score four and still lose.

If Wolf outperforms his rating, this projection could be dramatically low.

Magazine verdict: The CCHL’s biggest wild card. Calgary has a 100-point floor and genuine top-five upside if the goaltending holds.

10. AMOS COMETS

Projected: 45–30–9, 99 points

Amos isn’t particularly young and doesn’t have the overwhelming firepower of Halifax or Calgary.

What it does have is balance.

Ryan O’Reilly remains an 80 OV centre. Filip Forsberg and Tom Wilson give the Comets high-end wing play, while Tomas Hertl, Anze Kopitar, Zach Hyman, Pavel Buchnevich and Carter Verhaeghe provide excellent depth.

The defence should be a major strength.

Mikhail Sergachev leads the way at 80, followed by Travis Sanheim at 79, Tyler Myers and Colton Parayko at 78, plus Lane Hutson.

But Scott Wedgewood is what makes Amos particularly interesting.

His 88 OV rating ties him with the CCHL’s top goaltenders.

A team with this much veteran intelligence, defensive quality and elite goaltending is going to collect points even when the offence isn’t clicking.

Magazine verdict: Nobody will enjoy drawing Amos in the opening round.

11. FERGUS FLAPPING KILTS

Projected: 44–31–9, 97 points

Fergus is another roster built more around depth than a single superstar.

Leo Carlsson and J.T. Miller are both 78, Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry 77, Shane Pinto and Jordan Eberle 76.

Darnell Nurse, Joel Edmundson and MacKenzie Weegar headline a big, experienced defence.

The secret weapon is Anton Forsberg.

At 82 OV, he rates significantly higher here than his name recognition might suggest. Karel Vejmelka at 77 gives Fergus a legitimate tandem.

The Kilts may struggle to match the league’s very best teams goal-for-goal, but they should be one of the toughest clubs to knock completely out of games.

Magazine verdict: Built to grind its way toward 95–100 points.

12. CHIPPAWA CRACKERJACKS

Projected: 43–32–9, 95 points

Chippawa doesn’t have a McDavid or MacKinnon, but it might lead the league in useful hockey players.

Sebastian Aho, Chandler Stephenson, Jake DeBrusk, Timo Meier, Jared McCann and Claude Giroux give the Crackerjacks an intelligent, versatile forward group.

The defence is extremely sturdy: Jacob Trouba, Brady Skjei, Justin Faulk, Connor Murphy, Jonas Siegenthaler and Brandon Carlo.

Joel Hofer’s 81 OV rating is another positive.

The question is whether Chippawa possesses enough pure game-breaking offence to keep pace with the league’s giants.

Magazine verdict: A strong playoff-calibre club, but probably one elite scorer away from entering the championship tier.

13. GEORGETOWN MILLERS

Projected: 41–34–9, 91 points

Georgetown should be competitive almost every night.

Dylan Cozens, Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther provide an excellent young nucleus, while Jordan Staal, Andrew Copp and Marcus Johansson bring veteran stability.

Jackson LaCombe leads a respectable defence, with Morgan Rielly and Shea Theodore adding puck-moving ability.

The intriguing part is goaltending.

Philipp Grubauer carries an 81 OV and Lukas Dostal a 77. If those ratings translate into performance, Georgetown could outperform this projection.

The concern is finishing talent. Compared with the league’s top 10, there simply aren’t as many players capable of deciding a game by themselves.

Magazine verdict: More difficult to beat than spectacular to watch.

14. NEW MEXICO SCORPIONS

Projected: 40–35–9, 89 points

Tage Thompson gives New Mexico something many teams in this section of the standings don’t have: a genuine star.

At 80 OV with 92 scoring, Thompson should pile up goals.

Sam Bennett, Evan Rodrigues, Alex Laferriere, Tyler Bertuzzi and Jack Quinn give the Scorpions a useful supporting cast, while the defence is veteran-heavy with Brenden Dillon, Drew Doughty and Ben Chiarot.

Sergei Bobrovsky and Linus Ullmark sound like a spectacular tandem, but their ratings here are a more modest 77 and 76.

This looks like a team that can beat anyone on a given night without dominating the standings over six months.

Magazine verdict: A dangerous middleweight capable of punching above its class.

15. SPRINGFIELD ISOTOPES

Projected: 39–36–9, 87 points

There are pieces here.

Brayden Point remains a top offensive player. Jean-Gabriel Pageau gives Springfield outstanding two-way utility. Logan Stankoven, Shane Wright, JJ Peterka and Matvei Michkov offer youth and upside.

Moritz Seider and Brent Burns form an excellent foundation on defence.

But there is a noticeable drop after Springfield’s top players, and neither Spencer Knight nor Stuart Skinner rates among the league’s top goalies.

Over 84 games, that matters.

Magazine verdict: Competitive enough to hang around the playoff race, inconsistent enough to make every week an adventure.

16. DENVER SPURS

Projected: 37–37–10, 84 points

Denver should be extremely difficult to classify.

Brock Nelson remains an 80 OV player. Mathew Barzal, Gabriel Vilardi and Morgan Geekie can produce offence, while the defence — Matt Roy, Hampus Lindholm, Dougie Hamilton and Rasmus Ristolainen — is respectable.

Darcy Kuemper is a 75 OV starter.

The problem is depth relative to the rest of the CCHL.

Denver has good players throughout the lineup, but very few areas in which it clearly overwhelms an opponent.

That’s usually the recipe for a .500-ish season.

Magazine verdict: The Spurs will remain relevant deep into the year but may ultimately get squeezed out by teams with greater star power.

17. LAS VEGAS ACES

Projected: 36–39–9, 81 points

Here’s the fascinating thing about Las Vegas:

Dan Vladar is rated 85 overall.

That alone could turn this prediction upside down.

The Aces don’t possess an elite offensive group. Anthony Cirelli, Adam Fantilli, Mikael Granlund and Mats Zuccarello are good players, but Las Vegas will be hard pressed to match Halifax or Calgary in a track meet.

The defence is veteran-heavy with Kris Letang, Cam Fowler, Dylan DeMelo, Artem Zub and Radko Gudas.

If Vladar performs like an 85 OV goaltender, the Aces could drag themselves into playoff contention almost single-handedly.

Magazine verdict: The league’s potential goaltending spoiler.

18. SEATTLE REIGN

Projected: 35–39–10, 80 points

Seattle can score.

Kyle Connor, William Nylander and Kirill Marchenko are all rated 79. Nico Hischier is 78. Ryan McLeod provides excellent two-way play.

Mattias Ekholm, Noah Dobson and Jakob Chychrun make the top of the defence respectable.

Unfortunately, the goaltending picture is difficult to overlook.

Frederik Andersen sits at 73, with Ville Husso and Vitek Vanecek each at 69.

Seattle may produce plenty of entertaining 5–4 games.

The question is how many it will win.

Magazine verdict: Strong enough offensively to stay alive; vulnerable enough defensively to make its supporters age rapidly.

19. VAL-D’OR NUGGETS

Projected: 34–40–10, 78 points

There is some intriguing young talent developing in Val-d’Or.

Anton Lundell and Juraj Slafkovsky are quality building blocks, while Matthew Schaefer has already reached 75 OV as a rookie defender.

Anthony Mantha and Tyler Toffoli provide veteran scoring.

But this roster remains a work in progress.

The centre group lacks elite offensive production and the goaltending group is led by rookie Jacob Fowler at 76.

The Nuggets will steal games. They will frustrate better teams. They might even spend stretches around the playoff line.

Sustaining it for 84 games is another matter.

Magazine verdict: The future looks more exciting than the present.

20. BEARTOWN BEARS

Projected: 33–41–10, 76 points

Beartown is clearly building toward something.

Fraser Minten, Michael Misa, Jiri Kulich, Isaac Howard, Sam Dickinson, Mike Benning and Ethan Del Mastro give the organization plenty of youth.

Jesper Bratt provides legitimate top-line talent, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains an excellent veteran and Alex Lyon/Mackenzie Blackwood give the Bears perfectly respectable goaltending.

But too much responsibility may fall onto developing players.

That’s a tough formula in an 84-game league loaded with veteran super-teams.

Magazine verdict: The Bears may lose plenty this season while quietly becoming one of the league’s more interesting future clubs.

21. SENNETERRE BEAVERS

Projected: 29–46–9, 67 points

Senneterre possesses size, toughness and several useful veterans.

Sean Monahan can still create offence. Michael McCarron and Jack McBain make the Beavers miserable physically. Thomas Chabot remains a quality puck-moving defender.

Juuse Saros at 78 should keep Senneterre competitive on many nights.

The issue is simply scoring.

There aren’t enough high-end finishers here compared with almost every roster above them.

Saros may steal points, but asking him to steal an entire season is too much.

Magazine verdict: Hard-working, unpleasant to face, but offensively underpowered.

22. WILLOWDALE RUSH

Projected: 25–50–9, 59 points

Kirill Kaprizov is the obvious attraction.

At 80 OV with elite puckhandling and scoring ratings, he should still produce regardless of the standings.

The blue line is actually respectable, led by Jared Spurgeon and Josh Morrissey.

But Willowdale is extremely young and noticeably thin at forward. Nate Danielson, Brayden Yager, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Gavin Brindley may eventually become important players, but they’re being asked to develop against CCHL lineups filled with established stars.

Jacob Markstrom gives the Rush competent goaltending but probably not enough to overcome the offensive gap.

Magazine verdict: This looks like a development season rather than a playoff season.

THE CCHL’S FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP TIERS

TIER I — CUP OR BUST

Fort Erie, Halifax, Chattahoochee, Victoria, Parry Sound

These teams combine elite offensive talent with enough defence and goaltending to survive four playoff rounds.

TIER II — ABSOLUTELY CAN WIN IT

Capeside, Iceland, Wisborg, Calgary

Every one of these teams has championship-level talent. Each simply carries one larger question mark than the clubs above.

For Iceland and Calgary, it’s goaltending.

For Capeside, it’s whether good goaltending becomes great goaltending.

For Wisborg, it’s whether an exceptionally balanced team has enough superstar firepower in a playoff series.

TIER III — NIGHTMARE FIRST-ROUND OPPONENTS

Amos, Fergus, Chippawa

None would be a shocking champion.

All three are deep, structured and capable of turning a playoff series into a six- or seven-game war.

TIER IV — THE PLAYOFF BUBBLE

Georgetown, New Mexico, Springfield, Denver, Las Vegas, Seattle

Expect movement here all season.

A hot goalie, one major trade or a breakout performance could change this entire group.

TIER V — BUILDING FOR TOMORROW

Val-d’Or, Beartown, Senneterre, Willowdale

Development will matter as much as final position.

FIVE PRESEASON STORYLINES TO WATCH

1. Can anyone actually contain Halifax’s offence?
Celebrini, Crosby, Johnston, Necas, Guentzel, Caufield and Marchand give the Norsemen enough weapons to turn an ordinary two-minute defensive lapse into three goals.

2. Is Fort Erie too complete to catch?
Draisaitl and Marner get the headlines, but Swayman, Slavin, Reinhart, Jarvis and a remarkably deep blue line may ultimately win them the standings title.

3. Calgary could make this prediction look foolish.
Few teams can match the Chinook offensively. If Dustin Wolf turns his 76 rating into elite production, Calgary doesn’t belong ninth. It belongs in the conversation for first.

4. Goaltending could make Victoria terrifying.
Logan Thompson’s 88 OV rating behind Victoria’s defensive personnel is one of the strongest team-goaltender combinations in the CCHL.

5. Never bet comfortably against McDavid or MacKinnon.
Iceland and Parry Sound possess two players capable of altering an entire season themselves. When the playoffs arrive, projections become significantly less meaningful when McDavid or MacKinnon is on the other side.

EARLY CCHL AWARD FORECAST

Regular-Season Champion: Fort Erie Falcons
CCHL Championship Pick: Fort Erie Falcons
Finalist: Halifax Norsemen

Most Valuable Player: Nathan MacKinnon, Parry Sound
Scoring Champion: Connor McDavid, Iceland
Top Goal Scorer: Nikita Kucherov, Chattahoochee
Top Defenceman: Cale Makar, Calgary
Top Goaltender: Logan Thompson, Victoria
Breakout Star: Macklin Celebrini, Halifax
Dark-Horse Team: Wisborg Donuts
Team Most Likely to Beat Its Projection: Calgary Chinook
Team Nobody Wants in Round 1: Amos Comets

FINAL WORD

The difference between first and ninth in this CCHL may be considerably smaller than the standings eventually indicate.

Fort Erie has the fewest weaknesses.

Halifax may have the most frightening offence.

Chattahoochee possesses the Matthews-Kucherov-Vasilevskiy formula.

Victoria might have the best combination of structure and goaltending.

Parry Sound has MacKinnon and remarkable depth.

Capeside can roll stars over the boards all night.

Iceland has the best player in hockey.

Wisborg may be deeper than everybody realizes.

And Calgary?

Calgary is the grenade sitting in the middle of every preseason prediction.

The Chinook can dress Bedard, Rantanen, Stamkos, DeBrincat, Ovechkin, Tavares and Makar on the same night. If the goaltending is merely average, Calgary should comfortably make the playoffs.

If the goaltending becomes good?

Throw the ninth-place prediction in the garbage.

Because then the 2026–27 CCHL championship race may have one more heavyweight than anyone expected.

CHP blog post

From the office of the GM:

It has been an interesting off season for our club. We saw a fair bit of roster turnover as we continue to rebuild and strive to get younger while remaining competitive. We are super excited about some of our young additions that will have only a few that most likely break season with our major league club roster and most being on the minor league club. As such we expect our minor league club to compete for a playoff spot and chance at the cup, with our prospects growing this season to join the pro league next season. Specifically, we are super excited about adding Fyodor Svechkov, Alexander Nikishin, Ben Danford, Oliver Moore, Brad Lambert & Alex Bump who will make the leap either this season or next. Our longer term prospects that we expect big leaps from developmentally are Alexander Bilecki & Ethan MacKenzie. Although we still have a few irons in the fire, we believe our pre-season preparation is completed. We added some scoring and speed to the roster this season with the additions of Sebatstian Aho & Chandler Stephenson as our top two centres, Jack Roslovic on the RW, and Simon Holmstrom on the left in depth roles. Rounding out our top six we re-signed wingers Jared McCann and Timo Meier to great contracts that will allow us flexibility in the coming seasons to go "big game hunting." We also added some grit and scoring with the addition of Colton Sissons as our third line centre. With the exceptional performance of our most tenured defenceman we wanted to extend Jacob Trouba and show our commitment to quality players staying with us long term. We have added Jonas Siegenthaler who has a chance to become a top pairing player, and signed Justin Faulk to quarterback our power play and add some pucking moving ability to our back end top four. With his exceptional performance last season Joel Hofer took the lead and secured the role as our top tender, moving Cam Talbot into a back up role, and we acquired experienced tender Jonathan Quick to add some experienced depth in case of injury or fatigue. We expect to make a serious run at a playoff spot this season and will need our starter to be rested and ready.

All in all it was a VERY exciting off season with a laser focused adherence to our long term plan while working diligently to not be at the expense of being competitive now.

We are really looking forward to this season and seeing how things develop!

Charlie Plante

Crackerjacks GM