MOOSE JAW -- If you’re an unbeaten team four weeks into the Western Hockey League season, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll receive plenty of respect from any set of power rankings out there.
That’s no exception for the SportsCage WHL Eastern Conference version, as the undefeated Raiders hold down first place for the second week in a row.
A panel of long time WHL observers rank teams each week based on their performance and record, with most recent results taking priority.
The Raiders made themselves an easy top pick by taking commanding victories at home over a pair of Western Conference clubs, including a 6-0 win over the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday and a 5-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday.
Prince Albert now has a 6-0-1-0 record and along with Everett are the only teams yet to lose in regulation this season.
The Saskatoon Blades and Swift Current Broncos made the biggest moves, each jumping a pair of spots.
Saskatoon moved from fourth to second thanks to a trio of victories, with the Blades taking a 6-1 win over Vancouver on Tuesday, 4-1 victory in Swift Current on Saturday and 3-0 victory over Kamloops back home on Saturday. Saskatoon is now 7-2-0-0 on the season.
Swift Current moved up two spots from seventh to fifth, as they sandwiched their loss to the Blades with a 4-3 overtime win in Moose Jaw and 5-4 victory in Brandon.
No team dropped more than a place in the standings.
1 - Prince Albert
2 - Saskatoon +2
3 - Edmonton -1
4 - Medicine Hat -1
5 - Swift Current +2
6 - Moose Jaw -1
7 - Calgary -1
8 - Red Deer NC
9 - Lethbridge -1
10 - Regina -1
11 - Brandon NC
