FIVE MINUTE MAJOR It’s a new week in major junior hockey and the regular season is rolling right along.

With that, the first Canadian Hockey League (CHL) top 10 rankings are out. The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) saw four teams enter the top 10. Those teams include the Brampton Steelheads at number one, London Knights at three, Brantford Bulldogs at eight and Oshawa Generals at nine. However, it should be noted that the QMJHL and WHL are a week ahead of the OHL. The OHL just had their first week of play as the QMJHL and WHL just finished their second week.

In the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), three teams cracked the rankings. The Moncton Wildcats slotted in at four, Halifax Mooseheads at six and 2025 Memorial Cup host, Rimouski Oceanic at seven.

The Western Hockey League also saw three teams crack the top 10 rankings. The Medicine Hat Tigers slotted in at number two, Prince George Cougars at five and Brandon Wheat Kings at 10.

The Kelowna Rockets made headlines with their coaching on Wednesday when head coach Kris Mallette was announced as the head coach for Team CHL for the Prospects Challenge. He coached Canada to a third consecutive gold medal at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Joining him will be Gordie Dwyer, an assistant coach from the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Ryan Oulahen, assistant coach from the North Bay Battalion.

The WHL’s Everett Silvertips made headlines as well as Landon DuPont was named Rookie of the Week. He had a pair of assists in their game Saturday, Sept. 28 as they downed the Portland Winterhawks 8-2. He had another assist the following night in their 6-3 victory over Kelowna. Through his first three WHL games so far, he has four assists with a +6 rating.

On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the Spokane Chiefs announced that Shea Van Olm was their Ironworker of the Month. He currently leads Spokane with three goals and three assists for six points in four games this season and has found the scoresheet in all but one game. During Friday night’s road game at Wenatchee, he put home his first goal of the season. Then in the Chiefs' home opener Saturday night their rival, the Tri-City Americans, he had a three-point night with two goals and an assist. This performance also earned him first star of the night honors.

Last Thursday, the Vancouver Giants announced a college commitment. Former Giants goaltender Brett Mirwald has officially committed to the University of British Columbia (UBC). According to the Giants’ press release, Mirwald, 21, became the first Vancouver Giant to win the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy as WHL Goaltender of the Year last season. He ranked first in the WHL in saves with 1,723, first in minutes played with 3,190 and tied for third in wins with 29 and tied for third in save percentage at .913.

As far as any news with the CHL and NCAA, lawsuits are likely to ramp up as more players look to head to the NCAA after their time at the major junior level.