It’s the first weekend of AHL hockey for the 2016-17 season and the Week 1 AHL Power Rankings are due.
If you are new to this, it’s one guys attempt at ranking all the AHL teams, 1-30. It runs all season on Monday at 4 p.m. most times, right here on the blog.
In this weeks version, the defending champs sit at the top of the mountain after raising a banner and beating a division rival.
The Eastern Conference runner ups and their closest competition are 2 and 3 this week.
Every team played a game this week except for the Bakersfield Condors, who are ranked, you just have to find them.
I won’t keep you. The Rankings begin after the jump if you didn’t link in direct.
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| Defending champs so far have proven that last season wasn’t a fluke. Two big wins against Rockford. |
Rank: 1
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
RFD 1 @ CLE 2
RFD 1 @ CLE 3 |
This Week:
@ GR 10/22
@ RFD 10/23 |
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| Handled their business this week against a pesky Utica team. Marlies could easily be here next week as a 5-0 team. |
Rank: 2
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
UTI 2 @ TOR 5
UTI 2 @ TOR 5 |
This Week:
@ RCH 10/21
vs. MTB 10/22
vs. MTB 10/23 |
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| Devils seem like they are picking up where they left off, beating up a stronger more experienced team in Providence and thrashing a team that is in for a long season in St. John’s. |
Rank: 3
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
ALB 3 @ PRO 1
STJ 2 @ ALB 5 |
This Week:
vs. BNG 10/21
vs. UTI 10/22
@ PRO 10/23 |
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| Admirals starting off 2016-17 off in great fashion taking maximum points out of San Antonio in tight affairs. |
Rank: 4
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
MIL 2 @ SA 1
MIL 2 @ SA 1 |
This Week:
@ CHI 10/19
@ RFD 10/22 |
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| Crunch are 2-0 after sweeping the Rochester Americans last weekend. Big tests this week with rival Utica and a trip down I-81 to Wilkes-Barre this week. |
Rank: 5
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
RCH 1 @ SYR 4
SYR 6 @ RCH 3 |
This Week:
vs. UTI 10/21
@ WBS 10/22 |
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| Perfect home debut for the Stars to kick off the 16-17 campaign off in the correct fashion. Tough road schedule inbound for Week 2. |
Rank: 6
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
CHA 2 @ TEX 6
CHA 2 @ TEX 4 |
This Week:
@ STK 10/19
@ ONT 10/21
@ SD 10/22 |
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| Grand Rapids is off to a flying start. Trap game in Des Moines Tuesday then a big test against the defending champs in Cleveland this weekend. |
Rank: 7
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 2-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
CHI 1 @ GR 3
GR 4 @ CHI 2 |
This Week:
@ IA 10/18
vs. RFD 10/21
vs. CLE 10/22 |
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| Could not have asked for a better start on the Southern Tier. Shutouts are few and far between for most teams, to do so against the firepower boasted by Hershey is something else. |
Rank: 8
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
HER 0 @ BNG 3 |
This Week:
@ ALB 10/21
vs. RCH 10/22 |
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| We should just call the Reign the, “Kings of California” because they have clearly been the finest team in the Golden State since the expansion out West. Pacific Division title defense off to a good start. |
Rank: 9
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
ONT 2 @ SD 0 |
This Week:
vs. TEX 10/21
vs. SJ 10/22 |
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| Ran Hartford around and ragged Saturday night. Penguins were perfect on the power play (2/2) and perfect on the penalty kill (6/6) Three this week with some good competition. |
Rank: 10
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
HFD 2 @ WBS 6 |
This Week:
vs. SPR 10/21
vs. SYR 10/22
@ HER 10/23 |
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| Great start against Springfield for the Phantoms. Will probably pick up a few more wins this week as well. |
Rank: 11
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
SPR 2 @ LV 4 |
This Week:
vs. BRI 10/21
vs. HFD 10/22 |
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| Couple of good teams coming in this week should set up Heat fans for what type of team they will be pulling for this year. |
Rank: 12
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
SJ 2 @ STK 3 |
This Week:
vs. TEX 10/19
vs. TUC 10/21 |
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| San Diego needs to work on special teams this week. All of the goals scored against them this past weekend were scored on the power play. |
Rank: 13
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
TUC 3 @ SD 5
ONT 2 @ SD 0 |
This Week:
vs. TEX 10/22 |
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| Things to build on for the Sound Tigers after a 1-1 start. Big divisional road tests for Bridgeport this week in Allentown and Hershey. |
Rank: 14
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
PRO 1 @ BRI 2
SPR 2 @ BRI 1 |
This Week:
@ LV 10/21
@ HER 10/22 |
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| Nice win for the Thunderbirds Sunday in Bridgeport. Now, a tough road trip to Wilkes-Barre then a home game against the IceCaps. |
Rank: 15
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
SPR 2 @ LV 4
SPR 2 @ BRI 1 |
This Week:
@ WBS 10/21
vs. STJ 10/22 |
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| We will learn quick whether or not this Wild team is going to be built to contend this season or not this week. |
Rank: 16
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
MTB 3 @ IA 1
MTB 2 @ IA 3 (SO) |
This Week:
vs. GR 10/18
vs. CHA 10/21
vs. CHA 10/22 |
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| 3 out of 4 points isn’t bad for Manitoba, considering where things were last year. Busy schedule this week for the Moose against some quality competition. |
Rank: 17
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-0-0-1 |
Last Week:
MTB 3 @ IA 1
MTB 2 @ IA 3 (SO) |
This Week:
vs. BAK 10/18
vs. BAK 10/20
@ TOR 10/22
@ TOR 10/23
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| Hartford beat up a bad St. John’s team then were beat up by a great Wilkes-Barre team. Schedule doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Allentown next for the Wolf Pack. |
Rank: 18
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
STJ 3 @ HFD 6
HFD 2 @ WBS 6 |
This Week:
@ LV 10/22
vs. STJ 10/23 |
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| Bakersfield starts their season this week on the road in Winnipeg, where they square off against the Moose before returning home on Saturday to open at home against the Roadrunners. |
Rank: 19
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-0-0-0 |
Last Week:
No games. |
This Week:
@ MTB 10/18
@ MTB 10/20
vs. TUC 10/20 |
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| Lost a close one to Stockton Saturday night on the road. Schedule doesn’t get any easier for the Barracuda this week. |
Rank: 20
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
SJ 2 @ STK 3 |
This Week:
@ ONT 10/22 |
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| Things aren’t going to get any easier for Rochester this week with a trip to the bulldozer in Toronto and then a road trip to Binghamton to close out the week. |
Rank: 21
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
HER 4 @ RCH 5
RCH 1 @ SYR 4
SYR 6 @ RCH 3 |
This Week:
vs. TOR 10/21
@ BNG 10/22 |
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| Roadrunners open their campaign with a 5-3 loss to San Diego. Scored all their goals on the power play. Two this week on the road in Stockton and Bakersfield. |
Rank: 22
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-1-0-0 |
Last Week:
TUC 3 @ SD 5 |
This Week:
@ STK 10/21
@ BAK 10/22 |
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| P-Bruins finally get a win at home against St. John’s, who are just putrid. Rematch this Friday against the IceCaps before hosting the Devils. |
Rank: 23
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 1-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
ALB 3 @ PRO 1
PRO 1 @ BRI 2
STJ 1 @ PRO 2 |
This Week:
vs. STJ 10/21
vs. ALB 10/23 |
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| Disappointing start for the Rampage to say the least. Close games against the division favorite Admirals. Two this week against the Wolves who are also looking to get off the schneid. |
Rank: 24
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
MIL 2 @ SA 1
MIL 2 @ SA 1 |
This Week:
vs. CHI 10/22
vs. CHI 10/23 |
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| Competition doesn’t get any easier for the IceHogs, who could very well be looking at an 0-5 start by this time next week. |
Rank: 25
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
RFD 1 @ CLE 2
RFD 1 @ CLE 3 |
This Week:
@ GR 10/21
vs. MIL 10/22
vs. CLE 10/23 |
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| Not one of you predicted two losses for Hershey coming out of the gate, so quit your boasting. |
Rank: 26
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
HER 4 @ RCH 5
HER 0 @ BNG 3 |
This Week:
vs. BRI 10/22
vs. WBS 10/23 |
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| If the Comets are serious about contending in the North Division, they need to start giving the heavyweight teams more of a fight. This week isn’t going to be any easier with a trip to rival Syracuse and division favorite Albany this week. |
Rank: 27
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
UTI 2 @ TOR 5
UTI 2 @ TOR 5 |
This Week:
@ SYR 10/21
@ ALB 10/22 |
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| Checkers looking to reset after getting smashed in Cedar Park. Perhaps their fortunes change for the better in Iowa this week. |
Rank: 28
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
CHA 2 @ TEX 6
CHA 2 @ TEX 4 |
This Week:
@ IA 10/21
@ IA 10/22 |
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| Is it going to be another long season in Rosemont or were these two games against the Griffins just anomalies? Schedule doesn’t get any easier with Milwaukee coming in. |
Rank: 29
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-2-0-0 |
Last Week:
CHI 1 @ GR 3
GR 4 @ CHI 2 |
This Week:
vs. MIL 10/19
@ SA 10/22
@ SA 10/23 |
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| Oof. 0-3 to start and lots of things to work on for the IceCaps. |
Rank: 30
Last Week:
Change:
Record: 0-3-0-0 |
Last Week:
STJ 3 @ HFD 6
STJ 2 @ ALB 5
STJ 1 @ PRO 2 |
This Week:
@ PRO 10/21
@ SPR 10/22
@ HFD 10/23 |
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