We have already reached week #6. At this point, USA and Ontario rankings have solidified some as many teams pass the 20 game mark. We are essentially two months into the season. This might best be called your phase 1 rating. Approximately two-thirds of the season remains for most teams. Set a goal to improve your rating (forget ranking, shoot for an improvement in your team rating) over the next phase of the season. Good luck.

I appreciate the help from all 700 volunteers, but especially those in "lonelier" divisions and rankings. I'm hoping we can start publishing rankings for Western Canada in the coming week or so. If you have hockey friends in that part of the continent, please encourage them to volunteer for their local league. There are still hundreds of divisions that need help!

Our hearts go out to those impacted by Superstorm Sandy. I have heard from a few volunteers who are saving their cell phone battery for important stuff and have had to skip the weekly updates. Please be patient if you are looking for updates in the mid-Atlantic or New England area.

This week we've turned live rankings for Illinois Boys HS, Indiana Boys HS, ACHA Mens D2 and ACHA Mens D3.