EP Rinkside CHL Power Rankings: Playoff preview and awards

The CHL regular season has come and gone, and what a season it was. 

There was no shortage of surprises, ranging from the breakout Kitchener Rangers and their stars Carson Rehkopf and Hunter Brzustewicz to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar rattling off 53 wins. Anthony Romani, a year removed from going undrafted, led the OHL in goals, while Terik Parascak went from five WHL games last season to 105 points. 

A new wave of stars emerged. Gavin McKenna scored two points per game down the stretch and became arguably the league's biggest star in his draft-minus-two season. Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder Easton Cowan closed the regular season on a 36-game point streak. Quentin Musty and Calum Ritchie, a pair of late-firsts, are two of the fastest-rising prospects in the sport. And can't forget Zayne Parekh, who seemed to break records every night from February and on. 

With playoffs nearly underway, it's time to review our power ranking, league picks, preview the first round, and, of course, hand out the awards. 

And the league-by-league ballots:

Alright, we have our power ranking. Now it's time to pick our league champions.