The Drummondville Voltigeurs continue to raise the bar regarding impressive season-to-season turnarounds as they head into the holiday break riding a 17-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Calgary Flames prospect Greg Nemisz has the hot hand in Windsor with the OHL-leading Spitfires.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Vancouver Giants
The Giants only played once in the past week but they made quick work of the visiting Swift Current Broncos by thumping them 8-1 on Dec. 16. Vancouver heads into the break having won seven consecutive games and nine of their past 10 as they begin to pull away in the Western Conference standings. However, they will be without Evander Kane the next two weeks after he took the spot of injured forward Dana Tyrell on the Canadian world junior roster.
Hot player: Kyle Bortis, Calgary Hitmen
The overage forward from Saskatoon, Sask. had a fine homecoming when his Hitmen visited the Blades. Bortis scored a goal and had two assists en route to a 6-4 win. It was twice as nice as Bortis put forth the same effort in a win over Prince Albert, giving him six points in a shortened two-game week.
Cold team: Kamloops Blazers
The Blazers headed into the break on the wrong foot after losing their last three games. Kamloops has been outscored 13-5 during the three-game skid with losses to Kootenay, Swift Current and Prince George. Kamloops is now just three points up on Prince George for third in the B.C. Division.
Cold player: Deven Dubyk, Moose Jaw Warriors
The Warriors have had difficulty getting consistency from their goaltenders this season and last week Dubyk was anything but solid. In two home games against divisional-rivals Prince Albert and Saskatoon, Dubyk was beaten 10 times on 60 shots. The rebuilding Warriors, who were hit with a few unexpected graduations last off-season, head into the break with the worst record in the Eastern Conference with 21 points in 34 games.
This week’s key match-up: Regina Pats vs. Brandon Wheat Kings
The East Division should provide plenty of drama down the line towards the playoffs. The Pats are underachieving this season given the talented players in their lineup. Brandon, on the other hand, has been playing well this season as they move towards building confidence and momentum heading into next season with the Memorial Cup in their rink. The Wheat Kings are a point ahead of the Pats in the standings and one point behind Swift Current for second. Regina will be without their top players as Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert will be at the world juniors while 16-year-old standout Jordan Weal will be at the under-17 tournament.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Drummondville Voltigeurs
The Voltigeurs proved to be unwelcome guests in a big night for their rivals. Drummondville not only extended their winning streak by beating Shawinigan on Thursday but they gave the Cataractes a loss in the last game played at the Aréna Jacques Plante, while also overtaking them for first overall in the standings. The Voltigeurs went on to hammer P.E.I. in their next game as they have now won a stunning 17 consecutive games.
Hot player: Samson Mahbod, Drummondville Voltigeurs
Mahbod led the Voltigeurs charge as the red-hot team head into the break without a loss in nearly two months. Mahbod scored once and added five assists for six points in two games last week with a plus-2 rating. The veteran forward is tied for sixth in league scoring with 49 points in 35 games.
Cold team: P.E.I. Rocket
The holiday break couldn’t come quick enough for the struggling Rocket. The team from Charlottetown, finished its pre-Christmas games on the road, losing three games in three nights in Québec, Victoriaville and Drummondville. The Rocket was shutout in the first two games and then beaten 11-7 by the league’s top team, Drummondville. P.E.I. has won just once in their past 10 and have lost five in a row.
Cold player: Mathieu Corbeil-Thériault, Halifax Mooseheads
The 17-year-old rookie was shell-shocked in one start last week, giving up six goals on 36 shots. The six-foot-six, 188-pound goalie from Montreal hasn’t had much help in front of him as the rebuilding Mooseheads could be trading away assets over the holiday break and before the deadline.
This week’s key match-up: Shawinigan vs. Drummondville
The league’s top two teams will renew hostilities for the third time in as many weeks. The season series could be coming down to the wire after the red-hot Voltigeurs have made a comeback. Shawinigan won the first three meetings quite handily, by a combined score of 18-5. Since then however, the Voltigeurs have had the upper hand, winning the last two games by a combined score of 7-3. Just two points separate these two teams as they get set to meet for the sixth of eight meetings.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
The Majors aren’t an easy team to figure out this season. Sometimes up, sometimes down, the Majors went into the break on a positive note, winning their last five games. Mississauga has accumulated points in their past six games and are now just two points behind the Barrie Colts for second in the Central Division standings.
Hot player: Greg Nemisz, Windsor Spitfires
The Calgary Flames’ first-round pick from last summer put the right foot forward before the break. In three games, Nemisz scored five goals and two assists with a plus-4 rating. He scored the game winner against Saginaw on Tuesday while also opening the scoring in the next two games against Kitchener and Saginaw. Nemisz is now tied with Brampton’s Cody Hodgson for seventh in league scoring with 42 points in 35 games.
Cold team: Niagara IceDogs
The IceDogs are a prime example of a team falling on hard times after losing its star player. Niagara, who are without Team Canada defenceman Alex Pietrangelo, have lost six in a row heading into the break. Although the loss of Pietrangelo hurts, his departure can hardly be viewed as the only reason for the slide. The IceDogs dropped both games last week by a single goal and are now tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference with Peterborough.
Cold player: Ryan Daniels, Peterborough Petes
Both Daniels and goaltending partner Jason Missiaen were ice cold to end the first half of the season. Daniels allowed 15 goals on 75 shots through two losses to London and Barrie. The overage goaltender will benefit from some time away from the rink over the next week as the Petes keep their eye on a playoff berth.
This week’s key match-up: Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors vs. Belleville Bulls
The Majors will put their winning streak on the line when they begin the second half against the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have the makings of another highly competitive squad this season and appear to be loading up after the acquisitions of players such as Brandon Mashinter and Nick Palmieri. The two will add some scoring punch after the Bulls lost several top forwards to graduation last season. Mississauga, meanwhile, is the hottest team in the league in spite of missing their head coach, Dave Cameron, an assistant on Canada’s world junior team. A win over Belleville could help legitimize a second-half surge for the Majors.
