Calgary Hitmen forward Brandon Kozun, junior hockey's version of Martin St. Louis, is making ground on the league scoring race after another productive week offensively. Rivalry games between elite teams highlight the week ahead, including one televised on Rogers Sportsnet.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Windsor Spitfires
The Spitfires became the first OHL team to reach 100 points this season, winning all three games last week over Guelph, Sarnia and Sault Ste. Marie. Windsor is riding a seven-game winning-streak which all but ensures them the top spot in the Western Conference and overall league standings. The Spitfires' magic number to clinch the conference title stands at two wins while three will give them home-ice advantage through the playoffs.
Hot player: Jason Akeson, Kitchener Rangers
The sophomore forward has quickly turned into one of the Rangers' most reliable forwards this season and last week was no different. In four games, the 18-year old scored twice to go along with eight assists for 10 points and a plus-6 rating. Rookie teammate Jeff Skinner also chipped in five goals and three assists, giving fans optimism about the rebuilding process in Kitchener.
Cold team: Oshawa Generals
While it hasn't been an easy transition to life without John Tavares, the Oshawa Generals can take solace in the fact the playoffs are still an attainable goal this season. Oshawa, however, will need to improve down the stretch as the team has lost their last four games. The Generals are third in the East Division standings with 50 points, just two ahead of Peterborough.
Cold player: Andrew Loverock, Sudbury Wolves
The veteran goaltender's inconsistent play continued last week behind shaky Wolves performances. In two losses, Loverock was beat 10 times on 63 shots for a 0.841 save percentage. Sudbury is still much in the playoff race but will need stronger performances from their goaltending down the stretch.
Game of the week: Windsor Spitfires vs. London Knights, Friday
The top two teams in the Western Conference will meet for the fifth of six meetings this season when the Spitfires make their final trip to the John Labatt Centre. Windsor has won all four previous contests between the two teams, outscoring London by a margin of 20-10. However, the two teams have met just once since the trade deadline, a game where Windsor won on a fluky late third period goal by Andrei Loktionov. All but assured finishing behind the Spitfires in the conference standings, London could exhibit some doubt by beating the Spitfires for the first time with a healthy John Tavares in their lineup.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Calgary Hitmen
The league's top team showed no signs of slowing down in another win-filled week. Calgary won all four games, extending their winning streak to eight with a regulation unbeaten streak spanning 13 games. With 106 points accumulated so far, the Hitmen could break their franchise record of 120 points set in the 1999-2000 season.
Hot player: Brandon Kozun, Calgary Hitmen
The pint-sized water bug is one of the shiftiest and quickest forwards in the Western Hockey League. Kozun scored five goals and six assists in four games with a plus-9 rating. The Hitmen forward now sits second in league scoring with 96 points, three behind Vancouver's Casey Pierro-Zabotel.
Cold team: Chilliwack Bruins
One of the youngest teams in the league, the rebuilding Bruins have had difficulty finding the win column of late as their last win came on Jan. 23 in a shootout win over the Kelowna Rockets. The Bruins' losing streak hit double digits last week, losing all four games to stretch the slump to 10 overall. With the Portland Winter Hawks just two points back, the Bruins could very well end up with the top pick in the draft.
Cold player: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Once among the top 10 scorers in the league, the 16-year-old rookie appears to be showing the effects of a long and grueling season. Weal was held pointless in three games and was a stunning minus-7. One of the team's top two-way players, Weal's defensive woes could be attributed to the team's overall poor play of late.
Game of the week: Saskatoon Blades vs. Calgary Hitmen, Wednesday
The top two Eastern Conference teams will meet in a game viewers will be able to see on Rogers Sportsnet in the Pacific and West regions. The Blades are one of only three teams to beat the Hitmen on home ice this season while also holding the edge in the season series, winning two of three. Both teams have been red hot of late as the Hitmen are the team of the week while the Blades have won eight of their last 10 games. While Saskatoon is a long shot to top Calgary in the conference standings, another win for the Blades could give the upstart team plenty of confidence heading down the stretch.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Rimouski Océanic
Rimouski was late joining the party of elite teams in the league but the Memorial Cup hosts have come on strong at the right time. Another three big victories, two against fellow contenders in Québec and Moncton, and the Océanic's ship is steered in the right direction. Rimouski's winning streak now sits at 11 games, yet the Océanic remain 16 points behind Québec in the Telus Eastern Division.
Hot player: Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
What a final season of junior hockey the overage forward is enjoying. Riendeau repeats as his league's hot player after recording five goals and two assists for seven points in three games with a plus-4 rating. Riendeau leads the league in scoring and was the first to reach the 100-point plateau. Always scoring clutch goals, two of Riendeau's five last week were game winners while he also scored the first goal in the third game of the week.
Cold team: Victoriaville Tigres
Playing in a division with two elite teams and missing their starting goaltender, Kevin Poulin, due to injury did little to stop the bleeding in Victoriaville. The Tigres lost all three games last week, including a shootout loss to the league's worst team, the Halifax Mooseheads. Victoriaville has not won since Jan. 31 as their losing streak sits at seven games.
Cold player: Mikhail Stefanovich, Québec Remparts
Often criticized for being a streaky scorer, the Remparts' sniper had an off week offensively, failing to record a point in two contests with a minus-2 rating. Stefanovich wasn't the only slumbering Québec sniper though, as teammates Kelsey Tessier, Dmitri Kugryshev and Jean-Simon Allard were also held without a point. The Remparts were shutout in one game but won the next 2-0.
Game of the week: Rimouski Océanic vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs, Sunday
Not that the Océanic have any more hoops to jump through to prove their legitimacy, but a win on the road against the Voltigeurs sure would send a message to the rest of the league. Two of the league's hottest teams in the second half, Rimouski received great news in the form of the return of Keven Veilleux from injury last week. Rimouski was able to shutout the high-powered Québec offence last week but will have an even tougher challenge against Drummondville. The Voltigeurs have won nine of their last 10 games, averaging more than five goals per game, including two 10-goal performances last week.
