By PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca
The Brandon Wheat Kings appear poised to break out as their duo of Matt Calvert and Brayden Schenn both enjoyed huge weeks offensively. Meanwhile, a few noteworthy players with hopes of representing Canada at this year's world junior tournament struggled.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Saint John Sea Dogs
Saint John kept their impressive winning streak alive with another two wins over Baie-Comeau and Acadie-Bathurst. Questions whether the Sea Dogs are capable of contending this season appear to have been answered as the team holds a 21-4-1-0 record and 13-game winning streak. They now have an 11-point lead in the Atlantic Division.
Hot player: Mathieu Corbeil-Thériault, Halifax Mooseheads
The Mooseheads' resurgence is headlined by their veteran goaltender who captured the league's defensive player of the week honours last week. In his last two starts, Corbeil-Thérieault allowed just two goals on 70 shots for a sparkling .971 save percentage. Halifax is now riding an impressive four-game winning streak.
Cold team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar
The Drakkar began the week with an overtime loss to Acadie-Bathurst as they continue to search for the first win since beating Rimouski on Oct. 23. Baie-Comeau will face the Océanic twice at home this week which will be crucial if the team hopes to build for a playoff run this season.
Cold player: Jake Allen, Montreal Juniors
The leading candidate for Canada's world junior starting job this December was uncharacteristically poor in two outings last week. Allen was beat nine times on 63 shots for a .857 save percentage. The 19-year-old won't need to wait long to redeem himself as he will suit up in the Subway Super Series beginning Monday.
Game of the week: Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs, Friday
The tests won't get much bigger than this for the Sea Dogs as they hope to build on their franchise best winning streak. The defending league champion Voltigeurs will be looking for a better performance after blowing a two-goal lead against Québec in the third period in last week's highlighted game. A win for Saint John could help further prove their legitimacy as league contender in this match-up between the top two teams.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Barrie Colts
Although the Windsor Spitfires' regulation unbeaten streak is longer, the Colts' winning streak is a current league-best eight games. Barrie's red-hot offence continued leading the way, outscoring Sudbury and Peterborough by a combined 11-1 margin. The Colts haven't lost since Oct. 22 in a shootout against Sarnia. They trail Mississauga by two points for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Hot player: Ethan Werek, Kingston Frontenacs
The offensive catalyst of the Frontenacs had another strong showing as he builds towards earning an invitation to the Canadian world junior selection camp. Werek scored three times and added four assists for seven points in three games with a plus-5 rating. He will have another opportunity to showcase his skills in Thursday's Subway Super Series.
Cold team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The young Greyhounds dropped a game below .500 after failing to break out of their slump. The Soo lost both games on home ice to Mississauga and London, extending its losing streak to five games. Sault Ste. Marie's last win came on Nov. 1 against the Kingston Frontenacs.
Cold player: Robin Lehner, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Swedish rookie goaltender continued to struggle against elite competition with two losses to Mississauga and London. Lehner was beaten seven times on 41 shots in those outings for a .829 save percentage on the week. His name could surface in trade rumours in the near future if the Greyhounds continue losing games and fade out of the playoff picture.
Game of the week: Guelph Storm vs. Windsor Spitfires, Sunday
Guelph added another piece to the puzzle with the acquisition of defenceman Sam Lofquist, previously of the University of Minnesota. The signing should help the Storm compete with the league's elite teams, such as the defending Memorial Cup-champion Spitfires. Windsor's regulation unbeaten streak is now 15 games but the team has room for improvement after having difficulty dispatching substandard opponents of late. Guelph might provide Windsor with the perfect tonic as previous meetings with these two teams have been heated.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Saskatoon Blades
The Blades' regulation unbeaten streak remains intact with another two victories over Brandon and Prince George. Saskatoon is riding a three-game winning streak and recorded a point in 11 straight contests. The Blades now have a commanding lead in the East Division with 39 points, nine up on Moose Jaw and three ahead of Calgary for first in the Eastern Conference.
Hot player: Matt Calvert, Brandon Wheat Kings
The homegrown talent is on a scoring tear for the Memorial Cup-host Wheat Kings. Calvert scored five goals and six assists for 11 points in three games last week. The overage forward made headlines earlier this season by turning down a contract offer from Columbus to return to junior and has since become one of the league's deadliest marksmen with 33 points in 20 games.
Cold team: Prince George Cougars
The Cougars' road woes continued as the team lost all four games on their East Division swing. Prince George is without a win in November but will play their first home game of the month this week when they host Kelowna. The Cougars are still without forward and top prospect Brett Connolly who re-aggravated an injury early this season.
Cold player: Colten Teubert, Regina Pats
The former first-overall bantam pick struggled at both ends of the rink last week. In four games, Teubert recorded just one assist and was a minus-5. The normally reliable defender will need to pick his game back up as Hockey Canada has a watchful eye before naming its selection camp roster in the next couple weeks.
Game of the week: Calgary Hitmen vs. Brandon Wheat Kings, Friday
The Wheat Kings will host the Hitmen for the second and final time this season. Calgary won the first of four meetings with Brandon this season in a shootout on Oct. 7. These two teams met in an exciting playoff series last season where the veteran-laden Hitmen won in four straight. Brandon is still playing catch-up in the Eastern Conference as they continue to build chemistry with some new faces brought in this season. This game should provide plenty of fireworks as each team has many returning players from that playoff series last year.
