Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Dale Mitchell is lighting it up for Windsor.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

The final week before the Christmas break provided some interesting results, most notably in Windsor where a veteran forward picked up the slack in the absence of his teammates attending the world juniors.

Ontario Hockey League

Hot team: Barrie Colts

The Colts are a win shy of tying the Canadian Hockey League's top winning-streak of the season after rattling off another two, extending the streak to 21 games. The Saint John Sea Dogs won 22 consecutive games recently. Barrie is looking like a nearly unstoppable force at the moment and just got stronger with the acquisition of overage forward Matt Kennedy. Barrie trails Windsor by three points for most in the league.

Hot player: Dale Mitchell, Windsor Spitfires

The overage forward responded in a big way after being sent home during a game the previous week for disciplinary reasons. Mitchell scored three goals and three assists for six points in two games. He scored the game-winner in the win over Saginaw and also provided the insurance goal in both games. His production is vital as the Spitfires are without six regulars who are at the world juniors.

Cold team: Sarnia Sting

The young Sting continue finding themselves on the wrong side of some one-goal games. Sarnia lost its last five straight games, three of which were by just one goal. Although the team is in rebuild mode, they can take comfort in the fact they remain competitive and are gaining valuable lessons along the way.

Cold player: Bryce O'Hagan, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

O'Hagan struggled during two outings last week, allowing eight goals on 52 shots for a .846 save percentage. The rebuilding Greyhounds haven't made it easy on their goaltenders at times this season but O'Hagan is growing with the young team. He will be a big factor next season when the Greyhounds could turn the corner.

Western Hockey League

Hot team: Brandon Wheat Kings

The Memorial Cup hosts hardly missed a beat without Brayden Schenn, who will represent Canada at the upcoming world junior tournament. The Wheat Kings rattled off eight straight wins heading into the holiday break and are looking dangerous offensively. Brandon has not lost since a 5-4 decision in Swift Current on Nov. 28.

Hot player: Drew Owsley, Tri-City Americans

The pint-sized Owsley is helping fans forget the graduation of all-world goalie Chet Pickard this season. Owsley stopped all 78 shots he faced in his two starts against U.S. Division rivals Everett and Portland, giving him his third and fourth shutouts of the season. Honourable mention goes to Kootenay defenceman Brayden McNabb who had a nine-point week.

Cold team: Regina Pats

The team's on-ice struggles continue in spite of making some big trades recently. Regina acquired Carter Ashton and Cass Mappin in separate trades in December but are without a win since Dec. 6. Regina is currently in last place in the tough East Division, and would be on the outside looking in if the playoffs began this week.

Cold player: Brandon Anderson, Lethbridge Hurricanes

The Hurricanes' inconsistency between the pipes continued being an issue for the team. Lethbridge is still without overage goaltender Linden Rowat while Finnish keeper Ville Kolppanen also fought the injury bug. Anderson, the team's No. 3, was beat on 11 of 54 shots in two starts for a .796 save percentage.

Québec Major Junior Hockey League

Hot team: Québec Remparts

It hasn't always been pretty, but the Remparts continued finding ways to win with some rather high-scoring affairs. Québec's winning-streak reached a current league-high four games after outscoring its opposition 25-16 through the streak. The Remparts hold a healthy 10-point lead for top spot in the Telus Eastern Division standings and boast the league's third-best record.

Hot player: Gabriel Dumont, Drummondville Voltigeurs

Dumont and teammate Sean Couturier led the way offensively for the defending champs in the final week before the holiday break. Dumont scored five times and added three assists for eight points with a plus-7 rating through three games. The Montreal Canadiens prospect scored the game-winner over Lewiston and is now three points shy of tying his career-best season point-total of 49 from last season.

Cold team: Acadie-Bathurst Titan

The Titan's losing streak hit five games as the team continued failing to win some close games. Acadie-Bathurst lost by two to Québec then in overtime to Rimouski heading into the break. Although the team is not in jeopardy of missing the playoffs, they are falling behind the pack in the top-heavy Atlantic Division.

Cold player: Philippe Paradis, Shawinigan Cataractes

The first round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, whose rights have since been traded to Toronto, was held off the score-sheet in three games. Paradis, a rough and tumble forward whose offensive game is still developing, was also a minus-4. Paradis will be relied on to produce more regularly in order for his team to climb up in the standings.