Taylor Beck had five points on Sunday night.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

Taylor Beck seized the spotlight with a five-point performance in a game televised on Sportsnet on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Victoriaville Tigres and Kootenay Ice threw their hats in the ring as the race towards the finish heats up.

Western Hockey League

Hot team: Kootenay Ice

The Kootenay Ice are climbing up the Eastern Conference standings quickly as the league's hottest team. Kootenay won its last 12 straight games, a streak dating back to Dec. 15. Through the streak, the Ice compiled wins over elite teams such as Calgary, Saskatoon and Medicine Hat. The Ice is a scary-looking dark horse.

Hot player: Jeff Bosch, Moose Jaw Warriors

Bosch stood on his head for the Warriors last week, giving the team the goaltending necessary to return to the post-season after a one-year absence. In three games, Bosch allowed six goals on 127 shots for a .953 save percentage. All six goals came in a shootout loss to Brandon, as Bosch posted shutouts against both the Wheat Kings and Prince Albert Raiders.

Cold team: Edmonton Oil Kings

The Oil Kings failed to find a similar fate as they enjoyed last season when the team earned a playoff berth with a tiebreak win over Prince Albert. Edmonton has not won in its last 11 games and is all but eliminated in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The team was able to add some key pieces towards the rebuild by trading its veterans away at the deadline.

Cold player: Joel Broda, Calgary Hitmen

The overage forward hasn't scored at the same regularity as he did a year ago, but is still averaging more than a point per game. Last week, however, Broda failed to record a point in two games and was a minus-5. It shouldn't take long for Broda to break out of his mini-slump as the Hitmen added skilled forwards Jimmy Bubnick and Tyler Shattock at the trade deadline.

Game of the week: Vancouver Giants vs. Tri-City Americans, Friday

It's a big week for both the Giants and Americans. Vancouver will head to Everett on Wednesday while the Americans will also host the Spokane Chiefs on Saturday. Tri-City continues to lead the Western Conference point-race, but is hearing footsteps from Vancouver. The game should be interesting as the Giants are deep up front while the Americans' strength is in goal. Tri-City won both games in the season series, outscoring the Giants 13-5 in the process.

Québec Major Junior Hockey League

Hot team: Victoriaville Tigres

The Tigres are now tied with the defending league champion Drummondville Voltigeurs for first in the Telus Central Division standings. Victoriaville won all four games in the busy week, extending its winning streak to eight straight. The Tigres are a balanced team with scoring depth and solid goaltending. They are legitimate contenders for the league crown.

Hot player: Joel Chouinard, Victoriaville Tigres

Chouinard continues enjoying his career season with a nine point effort last week. In four games, the veteran defenceman scored five times and assisted on four more and was a plus-8. He scored the game-winner over arch-rival Shawinigan and is second in league scoring by a defenceman, three points back of teammate Emmanuel Boudreau.

Cold team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Rebuilding was inevitable for the Drakkar this season and wins will be even harder to come by after the team shipped its captain, Gabriel Bourque, to the Moncton Wildcats. Baie-Comeau lost six consecutive games, including all three last week. Their record is second-worst in the league this season, six points ahead of Halifax.

Cold player: Eric Gélinas, Chicoutimi Saguenéens

It hasn't been an easy transition for Gélinas since being traded to Chicoutimi. The 18-year-old defenceman was part of the three-team trade, which saw Jacob Lagacé head to Cape Breton. Gélinas was held pointless with a ghastly minus-7 through four games and has yet to record a point since joining his new team.

Game of the week: Moncton Wildcats vs. Victoriaville Tigres, Friday

It's not a stretch to say Friday's game could be a championship-series preview when the Tigres host the Wildcats. Both teams loaded up for the championship push by stockpiling talent during the trade period and are deep from top to bottom. The Tigres won the first meeting in Victoriaville, 5-4, on Nov. 29. Both teams are in pursuit of their division title. Moncton trails Saint John by 13 points in the Atlantic Division and will host the Tigres in the final meeting this season on Thursday the following week.

Ontario Hockey League

Hot team: Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

The Majors are keeping the race tight in the Eastern Conference after rattling off another three consecutive wins. Mississauga is undefeated in regulation in its last seven games and just four points behind Barrie for first in the Central Division. Although next year is supposed to be Mississauga's run season, it has the potential to do some damage this season.

Hot player: Taylor Beck, Guelph Storm

Beck continued his climb in the league's scoring race with a red-hot performance. The third-year forward scored three goals and added four assists for seven points in just two games. His emergence is one of the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing year for the Storm. Beck is fourth in league scoring and four points back of Windsor's Taylor Hall for first.

Cold team: Sarnia Sting

Sarnia remains in contention for the first pick in this May's priority selection as the team's struggles continued. The Sting has not won since the calendar turned as it is winless in the last seven contests. It won't get much easier as Sarnia will play three games in three nights for the second consecutive week.

Cold player: Shayne Campbell, Sarnia Sting

Campbell regained the starting job in Sarnia following the trade of Adam Courchaine to Erie at the trade deadline. The young goaltender was beat on 12-of-63 shots through two losses to Sault Ste. Marie and Erie, giving him a weekly save percentage of .810. Campbell will receive quality minutes to close the season, which should better prepare him for next season.

Game of the week: Windsor Spitfires vs. Kitchener Rangers, Friday

The season series has been intriguing to date, as both teams managed road wins to gain the split. Windsor won the first game, 6-3, on Nov. 6, while the Rangers took the second game 5-2 on Dec. 13. The Spitfires were without many of its star players who were attending world junior training camps during the second contest. Kitchener is always a hard building for the road team to obtain two points.