Alex Saulnier and his brother Allain each had good weeks for the Moncton Wildcats.

BY PATRICK KING
sportsnet.ca

Many surprises headlined the opening week of the Canadian Hockey League season. The Kitchener Rangers didn’t miss a beat without Jeff Skinner and Jeremy Morin while Montreal Canadiens prospect Brendan Gallagher starts the season on a tear.

Québec Major Junior Hockey League

Hot team: Drummondville Voltigeurs

The Voltigeurs may need extra time to make it count, but the young team remains the only undefeated group in the league. Drummondville outscored its opposition 15-9 in two wins to extend their winning-streak to six games. Their most impressive win of the young season came on Saturday when the Voltigeurs came back from a 5-1 deficit to beat Saint John 7-6 in a shootout.

Hot player: Allain Saulnier, Moncton Wildcats

His stat line is almost identical to that of his twin brother, Alex’s, but Allain gets the nod due to having scored a game-winning goal. Saulnier scored twice and assisted on seven more for nine points in three games with a plus-6 rating. The promising start from the youthful forwards is a sign the Wildcats won’t be rebuilding for long.

Cold team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar

If the young season is any indication, the rebuilding Drakkar are not yet ready to climb out of the cellar. Baie-Comeau saw its losing streak hit four games with another two losses on home ice to Halifax and Moncton. The lone bright spots on the team thus far are the offensive contributions of Pierrick Martel and Marc-Olivier Mimar.

Cold player: Mathieu Corbeil-Thériault, Halifax Mooseheads

A northern Québec road trip brought mixed results for the Mooseheads and their goaltender. Corbeil-Thériault won his first start against rebuilding Baie-Comeau, but was beat on 13 of 71 shots overall on the week for a .817 save percentage with two losses. The Mooseheads will be expecting a big season from the fourth-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Game of the week: Chicoutimi Saguenéens vs. Montreal Juniors, Friday

These two teams made headlines at the QMJHL entry draft when the Saguenéens traded Louis Leblanc and a third-round pick for Guillaume Asselin and a first rounder. Leblanc, the first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2009, left Harvard to join his hometown team in his future NHL city. Both players produced instantly since joining their new teams as Asselin is tied for third in points through six games.

Ontario Hockey League

Hot team: Kitchener Rangers

The biggest question marks for the Rangers revolve around their two snipers, Jeff Skinner and Jeremy Morin, and whether they will return. Kitchener didn’t need those two in the first couple games as the Rangers defeated Saginaw and Guelph. While the absence of their stars will always be on management’s collective minds, it’s reassuring that others have stepped up early.

Hot player: Alex Aleardi, Plymouth Whalers

The newest Whaler wasted little time endearing himself to his hometown team. Aleardi lit the lamp seven times and added one assist through his first three games with his third OHL team. Aleardi won’t alleviate the potential loss of Tyler Seguin, but will help ensure the Whalers aren’t doomed into rebuilding.

Cold team: Peterborough Petes

It’s far too early to push the panic button, but the Petes are off to a surprising start. Peterborough is expected to contend for the Eastern Conference crown, but was unimpressive through its first two games of the season. The Petes lost both games to Oshawa, including a 9-2 steamrolling on Friday. Peterborough is still without Ryan Spooner, who remains at Boston’s camp.

Cold player: Peter Di Salvo, Barrie Colts

Di Salvo will be used to seeing the puck this season. The Colts are a young team and will rely a lot on their goaltenders. Di Salvo allowed 13 goals on 89 shots through two games for a .854 save percentage. It will be interesting to see how long the Colts hold onto their overage goaltender, who could be a valuable addition to a playoff team looking for a starter.

Game of the week: Saginaw Spirit vs. Plymouth Whalers, Friday

The Plymouth Whalers have long since been the cream of the American-based OHL team crop. That could change this season as the Spirit look towards dethroning the Whalers from their perch as Saginaw could be one of the most improved teams in the league this season. American forward Brandon Saad, a potential top-10 pick for this summer’s NHL draft, could be on the verge of a huge season offensively.

Western Hockey League

Hot team: Red Deer Rebels

One of six teams to begin with a 2-0 record, the Rebels appear poised to take a step forward as a franchise. Of the undefeated teams, Red Deer had the widest margin of victory with 4-1 and 8-1 victories, both over the Edmonton Oil Kings. Potential first-overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had two goals and one assist to begin his second season.

Hot player: Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants

The Giants maintain consistency as a franchise in part due to the fact someone new steps into prominent roles almost seamlessly from season to season. The fifth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens got off to a quick start and assumed a scoring role, similarly to the way he did last season. Gallagher scored twice and added four assists for six points in the first two games of the season.

Cold team: Calgary Hitmen

Fresh off winning their second league championship, the Calgary Hitmen may finally find themselves forced into rebuilding. The Hitmen lost their home opener 5-3 to the Lethbridge Hurricanes before being shut out by the Kootenay Ice. Calgary will need more from its returning players, notably Kris Foucault and Jimmy Bubnick.

Cold player: Damien Ketlo, Regina Pats

Goaltending continues to be an area of concern for the Regina Pats. Ketlo allowed eight goals on 71 shots through two games for a .887 save percentage in two losses. The Pats aren’t likely to become a playoff team now that Jordan Eberle and Colten Teubert have graduated from junior.

Game of the week: Portland Winterhawks vs. Vancouver Giants, Wednesday

The Giants will host the Winterhawks in the back-end of a home-and-home that begins Monday in Vancouver. It was business as usual for the Giants while the Winterhawks dropped the season opener. Portland, which is widely considered one of the favourites to win the league title, is hoping for the return of some missing stars at NHL camps, most notably Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter.