The top three teams from each league have asserted their dominance with just one loss each all season. Two rematches of former championship series and a possible league final matchup headline the week ahead.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Québec Remparts
The Remparts kept their torrid start alive with another two victories over Shawinigan and Val-d’Or. Québec has gathered 23 of a possible 24 points to open the season with their only loss coming to the Foreurs in a shootout in the second game of the season. The Remparts got revenge with an overtime win against the Foreurs Saturday night.
Cold team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar
The Drakkar are still in search of their second win of the season and will do so with a new voice behind the bench. Baie-Comeau fired head coach Stéphane Hains on Friday after the team’s disastrous 1-8-0-2 start. The team then lost both games at home to Lewiston on the weekend by a combined 9-3 score.
Game of the week: Moncton Wildcats vs. Québec Remparts, Sunday
The league-leading Remparts will face another big test at the hands of the defending league champion Wildcats in the third game in three nights. Québec has a single point lead on Moncton for first-overall in league standings, although the Remparts have three games in hand. Both teams have been the class of the league the last half decade and the game will provide each team with the opportunity to assert itself as the top team.
Canadian NHL teams’ QMJHL prospects:
Louis Leblanc, Montreal (Montreal) – drafted 18th overall in 2009
The Canadiens’ first-rounder regained his scoring touch with a return to home ice last week. Leblanc scored twice and assisted on another for three points and a plus-1 in two games against Chicoutimi and Val-d’Or. Leblanc leads the Juniors in scoring.
Olivier Roy, Edmonton (Acadie-Bathurst) – drafted 133rd overall in 2009
Roy looked good in a 30-save win against the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday, but was rocked by the offensive wizardry of the Rimouski Océanic on Sunday. Roy allowed six goals on a combined 62 shots for a .903 save percentage on the week. He has looked good in every start so far this season except the two against Rimouski, his only losses on the year.
Jakub Culek, Ottawa (Rimouski) – drafted 76th overall in 2010
Culek managed just two points in four games last week. The Senators’ third-rounder was held off the score sheet in consecutive games against Halifax and Cape Breton, the first time this season he hasn’t recorded a point in back-to-back games.
Steven Anthony, Vancouver (Saint John) – drafted 187th overall in 2009
Anthony made up for a pointless night against Rimouski on Tuesday with two points, including the game-winning goal against Rouyn-Noranda on Saturday. The veteran forward is averaging more than a point a game and is sixth in team scoring.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Owen Sound Attack
The Attack has been perfect since a 3-2 opening game loss to the Guelph Storm. Owen Sound has reeled off eight consecutive wins and sits atop the Midwest Division standings. The Attack has lived up to its name offensively by outscoring their opposition 19-10 in the three victories last week.
Cold team: Sarnia Sting
The young Sting is a much more entertaining team than a year ago, but they’re still learning how to win close games. Sarnia dropped all three contests last week by two goals or less to see its losing streak hit five games. The Sting has proven its offensive potency this season and should compete for a playoff spot.
Game of the week: Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors vs. Saginaw Spirit, Friday
The MasterCard Memorial Cup host Majors will have their biggest test of the season when they travel to central Michigan. The Spirit is just as strong as anticipated with eight wins in its first 11 games while the Majors have won seven of their first eight. Both teams will be buyers on the trade market and although it’s early in the season, it’s not a stretch to say this could be a league finals preview.
Canadian NHL teams’ OHL prospects:
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) – drafted 22nd overall in 2010
The Canadiens’ first-rounder won’t be a big point contributor, as evidenced by another pointless week. His contributions will be defensively and physically, and Tinordi was a plus-1 in two games against Erie and Kitchener.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) – drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg alternated between good and bad last week in a busy schedule with the Otters. He had three goals and three assists combined through two games against Kitchener and London, but was subsequently held off the score sheet and a combined minus-5 in the other two games against Windsor and Ottawa.
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) – drafted 172nd overall in 2010
The veteran forward is on pace for his most successful season. Friesen scored twice and had four assists in three games with a plus-2 rating. He came up big with four points in a 6-5 win over Oshawa on Saturday.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Saskatoon Blades
The Blades' march continued with two solid road victories in Red Deer and Lethbridge last week. Saskatoon’s only loss of the season came on Oct. 1 in a 7-0 thumping handed to them by the Brandon Wheat Kings. The Blades have won their last six straight since the loss and sit in a tie for first in the Eastern Conference standings with the Rebels.
Cold team: Brandon Wheat Kings
The Wheat Kings, meanwhile, have gone in the completely different direction since that blowout win over Saskatoon on Oct. 1. Brandon has not won since, a streak that has now hit six straight games. The streaky Wheat Kings began the season on a four-game winning streak and are now two games below .500.
Game of the week: Calgary Hitmen vs. Tri-City Americans, Tuesday
The Americans will be looking for revenge in a rematch of last year’s championship series. Tri-City has maintained consistency as a franchise with another strong start. The Hitmen are crawling out from a slow start and had a big win in Portland last week. This game shouldn’t lack any intensity after the entertaining league finals from a year ago.
Canadian NHL teams’ WHL prospects:
Jared Cowen, Ottawa (Spokane) – drafted ninth overall in 2009
There was just one game on the schedule for the Chiefs last week. Cowen assisted on Tyler Johnson’s power-play goal midway through the third period to give the Chiefs the insurance goal in a 3-1 win over Everett.
Ryan Howse, Calgary (Chilliwack) – drafted 74th overall in 2009
Howse exploded offensively last week, culminating with his natural hat trick against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. The fourth-year forward scored six times in four games including the overtime winner over Everett.
Tyler Pitlick, Edmonton (Medicine Hat) – drafted 31st overall in 2010
The adjustment period is coming to an end for Pitlick. The future Oiler impressed in his future city with three assists and a plus-2 on Friday. Pitlick had a goal and two assists in the back end of a home-and-home with the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday.
Brad Ross, Toronto (Portland) – drafted 43rd overall in 2010
Ross’ offensive game gave way to his physical game last week. The younger brother of Phoenix’s Nick Ross, Brad had two assists and 20 penalty minutes in three games with a minus-1 rating. Portland received scoring from some of its other lines throughout the week.
Max Reinhart, Calgary (Kootenay) – drafted 64th overall in 2010
Reinhart’s week started slowly as he was held pointless in games against Swift Current and Regina. He was able to salvage the week with a goal and one assist in the next two games against Moose Jaw and Regina. Reinhart still has a point-a-game pace early this season.
