The cream is starting to rise to the top in the CHL.
The Montreal Canadiens must be pleased with their first round pick in 2009. Louis Leblanc continued filling QMJHL nets last week and led his team to several more victories. Now they need last year’s first-rounder, defenceman Jarred Tinordi, to pick up his game in London.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Montreal Juniors
The cream is rising to the top for the team many predicted to win the league title. The Juniors won all three games last week, including two against the Québec Remparts, to bring their winning-streak to seven games. Montreal is now two points back of Drummondville for first in the Telus West Division with four games in hand.
Cold team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar
The losses turned from bad to worse for the Drakkar who are still in search of their second win of the season. Baie-Comeau lost all four games by a combined 19-4 score. The Drakkar got a solid outing from goaltender Jason Missiaen in their loss in Gatineau, but were unable to give him any support in the 1-0 loss.
Game of the week: Québec Remparts vs. Saint John Sea Dogs, Sunday
In spite of a shortened week due to the CHL Subway Super Series, the Remparts will face a tough challenge. Québec heads east for games in Bathurst and PEI before finishing the third game in three nights against the Sea Dogs. Both teams head into the week with the top spot in their respective divisions, but neither lead by a wide margin. Each game will be critical and it will be interesting to see how much the Remparts have left in the tank for this game.
Canadian NHL teams’ QMJHL prospects:
Louis Leblanc, Montreal (Montreal) – drafted 18th overall in 2009
Leblanc extended his goal scoring streak to six games by scoring in each of his team’s three wins over the weekend. He scored the game-winners over Québec and Baie-Comeau on Saturday and Sunday while also picking up three assists. Leblanc suffered an injury over the weekend and will not take part in the CHL Subway Super Series.
Olivier Roy, Edmonton (Acadie-Bathurst) – drafted 133rd overall in 2009
The candidate for Canada’s starting job has had difficulty with consistency of late. Roy allowed four goals in a loss to Shawinigan on Wednesday, before shutting the door on Moncton two days later. Roy was beat on 43 of 48 shots last week, for a save percentage of .906.
Jakub Culek, Ottawa (Rimouski) – drafted 76th overall in 2010
Culek snapped his six-game pointless streak, with an assist in Friday’s 5-3 win over Rouyn-Noranda. Culek did not pick up a point in the next game, also against the Huskies. His last goal was scored against Saint John on Oct. 12, a drought of 11 games.
Steven Anthony, Vancouver (Saint John) – drafted 187th overall in 2009
Anthony scored the insurance goal in Saint John’s 7-2 win over Cape Breton on Friday. He kept his point-per-game pace, despite being held without a point against Chicoutimi on Saturday. Anthony has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points, in 16 games this season.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors
The Majors’ only blemish last week, was a 2-1 shootout loss to the Erie Otters on Sunday. Mississauga had won seven straight games heading into that game, giving the team points in eight consecutive games. The Majors are starting to pull away from the pack in the Eastern Conference, with a five-point cushion on second-place Niagara.
Cold team: Peterborough Petes
One of the preseason favourites is still stumbling in November. Peterborough lost both games to Kingston and Niagara on the weekend, to see its losing streak hit four games. The Petes are a disastrous 4-11-0-1 on the season and tied for the league’s fewest points accumulated so far. One can’t help but wonder when the Petes will begin unloading assets.
Game of the week: Niagara IceDogs vs. Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, Wednesday
The IceDogs will make their first trip back to their former building in Mississauga for a rare late-morning contest. The IceDogs and Majors are battling for the top spot in the Central Division and Eastern Conference standings. Mississauga blanked Niagara 3-0 in their only other meeting of the season last week in Niagara. The IceDogs should have plenty of support from their former local fans.
Canadian NHL teams’ OHL prospects:
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) – drafted 22nd overall in 2010
It was a rough week for Tinordi. In three games against Ottawa and twice against Kitchener, Tinordi failed to record a point and was a minus-5. The hulking defenceman was on the ice for both deciding goals scored by the Rangers. Tinordi is a minus-4, in 14 games this season.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) – drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg helped the Otters pick up four of a possible six points against tough opposition last week. The Otters defeated Owen Sound and Mississauga, thanks in part to McKegg’s goal and assist in three outings. He is tied for ninth in league scoring, with 26 points in 19 games.
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) – drafted 172nd overall in 2010
The Niagara-on-the-Lake product had just one point last week, but made it count. Friesen assisted on David Pacan’s game-winner against the Peterborough Petes on Saturday. Friesen is tied for second in IceDogs’ scoring, with 21 points this season.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Portland Winterhawks
The league-leading Winterhawks are firing on every cylinder early this season. Portland won both games at home last week, to see its winning-streak extend to eight games. The last six of those eight wins, came at home and the last four were with Nino Niederreiter back in the lineup. The Winterhawks head out on a two-week East Division road swing this week.
Cold team: Calgary Hitmen
The defending league champions are in the cellar early this season. Calgary is riding a nine-game losing-streak after losses to Medicine Hat, Kamloops and Kootenay last week. Six of the Hitmen’s nine losses were at home, as the team continues to drop close contests. Calgary is the only team without double digit points so far this season.
Game of the week: Portland Winterhawks vs. Saskatoon Blades, Friday
The league’s top two teams will meet their only time this season when the Blades host the Winterhawks. Portland is the league’s hottest team while Saskatoon is tied for top spot in the Eastern Conference standings with Kootenay. Both teams boast championship aspirations this season and this matchup gives each their only opportunity to go up against the other conference’s best. It’s not a stretch to say this could be a league finals preview.
Canadian NHL teams’ WHL prospects:
Jared Cowen, Ottawa (Spokane) – drafted ninth overall in 2009
Cowen’s offensive game picked up with a busy schedule last week. He scored the game-winning goal against his hometown Saskatoon Blades then assisted on two more against Brandon and Swift Current. Cowen is fourth in team scoring, with 11 points in 14 games.
Ryan Howse, Calgary (Chilliwack) – drafted 74th overall in 2009
The Bruins’ sniper had a goal and two assists in three games last week, with a minus-1 rating. Howse is the only WHL player averaging a goal per game this season and is tied for eighth in league scoring, with 26 points in 16 games.
Tyler Pitlick, Edmonton (Medicine Hat) – drafted 31st overall in 2010
Pitlick returned from his three-game suspension, with a goal and one assist in four games. He is just a point shy of a point-per-game pace this season, with 12 points in 13 games. Pitlick is tied for fifth in team scoring.
Brad Ross, Toronto (Portland) – drafted 43rd overall in 2010
Ross scored his third game-winner of the season, with the deciding goal in Portland’s 4-2 win over Everett. He assisted on another in the Winterhawks’ 4-3 win over Red Deer on Friday. Ross is third in team scoring, with 17 points in 16 games.
Max Reinhart, Calgary (Kootenay) – drafted 64th overall in 2010
The third-year forward re-found his offensive game, with a goal and two assists in three games last week. Reinhart was a plus-3, bringing his plus-minus to an impressive plus-10 on the season. Reinhart is tied for third in team scoring, with 14 points in 18 games.
