Brayden Schenn couldn't stop the bleeding in his return to Brandon.
Five of the seven Canadian-based NHL team prospects invited to Hockey Canada’s selection camp are featured, including the inconsistent Olivier Roy. Many of those prospects slumped in the same week they were named to the camp roster.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Red Deer Rebels
The Rebels are in a tie for first in the Eastern Conference standings after reeling off back-to-back home victories over Prince Albert and Brandon. Red Deer is riding a four-game winning-streak and collected points in its last six games. The Rebels continue their home-stand with games against Kelowna and Regina this weekend.
Cold team: Brandon Wheat Kings
Brayden Schenn’s return didn’t help stop the bleeding in Brandon. The Wheat Kings are mired in a nine-game losing-streak, with losses to Edmonton and Red Deer over the weekend. Schenn made an impact in the second loss, scoring a goal and adding one assist, but it wasn’t enough as Brandon lost 5-2.
Game of the week: Prince George Cougars vs. Portland Winterhawks, Friday
Two of the Western Conference’s top teams will meet for the first of four times this season, when the Winterhawks host the Cougars. Prince George is the feel-good story of the first half of the season, as it leads the B.C. Division with 33 points. Portland, meanwhile, is as good as expected with a league-best 47 points. The two teams will also lock horns for a second-consecutive game on Saturday.
Canadian NHL teams’ WHL prospects:
Jared Cowen, Ottawa (Spokane) – drafted ninth overall in 2009
It was a quieter week for Cowen, who was named to Hockey Canada’s selection camp roster. Cowen picked up an assist in Spokane’s win over Portland on Saturday, giving him one point in two games on the week. The Chiefs won both contests over Portland and Medicine Hat.
Ryan Howse, Calgary (Chilliwack) – drafted 74th overall in 2009
Howse cooled considerably last week in spite of being named to Hockey Canada’s selection camp. The fourth-year forward was held to one assist against Saskatoon and a minus-3 in three contests. Howse could be a triggerman on the world junior team after his hot start to the season.
Tyler Pitlick, Edmonton (Medicine Hat) – drafted 31st overall in 2010
Pitlick began the week with back-to-back pointless games in Seattle and Tri-City. The American forward then scored in his next game against Spokane and assisted on Linden Vey’s 19th goal of the season in Medicine Hat’s 3-2 overtime win in Kootenay. Pitlick maintains his point-per-game pace with 25 points in as many games.
Brad Ross, Toronto (Portland) – drafted 43rd overall in 2010
Another invitee to Hockey Canada’s selection camp next week, Ross broke out of his slump with a goal in each of his team’s games last week. He scored the first goal in Portland’s loss to Kootenay, but tallied the game-winner in a 5-1 rout of Tri-City on Friday.
Max Reinhart, Calgary (Kootenay) – drafted 64th overall in 2010
Reinhart helped the Ice finish the U.S. Division road swing on a positive, with wins in Everett and Portland. Reinhart scored in both wins, providing the winning-goal over Everett. He was held pointless in Kootenay’s first home game in two weeks, a 3-2 loss to Medicine Hat on Saturday.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Saint John Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs are flat out dominant in recent weeks. Saint John won all three games last week, to extend its winning-streak to eight straight. The Sea Dogs’ last regulation loss came on Oct. 22 to Acadie-Bathurst, a streak spanning 15 games. Saint John is first in the Maritimes Division and tied for first in points with Montreal.
Cold team: Lewiston MAINEiacs
The MAINEiacs weren’t able to enjoy the hospitality in their Maritimes Division road swing. Lewiston lost both games in Moncton and Saint John and was unable to win on home ice against Montreal on Sunday. The MAINEiacs’ mini slump isn’t a cause for concern, as the Baie-Comeau Drakkar dock in Lewiston on Tuesday.
Game of the week: Saint John Sea Dogs vs. Lewiston MAINEiacs, Friday
The MAINEiacs will get their chance at revenge when the Sea Dogs visit in the final meeting between the two teams this season. The timing couldn’t be better for the MAINEiacs, as the Sea Dogs will be playing their third game in four nights. Lewiston is still within reach of the Québec Remparts for top spot in the Telus East Division standings and a win over the Sea Dogs could help prove its legitimacy as a contender.
Canadian NHL teams’ QMJHL prospects:
Louis Leblanc, Montreal (Montreal) – drafted 18th overall in 2009
Leblanc got back into action for the first time in two weeks, after being sidelined with a shoulder injury in November. Leblanc scored the opening-goal in Montreal’s 4-1 win over Shawinigan on Friday. It was his only point in two games last week. The Juniors’ forward will head to Toronto this week for Hockey Canada’s selection camp.
Olivier Roy, Edmonton (Acadie-Bathurst) – drafted 133rd overall in 2009
Roy’s play continues to be like a yo-yo this season. The front-runner for Canada’s world junior starting role was beat on five-of-25 shots through two periods of action against Saint John on Wednesday. He bounced back with a 21-save effort over Gatineau on Sunday for a weekly .854 save percentage.
Jakub Culek, Ottawa (Rimouski) – drafted 76th overall in 2010
Culek was unable to break out of his offensive slump in three games last week. He picked up an assist in Rimouski’s 5-3 loss in Chicoutimi on Friday and failed to pick up a point in the Océanic’s other two games. Culek has a disappointing 13 points in 29 games this season.
Steven Anthony, Vancouver (Saint John) – drafted 187th overall in 2009
Anthony maintained his steady and reliable play for the Sea Dogs last week. In three games, he scored once and assisted on another with a plus-2 rating. The fourth-year forward is still averaging a point-per-game pace, with 24 points in 24 games.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Ottawa 67’s
The 67’s climbed to the top of the East Division standings with their red-hot play. On the strength of league-leading scorer Shane Prince and Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa is second only to Owen Sound in goals scored this season with 124. Ottawa won eight of its last 10 and trails Mississauga by eight points for top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Cold team: Barrie Colts
The growing pains continued for the Colts. Barrie has not won since Nov. 5, when they beat Kingston 5-1, a winless streak spanning 12 games. The rebuilding team has the inside track on acquiring the first-overall pick with the league’s worst record.
Game of the week: Oshawa Generals vs. Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors, Friday
The Generals will make the short drive across the Toronto for their first game in Mississauga this season. The Majors saw their 10-game winning-streak snapped on Sunday by the Guelph Storm and will have a tough schedule with Niagara then Oshawa. The Generals are coming of age, after a rebuild which began with the trading of John Tavares several seasons ago. Oshawa is tied for second in the top-heavy East Division, five points back of Ottawa heading into the week.
Canadian NHL teams’ OHL prospects:
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) – drafted 22nd overall in 2010
Tinordi was a minus-1 with no points in three games last week with the Knights. His play this season has left something to be desired at times and one can’t help but wonder if he may have lost out on a roster spot for USA Hockey’s selection camp. Their camp roster will be named on Tuesday.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) – drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg remains in the top 10 in league scoring with another strong week offensively. McKegg assisted on Phil Varone’s overtime winner against Kitchener on Friday. He also had a goal and one assist against Sarnia in a shootout loss the following night.
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) – drafted 172nd overall in 2010
Friesen was held pointless in back-to-back games for only the third time this season. The veteran forward did not pick up a point in a win over Windsor and loss in Sarnia. He salvaged the week by assisting on Ryan Strome’s goal in a 3-1 win against Kitchener on Saturday.
