Canadian world junior teammates will go head-to-head when the Montreal Juniors head to Bathurst to meet the Titan. Louis Leblanc, who hardly missed a step since his return to Montreal, will go up against the red-hot Olivier Roy.
Meanwhile, Senators prospect Jared Cowen and Canucks prospect Alex Friesen are inching closer to some career milestones.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Red Deer Rebels
The Eastern Conference's quietest top team at the trade deadline is proving staying put is not a bad option. Red Deer continued firing on every cylinder to record its eighth-straight victory last week with wins over Medicine Hat, Moose Jaw and Kootenay. The Rebels are a point back of Saskatoon for top spot in the conference standings.
Cold team: Seattle Thunderbirds
The shoe appears to have fallen for the Thunderbirds who were in the midst of a turn-around campaign this season. Seattle lost its last five games and won just two of the last 10. The Thunderbirds are tied with Kamloops for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference standings and just two points up on last place Everett.
Game of the week: Vancouver Giants vs. Kelowna Rockets, Saturday
The race for the B.C. Division title doesn't mean as much as it has in previous years, but it shouldn't be short on drama. The Giants cling to a single-point lead over the Rockets, who have two games in hand. Both teams won their last four games heading into this week, but Vancouver is the hotter team over the last 10 games. Neither team figures to be in for an extended playoff run, but if nothing else, pride will be on the line in the usually strong B.C. Division.
Canadian NHL teams' WHL prospects:
Jared Cowen, Ottawa (Spokane) - drafted ninth overall in 2009
Cowen scored twice in the same week for the second straight week. He also picked up an assist to give him three points in four games and a plus-5 rating. Cowen already eclipsed his goal total with 12 this season and needs just three more points to tie his best point total of 30 in one season.
Ryan Howse, Calgary (Chilliwack) - drafted 74th overall in 2009
Howse saw his seven-game goal-scoring streak snapped in a 7-3 loss to Vancouver on Sunday. He scored three times and assisted on three more for six points in four games last week. Defence remains a concern in spite of his offence, as he was a minus-6 in four games and is a minus-15 on the season.
Tyler Pitlick, Edmonton (Medicine Hat) - drafted 31st overall in 2010
Pitlick enjoyed another solid week with a goal and four assists in three games with the Tigers. He was a minus-1 on the week, but remains a plus player this season. His 49 points are second only to Portland's Sven Bartschi for the rookie scoring lead.
Brad Ross, Toronto (Portland) - drafted 43rd overall in 2010
Ross snapped his 10 game goalless drought in Portland's 5-4 win over Tri-City on Tuesday. He picked up an assist in his last two games to give him three points in four contests last week. Ross' production dipped as he's off his point-per-game pace this season.
Max Reinhart, Calgary (Kootenay) - drafted 64th overall in 2010
Reinhart regained his scoring touch in January. In three games last week, he scored twice and had two assists with a plus-1 rating. He is a point shy of tying his career-best 51 points in a season posted last year.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Acadie-Bathurst Titan
The Titan are making a push towards the top spot in the Maritimes Division, but still trail Saint John by 14 points. Acadie-Bathurst won its last eight straight games and is unbeaten in regulation in their last 10. The Titan and Sea Dogs are each unbeaten in regulation in 10, but the nod goes to the Titan whose winning-streak is longer.
Cold team: Halifax Mooseheads
The Mooseheads are in danger of falling back into the Maritimes Division cellar after a rough stretch with one win in their last 10 outings. Halifax lost both games on the weekend, bringing its winless streak to seven. Although many of the losses were against quality opponents, the playoffs aren't a foregone conclusion if the team continues struggling.
Game of the week: Montreal Juniors vs. Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Wednesday
The streaking Titan will face a tough challenge with three elite teams this week. The test begins Wednesday against the Telus West Division-leading Juniors, who are winners of their past five games. The Titan will then play Québec and Drummondville on the road. Montreal is one of the top offensive teams in the league which could work to their advantage against a team built from the goaltender out.
Canadian NHL teams' QMJHL prospects:
Louis Leblanc, Montreal (Montreal) - drafted 18th overall in 2009
Leblanc helped his team stay ahead of the Gatineau Olympiques for first in the Telus West Division standings last week. He scored once, the winner in a 2-0 decision over Gatineau on Sunday, and had two more assists. The Juniors lead the Olympiques by five points.
Olivier Roy, Edmonton (Acadie-Bathurst) - drafted 133rd overall in 2009
Roy assumed the heavy workload since returning from the world juniors. He won all three games last week over Moncton, P.E.I. and Lewiston. He finished the week with a .900 save percentage and is tied for seventh in league wins with 18.
Jakub Culek, Ottawa (Rimouski) - drafted 76th overall in 2010
It was another scoreless week for the slumping Czech forward. Culek failed to pick up a point in either of Rimouski's two games and was a minus-1. He remains at 15 points in 36 games this season.
Steven Anthony, Vancouver (Saint John) - drafted 187th overall in 2009
Anthony helped the Sea Dogs escape from Baie-Comeau with a win on Friday by scoring the game-winning goal with less than four minutes in the third period. He picked up an assist earlier in the game for his only two points in two games with Saint John on the weekend.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Windsor Spitfires
Although the weekend ended with an overtime loss in Owen Sound, the Spitfires accumulated points in each of the past six games. Windsor boasted a five-game winning-streak prior to the loss on Sunday. The Spitfires still trail Saginaw by 11 points for top spot in the Western Conference, but it could be an interesting race to the finish.
Cold team: Barrie Colts
Last season's regular season champions are on pace to finish in the cellar this season. The Colts set themselves up for a good future after trading away assets at the deadline, but will be hard-pressed to give their fans much to cheer about the rest of this season. Barrie lost its last seven games and sits dead last with 20 points this season.
Game of the week: Kingston Frontenacs vs. Ottawa 67's, Saturday
The Frontenacs should have a lot to prove when they head north for a date against an East Division rival. The 67's dominated the Frontenacs in the last outing, a 9-0 win on Dec. 29 in a game where Tyler Toffoli scored five times. Ottawa leads Kingston by 11 points for top spot in the division, but trails Mississauga by 10 points for first in the Eastern Conference. With the return of its world junior players, the Frontenacs should stand a better chance this time around.
Canadian NHL teams' OHL prospects:
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) - drafted 172nd overall in 2010
Friesen enjoyed a productive week with three goals and three assists in three games. He was also a plus-5. Friesen scored a goal in each of his last four games and has points in five straight. He is now 10 points shy of tying his career-best of 60 points in a season.
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) - drafted 22nd overall in 2010
There's been a notable improvement for Tinordi lately in spite of the Knights cleaning house. Tinordi did not pick up a point, but is up to five assists on the season. He is a plus-3 in his last four games.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) - drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg suited up in Erie's first game of the week, but failed to reach the score sheet in a shootout win over Mississauga. He is tied for ninth in league scoring with 61 points in 45 games this season.
