World Junior power rankings

Christian Thomas is making up for lost time.

Only recently returned from a long suspension, Thomas did his best to prove Hockey Canada right with a red-hot performance leading the Oshawa Generals. He was one of many players who enjoyed solid performances after the selection camp roster was named last Monday. The camp begins in Calgary on Sunday.

Hot

Christian Thomas, Oshawa Generals

Thomas is finally hitting his stride after returning to action following a 10-game suspension in late October. In his third week of action since the suspension, Thomas enjoyed his most productive week yet with three goals and six assists for nine points and a plus-6 in two games. Some view Thomas as having an outside shot at the world junior team. If he keeps up this play, he may just wear the maple leaf in Alberta.

Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders

The robust forward broke through with his most impressive week of the season after being named to Canada's selection camp. McNeill scored three goals and four assists in three games with a plus-3 rating. He outshone another camp nominee, Kootenay's Max Reinhart, in a 7-5 Raiders win on Friday, a game where McNeill picked up five points, including the game-winning goal.

Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks

Rattie continued his torrid pace after discovering he will attend the world junior camp later this week. In two games, Rattie scored once and picked up four assists with a plus-2 rating. His 28 goals this season is one off a goal-per-game pace and is tied for his career best output set last season. Rattie's offensive attributes should earn consideration for a scoring line role.

Brendan Gallagher, Vancouver Giants

Gallagher came up big for the Giants on an East Division road swing. In four games, Gallagher scored four goals and three assists with a plus-1. The diminutive prospect of the Montreal Canadiens is enjoying another solid campaign with 44 points in 27 games. His familiarity with Giants head coach Don Hay, who is also Canada's bench boss, should give him an inside track when camp opens this week.

Jerome Gauthier-Leduc, Rimouski Oceanic

No junior defenceman produces at the same clip as Gauthier-Leduc. He scored four goals and added three assists with a plus-3 rating in just two games last week. His 17 goals and 44 points are both first among defencemen in the Canadian Hockey League this season. Gauthier-Leduc could be the ideal power-play quarterback for the Canadian world junior team.

Brendan Kichton, Spokane Chiefs

Although one of the least recognizable names invited to camp, Kichton is doing his best to familiarize himself with the masses. The same week he was named to the camp roster, Kichton scored three goals and four assists in five games during Spokane's Central Division road swing. The product of Spruce Grove, Alta., is averaging more than a point per game this season.

Cody Ceci, Ottawa 67's

The future could be now for the third-year defenceman of the 67's. In three games, Ceci scored once and picked up four assists for five points and a plus-5 rating. The smooth-skating, draft-eligible defenceman is on pace to set career highs in every category. His 31 points in 29 games is just three short of the total he posted in all 68 games last season. He could be a sleeper on the camp roster.

Cold

Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67's

His head coach, Chris Byrne, preached the importance of playing strong before departing for the world junior camp. Toffoli, however, was not his usual, dominant self last week. In three games, Toffoli picked up only one assist and no goals, but was a plus-2. It was by far the least productive week of his season, which is concerning since his spot on the world junior team is far from a guarantee.

Brandon Gormley, Moncton Wildcats

Although he's on pace for his best season yet, the fourth-year junior may need to step his game up another level once the selection camp begins. He's a virtual lock to make the team, unless he has a bad camp. In three games during league play, he did not pick up a point and was a minus-3. The Canadian team isn't the only one watching him, as his name will continually pop up in trade rumours in the next month.

Louis Domingue, Quebec Remparts

Although Domingue's week consisted of just one game, it wasn't one to remember. Domingue was beat five times in a 6-4 loss at Halifax. He made just 18 saves on 23 shots for a save percentage of .783. Perhaps ironically, four of the five goals allowed were scored by Nathan MacKinnon, (he added an empty-netter for a five-goal night) who was left off the camp roster.

LAST WEEK HOT: Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks; Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads; Max Reinhart, Kootenay Ice; Joe Morrow, Portland Winterhawks; Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs; Jamie Oleksiak, Saginaw Spirit; Tyler Bunz, Medicine Hat Tigers

LAST WEEK COLD: Lucas Lessio, Oshawa Generals; Morgan Ellis, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles; J.P. Anderson, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors

Read last week's rankings here.