By PATRICK KING
Sportsnet.ca
Edward Pasquale took a big step forward in securing himself as Saginaw’s starter with a trio of red-hot performances. The fourth-round pick of the Atlanta Thrashers leads the list of hot players while some big names were shooting blanks last week.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Barrie Colts
The Colts continued flexing their offensive muscle with wins over Owen Sound and Sudbury last week. Barrie is riding a six-game winning streak and hasn’t lost in regulation since Oct. 15. Their balanced scoring and stellar goaltending makes them a formidable opponent as they remain in a tie for first in the Eastern Conference with Mississauga.
Hot player: Edward Pasquale, Saginaw Spirit
The 19-year-old puckstopper is realizing his potential with three stellar performances last week. Pasquale allowed just five goals on 103 shots for a .951 save percentage. He won games over Sarnia, Oshawa and Sault Ste. Marie. Pasquale’s performance should earn more starts after splitting games with Anthony Peters for the majority of the season.
Cold team: Oshawa Generals
The results may not have changed but the Generals had a strong outing against the defending Memorial Cup champion Spitfires on Sunday. Oshawa’s losing streak hit seven games with losses to Saginaw and Windsor, as the team endures a low point after rattling off five consecutive wins prior to the losing streak.
Cold player: John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves
The former first-overall pick in the 2008 priority selection has fought bouts of inconsistency this season. In two games last week, McFarland was held pointless with a minus-2 rating. His pointless streak is now a season-high three games. His numbers are still respectable, 20 points in 19 games, but more will be expected of the potential top-10 pick this season.
Game of the week: London Knights vs. Kitchener Rangers, Friday
There’s always added intrigue when the Knights visit the Rangers. These two teams are in contention for the Midwest Division title virtually on a yearly basis, a pattern playing itself out once again this season. Kitchener is atop the division with 31 points, four more than London. The Rangers won seven of their last 10 while London won six through that same stretch. It’s the first of six meetings between the bitter rivals this season.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Tri-City Americans
The Americans’ impressive start continued as the U.S. Division leaders extended their winning streak to four games. Tri-City defeated Kamloops and Vancouver by a combined 16-5 margin last week. The Americans have won 13 of their last 14 games and gathered 30 of a possible 36 points this season.
Hot player: Brendan Shinnimin, Tri-City Americans
The renaissance season for Shinnimin continues as the sophomore forward kept his torrid scoring pace with three goals and three assists in two games. The 19-year-old has already topped last season’s goal and assist totals and is second in league scoring behind Calgary’s Brandon Kozun.
Cold team: Edmonton Oil Kings
It was a frustrating road trip for the Oil Kings who dropped all four contests last week. Edmonton was topped by Calgary, Kamloops, Chilliwack and Vancouver but managed to obtain two points through overtime losses to the Blazers and Bruins. Edmonton hasn’t won since a 7-1 thumping over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Oct. 28.
Cold player: Landon Ferraro, Red Deer Rebels
The third-year sniper is off to a disappointing start this season. Ferraro was held pointless in two games with a minus-5 rating last week. He has managed just three points in nine games this season after being drafted in the second round by the Detroit Red Wings last summer. The Rebels will need Ferraro to regain his scoring touch if they’re going to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.
Game of the week: Saskatoon Blades vs. Brandon Wheat Kings, Friday
The Blades and Wheat Kings will meet for the second of eight times this season. Saskatoon and Brandon were widely considered the favourites from the Eastern Conference heading into this season. The Blades are meeting those expectations in the young season, leading the conference in points while the Wheat Kings’ slow start has raised eyebrows. Brandon won the first meeting 3-0 on Oct. 3 and both teams will approach this game with a four-point game mentality.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Saint John Sea Dogs
The Sea Dogs became the first team to rattle off a winning streak in double-digits this season. Saint John beat Halifax and Rouyn-Noranda twice to extend its winning streak to 11 straight. Thanks in part to their balanced scoring, Saint John is racing ahead of the pack in the Atlantic Division, now nine points up on second-place Cape Breton.
Hot player: Trevor Parkes, Montreal Juniors
The product of Fort Erie, Ont. has provided the Montreal Juniors with instant offence this season. Parkes scored five goals and added two assists through three contests with a plus-6 rating. He endeared himself to the home crowd Sunday with the game-winner over rival Québec in a 5-2 win. The 18-year-old forward is averaging nearly a point a game this season.
Cold team: Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Wins have been hard to come by for the rebuilding teams in the competitive Atlantic Division this season. The Titan is riding a six-game losing streak after losses to division rivals Cape Breton and P.E.I. last week. Goaltender Nicholas Champion struggled in his only start last week and is the subject of trade rumours heading into the Christmas season.
Cold player: Yuri Cheremetiev, Acadie-Bathurst Titan
In two games, Cheremetiev was held pointless with a minus-4 rating. The overage forward has yet to record a point since joining the Titan from the rebuilding Halifax Mooseheads this season. The Titan was expecting more of an offensive punch from Cheremetiev after he registered 49 points, a career-best, last season.
Game of the week: Québec Remparts vs. Drummondville Voltigeurs
The Voltigeurs will host the Remparts in Sunday’s lone QMJHL contest. It’s the second meeting of the season between the division-leading teams with Drummondville winning the first match-up, 4-1, on Sept. 25. The Remparts have cooled of late, losing all three games last week, two in shootouts. Drummondville won eight of their last 10 games, remaining four points up on Victoriaville in the Telus Central Division. The game will be important for pre-scouting should these teams meet down the road in a playoff match-up.
