Drummondville’s Yannick Riendeau raised the bar with an impressive offensive performance last week. Meanwhile, several huge matchups across each league highlight the week ahead.
Western Hockey League
Hot team: Calgary Hitmen
Playing four games in six nights against Eastern Conference rivals, the Calgary Hitmen continued the racking up the wins and pulling away from the competition. Calgary has already earned a playoff spot while just two points shy of hitting the century mark in the point’s column. The Hitmen have won eight of their last nine games with their only blemish being a thrilling 7-6 overtime loss to Brandon the previous weekend.
Hot player: Matt Calvert, Brandon Wheat Kings
The sophomore sniper was on fire last week, scoring four goals and adding six assists for 10 points in three games with a plus-6 rating. Calvert scored the game winner against Edmonton on Saturday as his Wheat Kings continue sending a message that is reverberating loud and clear throughout the Eastern Conference: the Wheat Kings are for real.
Cold team: Chilliwack Bruins
The rebuilding Bruins will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs for the third time since joining the league after squeaking in their first two seasons. Perhaps the most alarming problem in Chilliwack lately is their lack of scoring as the team has gone ice cold offensively. The Bruins have scored no more than one goal in each of their last six games, which included a three-game stretch where they were shut out in each contest.
Cold player: Jeff Lee, Edmonton Oil Kings
The Oil Kings’ leading scorer was held in check through four games last week, failing to record a single point and finishing a ghastly minus-5. The overage forward is the most dependable player on the young team and will be one of the main players relied upon to get the team back on track if they’re going to reach the playoffs for the first time since the franchise’s rebirth last season.
Game of the week: Calgary Hitmen vs. Brandon Wheat Kings, Friday
Less than two weeks after the Wheat Kings raised eyebrows around the league for their big win at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, the Hitmen have a chance to return the favour in Brandon. The Wheat Kings have turned into one of the hottest teams in the league of late, proving they’re a team capable of playing spoiler come playoff time. The Hitmen, meanwhile, are the league’s top team and play with a chip on their shoulder, particularly against teams that have beaten them. Calgary holds the edge in the season series having won the first two games before losing the overtime game two weeks ago. This could be a conference final preview.
Québec Major Junior Hockey League
Hot team: Rimouski Océanic
Better late than never for the Memorial Cup host team. In spite of being ravaged by injuries once again this season, the Océanic are finding ways to live up to their billing as hosts. Rimouski has now won eight consecutive games, including all three on their trip through the Maritimes last week. Head coach Clément Jodoin has done an excellent job creating chemistry with so many new faces in so little time.
Hot player: Yannick Riendeau, Drummondville Voltigeurs
A popular fixture as hot player of the week, Riendeau was an unstoppable force leading the Drummondville Voltigeurs last week. In just three games, Riendeau scored five goals and seven assists with a plus-4 rating. He scored both game winners against Lewiston, on an overtime penalty shot on Friday and midway through the first period on Saturday.
Cold team: Lewiston MAINEiacs
With a tumultuous atmosphere off the ice regarding the team trying to relocate, the on-ice product has been suffering. Lewiston is now riding a four game losing streak with the lowest point coming in a 10-1 beating handed by the Drummondville Voltigeurs. It doesn’t appear as though fans in Lewiston will have much to cheer for in the weeks leading up to the franchise’s departure.
Cold player: Nicolas Deschamps, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
The 19-year-old forward was a non-factor through his team’s four games last week, going pointless and finishing with a minus-1. Deschamps, a second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks, has the talent to be one of the top scoring forwards in the league when he’s on his game but his chances weren’t going in for him last week, as evidenced by his 10 shots.
Game of the week: Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Moncton Wildcats, Tuesday
This matchup has the potential to be a playoff-round preview. Both teams have been among the league leaders all season but their playing styles couldn’t be any different. The Voltigeurs boast the league’s most flamboyantly potent offence, scoring 264 goals in 54 games, an average just shy of five per game. Meanwhile, Wildcats goaltender Nicola Riopel has been fantastic this season and could earn consideration as the CHL goaltender of the week. Drummondville won the only other meeting of the season 3-2 on Nov. 15.
Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Brampton Battalion
The Battalion needed overtime against Kingston to extend their winning streak on Thursday, taking the extra point off Matt Duchene’s goal with half a minute remaining before a shootout. Brampton then beat the Ottawa 67’s 5-2 the following night, extending their winning streak to an impressive 12 consecutive games. Brampton is tied with Belleville for top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
Hot player: Andris Dzerins, Kingston Frontenacs
The Latvian sniper broke out in a big way last week, scoring three goals and adding five assists for eight points in three games with a plus-2. While quiet most of the season, the second-year OHLer had a big week, along with teammate Nathan Moon who had one point less than Dzerins. The overage forward had the game winner and insurance goal in the win over Ottawa on Sunday.
Cold team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Playing three games in four nights, the Greyhounds failed to snap out of their winless skid, which now sits at 11 games. Sault Ste. Marie did, however, manage their first point since Jan. 10 on a shootout loss to Erie. The Greyhounds head home for dates with some talented teams in Sudbury, Windsor and Plymouth this week.
Cold player: John Carlson, London Knights
The defenceman who often resembles a forward looked more like the former in his least productive week of the season. Carlson was held to one assist in three games and was a minus-1, going pointless in consecutive games for only the second time all season. Counting the last game of the previous week, Carlson has just one point in four games.
Game of the week: Brampton Battalion vs. Belleville Bulls, Wednesday
The top two teams in the Eastern Conference will battle for only the second time this season as Brampton took the first meeting by a 7-1 final on Nov. 9. This game, however, will likely feature two different goalies as Brampton has since acquired Thomas McCollum while Belleville backup Philipp Grubauer was between the pipes in the first meeting. Many expect these two teams to battle it out for the conference crown come playoff time in a matchup almost as highly anticipated as that in the Western Conference between London and Windsor. Expect a high-intensity, playoff atmosphere as both teams attempt to build momentum for the playoffs and win the all-important season series.
