Ontario Hockey League
Hot team: Niagara IceDogs
The IceDogs are now the league's hottest team after Owen Sound saw its eight-game win streak snapped in overtime. The IceDogs won their last seven straight games and trail the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors by four points for first in the Central Division, Eastern Conference and overall league standings.
Cold team: Kingston Frontenacs
It's hard to fathom the Frontenacs could have a worse loss than their 8-6 defeat to rebuilding Barrie on Feb. 5, but they took it to another level last week. The Frontenacs, losers of four straight, were embarrassed 10-3 by Erie on home ice on Sunday. There's not much time left for the Frontenacs to right a sinking ship before the playoffs begin.
Game of the week: Mississauga St. Michael's Majors vs. Kitchener Rangers, Friday
The MasterCard Memorial Cup hosts will head west to take on the Rangers in a game that will be televised on Rogers Sportsnet. The Majors are as good as advertised this season, but are hearing footsteps from the league's hottest team in Niagara. Meanwhile, the Rangers received a shot in the arm offensively when the
Toronto Maple Leafs sent Jerry D'Amigo to the Rangers on Feb. 3. Kitchener trails surging Owen Sound by seven points heading into the week for top spot in the Western Conference. The game will give each team a measuring stick on another elite non-conference opponent, but will be just as vital in each team's race.
Canadian NHL teams' OHL prospects:
Jerry D'Amigo, Toronto (Kitchener) - drafted 158th overall in 2009
D'Amigo is getting used to junior hockey's busy schedule after being sent down from the American Hockey League recently. He scored once and picked up five assists with a plus-2 rating in four games last week. D'Amigo recorded at least one point in each of his first six career OHL games.
Jarred Tinordi, Montreal (London) - drafted 22nd overall in 2010
Tinordi failed to pick up a point after registering two assists in each of the last two weeks. He was a minus-1 in three games last week, but did exhibit his physical side. Tinordi delivered a bone-crushing hit on Windsor's Alexander Khokhlachev in a game seen on Rogers Sportsnet.
Greg McKegg, Toronto (Erie) - drafted 62nd overall in 2010
McKegg's impressive production continued last week, but not at the same pace as January. He had two assists in three games with a plus-2 rating. McKegg's last goal came on Jan. 28 when he scored a hat trick in London, a span of seven games without lighting the lamp.
Alex Friesen, Vancouver (Niagara) - drafted 172nd overall in 2010
Friesen may have turned the corner after a somewhat quiet couple of weeks. He had a goal and two assists in three games, recording his first multi-point game in seven games over Barrie on Friday. He is now four points shy of tying his career-best single season point total of 60.