Remparts cold in January, while Royals and Islanders hot: CHL Hot & Cold

For a Memorial Cup host team, there's a process that leads to the process that leads to still more process.

The Quebec Remparts became an on-paper juggernaut with moves to add or regain the likes of goalie Zach Fucale and wings Anthony Duclair and Vladimir Tkachev. The ingredients have yet to congeal, but given that the Memorial Cup tournament is four months away, it's not necessarily a dire, panic button-pressing situation. At least that's how it looks from a vantage point far outside Quebec City, where there's a certain imperative to have a winner at Le Colisée before the team moves to its new $400-million monument to misuse of government money,

After a world junior-related hiatus, here is the weekly look at who is flowing and who is fraying.

OHL

Hot: Kitchener Rangers

If you thought back in July that the Kitchener-London game on Jan. 20 would involve an overage goalie named Jake Pat(t)erson, well, you were right. The Rangers have won 4-of-5 since simultaneously bringing in Detroit Red Wings-signed goalie Jake Paterson and getting blueline pillar Max Iafrate back from injury. This still seems like a far from complete team, especially with Colorado Avalanche draft pick Nick Magyar unable to get on the score sheet regularly.

However, 19-year-old Brandon Robinson has a hot stick with four goals in five, while Darby Llewellyn and Mason Kohn have formed a strong combination up front. It is a long way off from being able to say the Rangers salvaged their season, but they are on a good track. Also, if it's July and you're wondering about goalie matchups for a game six months away, it might be time to get some more hobbies.

Not: Mississauga Steelheads

The current five-game skid that has dropped the Steelheads (.443 point pct., eighth in East) doesn't just tie back to franchise goalie Spencer Martin's season-ending injury in December. Mississauga was able to snap Jacob Brennan of the Quebec League overage goalie conveyor belt after work to get Francois Brassard fell through, and Brennan has been north of .900 in save percentage in 5-of-6 starts. Getting outshot by wide margins and digging a hole with too many penalty kills has been more of a culprit. Lack of zone time has made it tougher for No. 1 centre Jimmy Lodge, who's goal-less in five.

It's frustrating times in Peel Region, although that's no excuse to apparently leave nasty notes on owner Elliott Kerr's vehicle. Kerr was compelled to issue a statement about that incident, although he reportedly does plan to attend the club's next game.

The slump shouldn't obscure the run 16-year-old defenceman Sean Day is enjoying, with 10 points in 11 post-Christmas games for team that doesn't give its D much window to rack up the power-play assists.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Carter Verhaeghe, Niagara (No. 82 by Toronto in 2013) — Captain Carter has 13 points in 10 games since the resumption of the OHL season, helping the IceDogs score six wins in regulation. Niagara, which was stuck on two wins at Halloween, is approaching .500 and likely should be able to finish fifth in the Eastern Conference. Verhaeghe's strength down centre has been a source for the change.

Tobias Lindberg, Oshawa (No. 102 by Ottawa in '13) — The Generals' fallowness on the power play is playing havoc with everyone's production, but Lindberg has come through with three-point efforts during recent tough road games (Jan. 4 at Sault Ste. Marie and Jan. 17 at Belleville). He's third in team scoring with 50 points across 42 games.

Jordan Subban, Belleville (No. 115 by Vancouver in '13) — Subban's two-goal night in a win at Mississauga officially moved him into the Bulls' scoring lead, with 17 goals and 36 in 43 games. The Bulls have also stayed competitive even though, well, a defenceman is their leading point-getter.

QMJHL

Hot: Charlottetown Islanders

Potential NHL first-rounder Filip Chlapik has channeled the setback from being left off the Czech Republic's squad for the world junior into putting up 10 points over six games in the past two weeks. With centre Alexandre Goulet (12 points over the same span) and Daniel Sprong (nine) making more of their opportunities, the Islanders stormed through Quebec last week while winning three games by an aggregate 13-6. Having to make a mid-trip lineup adjustment due to two-way forward Kameron Keilly being shelved for one game didn't throw them up in the getaway game, where they took down Memorial Cup host Quebec 3-2.

Not: Quebec Remparts

There is no way the rest of the league could be enjoying the Remparts being 1-5-0-1 across the two weeks, is there? Goalie Zach Fucale and right wing Anthony Duclair arrived their their world junior gold medals and Quebec, although possibly only temporarily, regressed into being less than the sum of their parts. Defenceman Brian Lovell, who has a President's Cup pedigree experience from his time with the 2013 Halifax Mooseheads, might also have a long-term injury.

The best face to put on it is that ultimately, the rest of the season is just about being ready for the Memorial Cup, which is four months away. Still, it would be something if the trend continues and RImouski, criticized for largely standing pat during the trade period, goes into the playoffs seeded ahead of the Remparts.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax Mooseheads (No. 9 by Winnipeg in '14) — The Dashing Dane had 19 shots over the Mooseheads' two games, both of which went to shootouts. Ehlers also picked up five points along the way.

Mason McDonald, Charlottetown (No. 34 by Calgary in '14) — Come Team Canada camp time next season, will it be possible to get some cheap symbolism out of Jan. 18, 2015? McDonald came out on top in a matchup against golden goalie Zach Fucale by making 14 of his 36 saves during the third period of the Islanders' 3-2 win at Charlottetown, With a 1.00/.971 statline on the week, the southpaw was the Q's No. 2 star of the week.

Jan Kostalek, Rimouski (No. 114 by Winnipeg in '13) — Is plus-6 with four assists over the five games since returning from the world junior, which has helped Rimouski stay at the top of the table.

Daniel Audette, Sherbrooke (No. 147 by Montreal in '14) — Broke out with a four-point day in a Sherbrooke shootout win against Saint John last Sunday. Audette, though, has had nearly as many goose eggs (7) as games with a point (8) since December.

Jérémy Grégoire, Baie-Comeau (No. 176 by Montreal in '13) —Back from wrist surgery that cost him the first half of the season, Grégoire has 11 points in as many games and has averaged 5½ shots per night. The sixth-rounder will likely play a ton for the mid-pack Drakkar.

WHL

Hot: Victoria Royals

The Royals' M.O. seems to involve playing a lot of tight games where there isn't much margin for error, so goaltending has to be as much of an immutable as possible. Justin Paulic, the 19-year-old whom Victoria parted with Winnipeg Jets signing Axel Blomqvist to obtain from Moose Jaw, has delivered with a 1.98 average and .933 save percentage in his first three starts. Sacrificing Blomqvist was no small price, but the Royals still have a varied attack with overages Austin Carroll and Brandon Magee (now the franchise leader in career points) and a pair of puck-movers at the back with Travis Brown and Joe Hicketts. It's also commonplace for a player who's been moved to really feel locked in after the December break, and ex-Calgary Hitmen Greg Chase is delivering of late.

Coach Dave Lowry's gang was pegged as a preseason favourite in August and is playing to potential of late.

Not: Medicine Hat Tigers

The rub with a team as potent as the Tigers is that sometimes they don't respond well to strong puck pressure, which is euphemistic for the human tendency to take success for granted. The Tigers' lead over Red Deer in the Central Division tightened up thanks to a 1-for-3 week that included a home ice shellacking from Regina and a road loss to a developing Saskatoon Blades team.

Every team will have a rough patch. The dynamic duo of Trevor Cox and Cole Sanford are likely to face all manner of shutdown tactics from here till the off-season, and will have to adapt accordingly.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Morgan Klimchuk, Brandon (No. 28 by Calgary in '13) — Klimchuk had his first back-to-back multi-point games since moving 4½ hours and one place over in the standings. The ex-Regina Pat scored twice in a win over Lethbridge and had two assists in a roadie against Swift Current.

Keegan Kanzig, Calgary (No. 67 by Calgary in '13) — The 6-foot-6, 242-pound man-child scored his first Hitmen goal on Sunday against Regina. Kanzig has been consistent since his move east, finishing even or in plus of 20-of-23 games since arriving from Victoria.

Ben Betker, Everett (No. 158 by Edmonton in '13) — The four-assist career night Betker enjoyed last Saturday came up organically. Betker, an overage, has 10 points (2G-8A) across eight games this month for the 'Tips.

Greg Chase, Victoria (No. 188 by Edmonton by in '13) — Not surprisingly, the former Central Division player fared well on the Royals' trek through Alberta, scoring three goals in as many road wins. That included a pair in front of some Oilers executives during an overtime win over the Oil Kings.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.