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Barrie Colts’ whole exceeding sum of parts: CHL Hot & Cold

So much, at least in the here and now, about wondering if graduations would catch up to the Dale Hawerchuk-coached Barrie Colts.

Perhaps it's the suspect-at-best, abject-at-worse quality of the OHL's Eastern Conference talking, but the sophomore due Aaron Ekblad and Brendan Lemieux have helped Barrie climb into the No. 2 playoff position on their half of the league. There's no point in rehashing last May's decision to give the London Knights the Memorial Cup hosting duties over the Colts, but Barrie deserves a hearty back-pat for staying competitive.

Here's a look at who is ebbing and who is flowing heading into the week, which begins Wednesday.

OHL

Hot: Barrie Colts

Barrie's 5-3 downing of Eastern Conference-leading Oshawa last Sunday did not happen in isolation. The Hawerchuk-coached Colts are 8-0-1-1 since the calendar turned to November and (coincidentally?) since 19-year-old forward Josh MacDonald was peddled to Peterborough. The month has been heavy on games against the weak-ish Central Division, although Barrie has also outlasted London in a shootout.

Star defenceman Aaron Ekblad's continued maturation is one factor and getting overage Zach Hall (13 points over this 10-game span) back from an injury has provided another boost. Sophomore Brendan Lemieux has also seven goals and 11 points over the last 10 games. Ultimately, the Colts are playing their way into buyer range at the trade deadline.

Barrie's newbie goalie, Daniel Gibl, has saved 99-of-101 shots across his last three starts. Mackenzie Blackwood is the busier stopper, but it could be interesting to see whether Hawerchuk starts to give more time to his 18-year-old import. Gibl's predecessor, Mathias Niederberger, was also brought along slowly in 2011-12.

Not: Belleville Bulls

At least with Belleville, observers are guaranteed to see some scoring. The Bulls have given up 27 goals during their current four-game win streak and have allowed at least five in 8-of-10 November games. Goalie Charlie Graham, who was sidelined for most of last week after being bowled over during a game in Ottawa, had 48- and 57-save efforts during the other two victories.

Consider that the fact-facing period of their rebuilding year, which would explain Tuesday's trade with Erie involving 19-year-old captain Brendan Gaunce, the Vancouver Canucks first-round pick. The immediate return from the Otters includes 18-year-old wing Stephen Harper, which somewhat shields the Bulls from having a totally neophyte lineup next season.

Winger Garrett Hooey already having a personal-best 15 goals in a third of a season could make him a depth add for a contender. Think Owen Sound adding Steven Janes at the 2013 deadline, except with a higher level of production.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Bo Horvat, London (No. 9 by Vancouver Canucks in '13) — Here is a centre for Canada's 'second six' at the world junior championship. Horvat has helped the Knights fashion a 10-game point streak as they eye the top of the conference.

Carter Verhaeghe, Niagara (No. 82 by Toronto Maple Leafs in '13) — The IceDogs' leading scorer lacks a strong No. 2 centre to off-set his threat, so it's not surprising that he had two multi-goal efforts this month and has been blanked in Niagara's other eight games. Verhaeghe did have a promising night Monday during the Subway Super Series game at Sudbury, scoring a goal in Team OHL's eventual 3-2 shootout loss that pared the CHL's lead to 10-8 over Russia.

QMJHL

Hot: Halifax Mooseheads

The Mooseheads get in by virtue of the two sweetest words in the English language — de-fault! — since they are 9-0 on the month. Tampa Bay Lightning No. 3 overall pick Jonathan Drouin has 30 points over this stretch, which practically seems unfair. Obviously, there's much more going on than Drouin being too good for the QMJHL. Halifax isn't giving observers a chance to see how Montreal Canadiens-drafted goalie Zach Fucale would handle having regular 35- to 40-shot workloads. The reconfigured back end, with depth players such as Brian Lovell moving into expanded roles, is keeping teams to about 25 shots a night.

Not: Sherbrooke Phoenix

The second-year Phoenix's headway has been stayed by three losses in a row, including two shutout losses against division foes Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or. To be fair, the regression following a 6-1-0-0 stretch is the residue of being an expansion team. Sherbrooke counts on its former No. 1 overall pick, Daniel Audette, first-year import Tim Weiser and overage Jean-François Plante, a Rimouski Océanic castoff, for a lot of its scoring. That can explain getting into trouble against some teams and winding up with fewer than 20 shots on goal. The Phoenix (.407 point pct., 16th overall) have a tough stretch ahead, with two of their next four against a good Drummondville team.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Vincent Dunn, Gatineau (No. 138 by Ottawa Senators in '13) — Dunn had three points last Friday in his return after missing three weeks with an ankle injury that was initially feared to be broken. The hard-edged 18-year-old has been credited with at least four shots on goals in each of his last five games, so watch to see if he breaks out this weekend.

François Brassard, Quebec (No. 166 by Ottawa Senators in '12) — He set a record with 212 consecutive scoreless minutes, in case you had not heard.

WHL

Hot: Everett Silvertips

May we playfully point out a small irony? Everett promised to play up-tempo when it sacked coach Mark Ferner last season. Then they hired defensively minded Kevin Constantine and affirmed winning is winning. Last week's roll through the Central Division, winning 3-2, 3-2, 4-3 and 1-0, was a microcosm of all that. Overage forward Josh Winquist is up to third in league scoring thanks to his club-record 16-game point streak, while former Saskatoon Blade Matt Pufahl is proving to be a sage addition as the OA D-man, now averaging a point per contest. Pufahl gets to face his old organization on Saturday.

Not: Brandon Wheat Kings

It's tempting to single out the tunneling Kamloops Blazers, for whom eight losses in a row might not be enough. Brandon and New York Islanders pick Ryan Pulock are coming off a costly 0-2-1-0 roadie to Medicine Hat and Kootenay, leaving them tied with Red Deer with a .500 point percentage through 27 games. Brandon had opportunities to wrest two points from its set in Kootenay, but a squandered power play in the second game hurt badly.

Coach Kelly McCrimmon's crew has six games left before Pulock would jet off for Team Canada's selection camp. The first five are within the Eastern Division and the last involves a potential gimme (or trap game) vs. those reeling Blazers.

Canadian NHL team prospects

Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert (No. 13 by Winnipeg Jets in '13) — The Raiders captain has 11 points in 10 November games, although seven have come within two contests. But talk about being able to thread a shot through traffic, as Morrissey did twice for goals in a recent game vs. Lethbridge.

Curtis Lazar, Edmonton (No. 17 by Ottawa Senators in '13) — Watch to see how Lazar bounces back during Wednesday's Super Series tilt at Red Deer, where the 18-year-old has the chance to get some traction for a two-way rule on Brent Sutter's national team. Lazar is coming off a likely frustrating no-points, minus-2 night during an inexplicable Oil Kings loss last weekend to Prince George. On the whole, though, the Vernon, B.C., native has five goals in eight November games.

Tim Bozon, Kootenay (No. 64 by Montreal Canadiens in '12) — Bozon is heating up with Kootenay: nine points in his past six games, including four multi-point efforts.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.