2024 QMJHL Draft Preview: 10th Edition Final Scouting Reports and Analysis

The future of the QMJHL is upon us. Going strictly off the QMJHL CSR’s Final List, I dive into some quick analysis and scouting reports on the Top 90 2024 draft class and the players from Atlantic Canada with a “E” Rating.

1 Maddox Dagenais LSF Quinte Speed demon, does everything at top speed, can fly out there, can skate for days, needs to support pucks a bit better on regroup or breakout opportunities, a lot of young players struggle in that area, especially the fast ones, if they go back to it more it gives them more time and space and receive it in better areas of the ice so they can use and accelerate into seams, Phenomenal puck skills, can play in any situation, will have to tighten up some slight defensive  tendencies, but this kid is a dynamic offensive force, tremendous release, will need to get stronger, but is definitely Q ready from a processing and offensive skill set standpoint, This kid is going to put up a massive amount of points, Tons of pro potential here,

2 Tynan Lawrence LSF Shattuck St. Mary’s Tons of comparisons will fly around when you look at Tynan and his brother Josh, but Tynan is on his own path within the game, does everything at top speed, has tremendous individual talent and puck skills, great instincts for the game and position, can definitely play both positions, but probably more suited to play through the middle due to his vision and play making ability, plays a responsible two-way game, actively backchecks and has a very good stick in all three zones, obviously people will question his size, but he definitely isn’t scared to go to every area all over the ice, very elusive and is extremely comfortable in traffic, if anything he relishes going to the high traffic areas to make plays, really supports the puck by taking great routes to pucks especially in regroup scenarios, transports the puck very well as well, pass first mentality, but has a solid quick hard accurate release, Clearly, Tynan will have to get stronger to reach his full potential and excel at the Major Jr, level, but that will come with more reps and experience at the next level,

3 Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte RSD Trois Rivières Solid skater, great puck skills, potential to be a solid two and half zone defender at the Q level, solid first pass, plays the position and the game the right way, won’t be a transporter of the puck, but is a great distributor of it, very strong two-way presence, takes good routes to pucks on retrieval, Solid gap control, he’s Q ready, will have to get a touch quicker and more explosive, very calm, cool and collected with the puck on his stick, great release from the point, projects to be a first pair guy, will take time, but is skilled enough to play big minutes,

4 Jayden Plouffe LSF College Esther Blondin This kid absolutes fly’s out there, he’s arguably one of the best pure skaters in the draft, does everything at top speed, has great mitts in traffic and one hell of a release, pure goal scorer, his shot generates tons of rebounds, great vision hockey sense and can find the open man with relative ease, He’s relentless on the forecheck and plays a full 200ft game, It doesn’t matter if 5’11 or 6’1 this kid is a power forward, skates well enough to play through the middle, but no doubt better served on the wing where he will create terror offensively, great hands in tight can really elevate pucks

5 Cameron Chartrand RSD Bishop Kearney Selects Great skater, solid gap control, type of kid that can skates for days, Processes the game very well, looks to push the pace, solid first pass, great instincts to jump into the play, Plays in every situation, great instincts for the game and position, will need to get stronger to ensure he wins puck battles below the dots, his skating ability and edge control helps in that department, solid release from the backend

6 Romain Litalien RSF Seminaire St Francois Strong skating two-way center, drives offensive opportunities, makes things happen, can transport the puck and is a great at distributing it through the middle, solid in the dot, definitely projects to be a solid 2^nd or 3^rd line center at the Q level, heavy and heady player, processes the game and position very well, really supports and comes back to the puck which increase his options in open ice, plays the game and position the right way, doesn’t cheat it, makes the people around him better, Can play in any situation at any time, quarter backs the PP and has ice in his veins, great compete level, and composure when he has the puck on his stick,

7 William Yared RSF Lac St Louis Absolute speed demon and power forward in the making, skates incredibly well, can definitely step into the Q at the 2^nd or 3^rd line center role almost instantly at 16 and be the 1^st line center or the man at 17 or 18. Really drives offensive opportunities with size, power and skating ability, His vision  and passing ability is tremendous, Complete two-way full 200ft center which is great to see, with his offensive ability, hockey IQ and instincts this kid cares about the other side of the puck which is very rare at that age, but that will definitely serve him well, this kid has a ton of pro potential, His understanding of the position and how to receive pucks in full stride while supporting the rush is outstanding to see, great heavy accurate release, William Yared is a kid you build around, he’s the centermen that every organization wishes they could draft and build around

8 Chad Lygitsakos LSF Trois-Rivieres Speedy winger, great skater, very good puck skills, good in traffic, will have to tighten up some defensive tendencies to excel at the next level, processes the game very well, needs to get to the middle with a touch more frequency. This kid can really pass the puck, great vision and offensive instincts, will have to get stronger upper body wise to win puck battles in all three zones, but he’s quick and agile enough to avoid contact, he’s very elusive, Can definitely run the power play from the halfboards and can really rip a puck as well, very hard, heavy and accurate release, he doesn’t need a lot of time to get it off, pass first mentality here, but this kid’s skillset definitely translates to the Q, just has to get stronger and continue to go to all the dirty areas of the ice. Definitely Q Ready and will continue put up points at or near a point of game almost instantly, based solely on his compete level and hockey IQ

9 Thomas Rousseau RSF St-Eustache  Great skater, reliable two-way player, skates well enough to play through the middle a the Q level, but probably better suited at the wing position, Can play in any situation and is calm, cool and collected in traffic, great puck skills, processes the game very well, can really rip a puck, great quick release and shoots extremely well in stride, this kids skillset definitely translates to the Q level, could prove to be a very middle six defensively reliable scoring forward.

10 Ryan Howard LSF Lac St Louis Solid strong skater, two-way winger with good offensive instincts, good passer of the puck, needs to get to middle more frequently to generate more and execute, Can play in any situation, and really brings a lot of energy to the game, great on the forecheck, projects to be a solid bottom six winger at 16, can lock things down defensively, he’s rugged, tough and brings grit, great heavy release, tons of potential here just needs to be more consistent at times and be more opportunistic when he has the puck on his stick in scoring scenarios

11 Dylan Rozzi LSF Lac St Louis Very good skater, reliable two-way winger, needs to physically engage a little bit more on the defensive side of things, and be harder on pucks in all three zones will need to get stronger to reach his full potential, but has all the tools to be an effective scoring winger at the Q level, great in traffic with the puck on his stick, very elusive, deceptive speed and agility, makes people miss, and has a very hard shot, If he tightens up his defensive play he could jump in right away and play middle six minutes and contribute offensively on the 2^nd unit power play at the Q level, he’s Q Ready, just needs to bring it physically more consistently, you could say that about a ton of young players, this kid can play and will be a very good scoring forward for years to come in the Q.

12 Alex Taillefer LSD Lac St Louis Very good defensive prospect, great skater and mobility, great first pass and gap control, ultra confident with the puck in all three zones, Can transport pucks, great vision and instincts for the game and position, great in transition and knows when to pick and choose, This kid has a ton of swagger and rightfully so, he’s very good, very impressive skater, very efficient, definitely has an extra gear when needed or when he wants to turn on the jets. He will need to get stronger upper body wise to ensure he inflicts damage in one on one battles below the dots at the Q level, but this kid can really play, Projects to be a solid two and half zone defender, he won’t light the world on fire offensively, but I wouldn’t put it pass him to generate more points at the Q level based on his ability to spot the open man and transition pucks. Has a great shot from the point and does a great job at fitting pucks through traffic.

13 Louis Felix Gagnon LSD Seminaire St Francois Strong skating two-way defender, solid skill set, won’t light the world on fire offensively at the Q level which shouldn’t matter, he projects to be a solid two and half zone defender, very good offensive instincts with the puck and has a solid release, he has a solid first pass, processes the game well and has good gap control, He’s patient with the puck and doesn’t panic with the puck on the offensive blueline or in the offensive zone, Will need to get a half step quicker and more agile to reach his full potential at the Q, but that will definitely come with time, reps and experience. Solid release from the backend, needs a bit of time, but can definitely step into a 5/6 role because he defends well and transitions pucks, just has to do things a little quicker and sharper to fulfill that role within the league as a 16.

14 Jean-Samuel Daigneault LSD College Charles-Lemoyne Great skater, floats out there, solid stick and gap control, will have to get stronger from an upper body perspective to reach his full potential at the Q level, processes the game and position very well, needs some more urgency at times when it comes to his transition game and his first pass, but that will come with experience, Projects to be a solid two-zone defender at the Q level, could step in from a skating and processing perspective as a 5/6 D-man next year, but will need to move pucks quicker

15 Daniele Biagio Jr LSD Laval-Montreal Highly skilled transitional defender, fantastic skater and edge control, great gap control, will need to get stronger from an upper body perspective to defend and win their share of puck battles below the dots at the next level, amazing first step and explosiveness, will only get better with increased strength, Can play in any situation, but this kid has transitional speed and a pro first step in open ice, can create offensive opportunities with his skating ability, solid shot from the point, Projects to be a top pair offensive dynamic force for years to come, just needs to get stronger

16 Leo Gauthier RSD Laval-Montreal Solid skating winger with great offensive instincts, will need to get a  step quicker to excel at the Q level, but has all the makings to be an effective point getter at that level if his skating improves , his skill set will undoubtedly translate if he gets quicker and more agile on his skates, Will need to work on his skating to be stronger on the puck, and more explosive, but that will come with more time and experience, very solid puck skills in traffic, long reach and good passer of the puck, has a solid release, This player just needs more time to continue to grow certain aspects of his game,

17 Simon-Xavier Cyr LSF Magog Gritty two-way forward, strong skater, plays a mean in your face style of game, tough to play against energy player, solid puck skills, good in traffic, and hard accurate release, Q ready, could step in right away and play in any bottom six role, Hits everything in sight, skates well enough to play through the middle at the Q level, projects to be a 2^nd or 1st line center all day long, he definitely has a ton of offensive upside if a team decides to play him on the wing, but he’s probably more valuable as a center, he doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, if anything he relishes going there, he will score a lot of goals at the Q level just by going to the net or creating time and space for others, great distributor of the puck, pass first mentality, but this kid can really rip the puck,  This kid has a ton of pro potential.

18 Michel Myloserdnyy LSD College Charles-Lemoyne A giant on the backend, moves very well for his size, will have to work on his agility and explosiveness but that can be said about all young defenders, processes the game and position  well, defends well below the dots, active stick, good stick positioning, angling so important for him to take advantage with his reach, containment is key so he doesn’t get beat downlow, Will have to get stronger upper body wise, because players will test him, this kid has a mean streak to him as well which is great to see, might have to work a little on his posture, posture is so important for young defenders especially backward skating and defending, can play both sides, looks more comfortable on the right side which open things up for him, No doubt coaches at the Q level will play him on his strong side because they might think he might get exposed on the right, his pivots and agility are ok, that area needs some work, solid gap control, needs to keep his feet moving in the neutral zone so he doesn’t get caught flat footed or beat in transition, good puck skills and solid 1^st pass

19 Enzo Lottin RSF Trois Rivieres Small speedy and very skilled right winger, good in traffic, one dimensional tendencies at times, will have to refine his play away from the puck to gain the trust of coaches at the next level, great hands and can create in open ice and in one on one situations, can make players miss with his craftiness, but needs to engage more defensively and backcheck with the same purpose has when he has the puck on his stick, Processes the game very well and sees the ice well, very good passer of the puck, Great quick release and he doesn’t need a lot of room to get it off, this kid can really play and is dynamic from the red line and in, but he will need to focus on both sides of the puck at the Q level,

20 Niko El Khouri LSF St-Hyacinthe Smooth but incredibly powerful skating winger with a great two-way presence, responsible player and that works just as hard away from the puck as with it, very explosive, great puck skills, calm and relaxed in traffic, gamebreaker on the offensive side of the red line, really drives offensive opportunities, Q Ready, needs to get a touch stronger to ensure he wins his share of battles in all three zones, but is the type of player that can play in any situation and can play up and down the lineup as a 16 yr old. Coaches dream, very responsible player, critics will question his impact based on his size, but this kid brings it every shift.  Has a knack at finding all of the quiet areas of the ice in the offensive zone, gets to the middle all of the time, always engaged and ready to generate scoring chances and backtrack to pucks, This kid brings energy shift in, shift out, he’s on it all over the ice, always willing to take a hit to make a play, skates well enough to play through the middle at the junior level, but probably more comfortable patrolling the wing, great quick release, always shooting in stride, hard, heavy accurate shot, This kid is a player and a great competitor, you will win a lot of hockey games with players like, but you will the games that matter most with a kid like Niko EL Khouri in your lineup.

21 Jacob Gouchie RSD Moncton It doesn’t take you very long to realize that Jacob Gouchie has pro potential, a matter of fact he oozes it. This kid is dynamic player that possesses all the tools to be a QMJHL player and beyond, Nevertheless, at times he struggles to keep his head up, especially on puck retrievals under duress, sometimes has a tendency to rush things or turn pucks over when that occurs. At the first of season he struggled passing the puck in full speed, but his ability to make plays in all three zones is one area that he really progressed in throughout the season. At times Gouchie also struggled processing and moving the puck when pressured or forced to his backhand. DZC, gap and stick positioning in all three zones needs work, but you could say that about a lot of young defenders coming up through the ranks. It’s easy to criticize or be harsh on a top prospect like Gouchie especially when you see him a ton. It’s easy to nitpick small aspects of his game, but this kid is a natural when it comes to other aspects of the game and we all know that’s the stuff that is incredibly valuable. In October, I had him as a B prospect at the Q Cup, in my opinion he struggled moving the puck with precision, with the speed at which the other best players in Atlantic Canada played the game.

As the season went on you gain a ton of appreciation for just how hard this kid works and how deeply he cares about playing the game and position. There are tons of similarities to his game and that of former Moncton Flyer, Halifax Moosehead and Nashville Predators 3^rd rounder Dylan MacKinnon. If anything, Gouchie skates better and handles the puck better than MacKinnon at that age, Gouchie can transport the puck with the best of them, he’s a gamebreaker, his natural ability and instincts when he rushes the puck is incredible, clearly at times this season he logged way too much ice time and tried to do way too much in all three zones with and without the puck, which is a common characteristic of a young player and defender that cares.

This kid already has a pro release from the point, I mean he absolutely destroys the puck and can score from anywhere in the offensive zone, Arguably, Jacob Gouchie probably has the top 5 releases I’ve seen since starting in the scouting business in the fall of 2016. Jacob Gouchie is undoubtedly one of if not the most Q Ready as any other A Ranked player in the entire QMJHL. If Gouchie refines a few aspects of his game, this kid will be a star defender and no doubt an NHL Draft pick! It’s going to be very intriguing where this kid ends up, because this kid could impact his organization but the entire league!

22 Brandon Delarosbil LSD Levis Strong skater, processes the game well, good first pass, solid gap control, very good puck skills and patience with the puck in all three zones, projects to be a very solid two-zone lockdown defender with good passing ability, won’t light the world on fire offensively, but who cares this kid can defend and will be nasty to play against, Can transport pucks based on his skating ability and instincts on when to jump in and join the rush, but he’s content and comfortable distributing pucks, based on his skating and overall processing of the position and game, he’s Q Ready, will have to get stronger to win puck battles, but has a good first step and escapability, to elude forechecking pressure, projects to be a solid 5/6 as a 16 year old and can definitely play up as 3/4 in the years to come. Can play in any situation, type of player coaches love, because he’s so reliable and dependable!

23 Zakary Savoie RSF Northern Moose This kid’s draft stock soared as the season went on, Zakary Savoie is the real deal and could go much higher than people expect in this year’s draft, especially if teams did their homework Here’s a kid that is a throwback power forward who will do just about anything to win puck battles, he enjoys the physical nature of the game and position (which he can play both forward positions with relative ease) as much as he likes scoring goals. Every time he stepped on the ice he made things happen in all three zones, he was a difference maker for the Moose and will be a difference maker for the team that drafts him. He can play in any situation with the same intensity, skill and grit. If you asked this kid to shadow the top guy on the other team, he would take pride in that and be an absolute pain in the arse all night long, If you asked him to center your top line and transport pucks, generate and drive offence, he would do that with finesse and polished skill and precision. This kid could be a lockdown shutdown centerman or score you 20 goals at the same time playing top six minutes on the wing. I hope teams will see and value this kids versatility because it’s off the charts. He’s a strong skater with great edges and agility, his speed is highly deceptive, but his willingness to compete and battle for pucks is a difference maker, He’s calm, cool and collected in traffic and goes to the middle and the net whenever he wants. He has tremendous puck skills in tight areas and hard heavy deceptive release that catches goaltenders off guard. In my opinion this kid has pro potential, again some people may criticize his skating stride or overall speed and quickness, but as he grows, matures and gains experience this kid is going to be a dominant two-way force in the QMJHL and beyond, it will take time and but Savoie has a very high ceiling, he could be the steal of the 2024 QMJHL Draft!

24 Emil Leroux RSF St-Eustache Solid skill set, great speed to the outside and good release, this kid can fly, will need to get stronger from an upper body perspective to impose his will in one on one puck battles, solid in traffic, just needs to engage more and have more urgency to his game at times, projects to be solid middle six forward, two-way presences, processes the game well and very structured and responsible as a winger,

25 Samuel Rheault LSF Trois Rivieres solid skating reliable and responsible two-way forward, good puck skills, and good in traffic, will have to get ½ step quicker and more explosive to make sure he can bust into open ice and get to the middle, that will come with time, experience and an increase in strength, Thinks the game very well, very good quick release, heavy accurate shote, good passer of the puck, very effective in the offensive zone finding the soft areas and isn’t hesitate going to the middle, needs to take the puck there more often, he creates time and space for himself and other teammates, will need that same push and intensity at the Q level,

26 Dominik Necak LSD St-Eustache Solid skating rugged two-zone defender who processes the game and position well, good gap control, great stick in all three zones, good first pass, good instincts to jump in and join the rush, calm, cool and collected on the offensive blueline, very deceptive speed, can really close in on opponents below the dots which will serve him very well at the next level, will need to get stronger which will only help his overall game, but he definitely projects to be a 4/5 or even a 3 at the Q level by 18 or 19. He’s Q Ready and rugged enough to step in a bottom pair role at 16 and log big minutes in every situation, With some time, this kid will be a nasty shutdown in your face defender who can definitely step in and contribute in any transition game, He won’t light the world on fire offensively at the Q level, but he can definitely transition pucks, he chooses not to be a transporter, per say, but his skating is good it allows him to miss and accelerate into space and generate transition.

27 Maxim Dube LSF Long Island Gulls Speed demon, does everything at top speed, great skater and individual skills, very good puck skills in traffic, gets to the middle, doesn’t shy away from the physicality of the position or the halfboards, but at the next level he will be a target especially if he has the puck on his stick, will have to continue to get stronger, but has a good frame in order to do so, more upper body strength will definitely help his overall game as well, he’s lightning fast, great vision and very underrated passer of the puck, Like any young player will have to continue to work on his overall defensive game, but has all the makings of a dynamic scoring forward

28 Benjamin Olivier College Charle-Lemoyne ultra talented speedy forward, always engaged and intense, does everything at top speed, great vision and great passer of the puck, Can play in any situation, Calm, cool and collected at the top of the PP, No panic to his game with the puck on his stick, Can play both forward positions, skates well enough and plays with enough pace and intensity to play through the middle at the Q level, He’s Q Ready, Teams might slot him in at the wing position to start at 16, but this kid can flat out play, reliable two-way presence, great on the forecheck and supports the puck in transition, he makes things happen, He’s good in the dot, Will need to get stronger, but this kid plays a hell of a lot bigger than his size or stature, Great in traffic, great quick release,

29 Tristan Venne LSF Halton Solid skater, good two-way winger, processes the game and position very well, no panic to his game on the halfboards, good in traffic needs to get a step quicker and more explosive to ensure he has an impact at the next level, great offensive instincts, with an increase in strength you will will see and increase in speed, here’s a kid that could probably play bottom six minutes that would be tough to play against and can kill penalties because of how he processes and an element of grit to his game, People will question his abilities because of his size, but this kid can flat out play, Venne is skilled enough right now to help contribute and provide secondary scoring in any lineup, He’s smart and skilled enough to play up and down any lineup, has a great accurate release, just needs a team to take a chance on him and trust that the player will continue to put numbers on the board at the Major Jr level, You don’t have to watch a lot of this kid to realize he loves the game and loves to compete

30 Liam Dube RSF Gotteron  Speed demon, does everything at top speed phenomenal skater, great two way presence, great on the big ice, isn’t shy or timid going to the middle, natural center, supports the puck incredibly well, speed for days, really accelerates well into open space, great puck skills, dynamic player, great on the forecheck very active stick in all three zones, goes to the dirty areas of the ice, creates time and space to generate offensive opportunities for himself and teammates, this kid is a competitor, doesn’t back down and is relentless, Great hands in tight, This kid can really rip a puck,  people might question his size and stature, but Liam Dube can flat out play, he’s a great talent, and his skills will undoubtedly translate to the Q level

31 Antoine Proulx LCG Levis lightning fast, very active in the blue paint, very technically sound, moves incredibly well, has to be careful not to over commit, very square and challenges well, telescopes out to challenge shooter and fights well through traffic, very patience with his technique, great downlow, down a touch early on some shots, critics will question his size and stature, but this kid can definitely tend goal at the next level and will only get better with added strength and maturity.

32 Liam Arsenault LSF Kensington Wild Here’s a kid that doesn’t backdown in any situation, he’s relentless when it comes to playing the game. It doesn’t take you too long to realize just how driven and passionate this player is. Liam is a highly skilled two-way player proves a lot of critics wrong given his overall stature and size, he competes in every situation, again here’s a player that will be criticized for what he doesn’t bring to the table instead of what he brings game in game out. He reads the play and processes the game at a very high level, he makes up for any perceived deficiencies (his size) with his hockey IQ and compete level. This kid proved me wrong this season, I had him rated as D level prospect in October at the Q Cup, that’s why limited viewings can be misleading, it didn’t take him too long to prove me wrong, Over more viewings this kid was dynamite, He compete level is off the charts, his ability to get to the dirty areas of the ice coupled with his ability to create and make plays under duress is truly fantastic! He’s a gritty player with great skills in traffic, his shot is highly accurate and deceptively heavy, This kid just finds a way, he can score and create for others, Being well over a point a game at the U18 AAA level as a rookie is incredibly impressive, people will bet against Liam Arsenault because of his size, teams should be very careful when it comes to passing a player like that up just because of his size.

33 Samuel Boyer LSF College Charles-Lemoyne highly skilled winger, processes the game very well, great offensive instincts, solid passer of the puck, great skater, great edge control, very elusive and shifty, good in traffic, does everything at top speed, pass first mentality, fantastic release, hard and very accurate, Really busts into open space and can create separation with his speed, He will have to tighten up his play in his own zone to reach his full potential as a top six forward at the Q level, but you could say that about every young player,

34 Noah Florent RSF Seminaire St Francois Ultra crafty smart, highly skilled winger with lightning fast hands in tight areas and traffic, This kid can pass a puck, hockey sense is off the charts, Obviously will have to get stronger to reach his full potential at the Q level, but this kid thinks the game with the best of them, He’s relentless on pucks and doesn’t hesitate to go dirty areas of the ice to create and generate offensive opportunities, Size, size and size, obviously a lot of people will say he’s just too small to have an impact at the Q level, but this kid competes and is an offensively gifted player, has a wicked shot for his size, can really rip it, it’s very accurate. The team that takes Florent knows full well there will be an adjustment period, but he will continue to generate points, because he’s a natural playmaker and one hell of a player no matter what size he is!

35 Aaron Murphy RSD Saint John Vitos It’s always hard to evaluate defencemen on a less than stellar rebuilding U18 team, but let me tell you Aaron Murphy jumped off the page almost instantly, this kid is a throwback defender with a tremendous compete level. Murphy never backed down, never took a shift off in a very tough year. Obviously, he might need to get stronger but this kid processes very well, he’s a great puck mover and solid two and half zone defender, Very good shot from the point position, this kid can play in any situation and is a coaches dream, because you can put him out in any situation, he’s reliable, rugged and nasty to play against. This kid plays a similar style to that of Cape Breton Eagles defender Conor Shortall. Like Shortall, this kid takes a ton of pride playing the game and position the right way. If Murphy continues to progress and improve on the same trajectory, he projects to be a full two and half at the Q level. He can transport pucks and distribute, he has solid puck skills and is good in traffic, he skates very well, has great edges, but like any young defender will need to increase his agility to ensure he wins puck battles below the dots so he can close in on his opponents. Great stick and gap control, The team that draft Murphy will be getting a young defender that has the ability to change the complexion of the backend for years to come. He might not score a ton of points, even though he has offensive upside and ability, he has the ability to lock things down and play a hard nose in your face defensive game while enjoying every aspect of the game and position with a smile on his face just because that’s what its all about!

36 Patrick Deniger LCG College Charles-Lemoyne Good goaltending prospect, very square to the shooters, need to challenge a little more, plays deep which is normal for a big goaltender, will need to work on his quickness and lateral mobility, but that will come with increase strength and experience, Needs to keep his glove higher in the butterfly has a tendency to drop it a little, down a little early on some shot occasions, just needs to trust his technique and instincts

37 Amelio Santini LSF Lac St Louis Speedy responsible two-way winger, skates well enough to play through the middle, can play both positions with relative ease, good in the dot, This kid plays the game the right way in all three zones, no cheat in his game, very sound defensively which is great to see, good in traffic and good puck skills, very good release, will have to get stronger to play that same style in the Q, everyone will question his size, but this kid competes, isn’t shy to get to the middle and is skilled enough to create and execute when he gets there, coaches dream, can play in any situation,

38 Jayden Rousseau LSF Chateauguay Great skating stride and fast, needs to get a little stronger which will only increase his speed, Good in traffic, great puck skills, play making ability and is very good passer of the puck, goes to the middle, and is comfortable there, an increase in upper body strength will help him win more battles at the next level, Will need to tighten up defensively especially on the halfboards, just needs to be more intense at times, has a knack for finding the soft quiet areas in the offensive zone and has the skills to execute, great shot and quick release, here’s a player that just needs to show more compete and intensity at times on the other side of the puck which can be said about a lot of young prospects

39 Louis-Felix Bourque RSF Seminaire St-Francois Prototypical power forward which is great to see, plays a very heavy game and you can tell he loves that style of play, doesn’t back down, he’s a good skater, but will have to continue to work on his quickness and agility to get to spots at the next level, He’s sneaky fast especially on the forecheck or on puck pursuit, that just speaks to this kids intensity, He won’t score a ton of points but will be a real pain in the arse to play against, hits everything that moves, Solid two-way presence, has good puck skills, very deceptive, good in traffic and is a good passer great release, This kid brings it every shift

40 Lucas Perreault  RSD Amos Good skating defender, good edges, will need to continue to work on his agility and quickness, good puck skills and a solid first pass, good gap control, projects to be a solid two-zone defender at the Q level, would like to see him work on his posture a little more especially while defending, posture is so important and will only help him defend below the dots, active stick, processes the game and position well, plays with an edge,

41 Dylan Laframboise LSF St-Eustache Processes the game and position well, above average skater, needs to work on his quickness and agility to reach his full potential at the Q level, good linear speed, good puck skills, will need to get stronger which will help his overall game, Big bodied players need time, there’s no question he has power forward tendencies, just needs time to continue to grow and develop his style of play, good shot and good hands especially in tight

42 Jackson Batchilder RSD Charlottetown Knights In November of 2022, I saw Jackson Batchilder play for the 1^st time, I was helping out Neutral Zone evaluate U15 AAA players at the Monctonian Challenge, This is what I wrote about the kid patrolling the blueline.

He’s a Pro

It’s hard and incredibly unfair, but yesterday I saw a kid that’s going to be a pro. Sometimes you just know, if all the stars aligns and things stay the course he will be a player that plays the game we love for a long long time. The player in question was fantastic. He was one of the best natural skaters I’ve seen in a quite a long time. The way this kid handled the puck and passed the puck was truly amazing.

Obviously, he needs to keep growing, maturing and developing, but my goodness gracious this kid can flat out play. I’m not going to name him, because that’s unfair for the kid and his family. Do you know what the best aspect of all of this is, the kid seems as grounded and humble as he could be. There’s zero entitlement or cockiness to his game. You can tell he loves the game, amd every aspect of the position he plays. He made all the subtle plays, the difficult plays with the exact same conviction and purpose. The player knew when to pick their spots, when to be “the guy” and when not to be. He just knew, which is another reason why this kid has pro potential. This kid is going to be something. Hopefully you will all get a chance to see him play, because it a was an absolute pleasure to see him apply his craft.

1^st impressions can be misleading, but Jackson Batchilder definitely lived up to the hype, he had a tremendous season for the Knights logging massive minutes, probably too many minutes, he was exhausted at times, but when stepped on the ice he always in the fight, always willing to showcase his talent, but first and foremost always tried to help his team win, he makes players around him better and that’s what makes him a special player. I still think Jackson Batchilder has pro potential, sure he will have to get stronger and quicker, but here’s a kid that gets better when challenged, he has the ability to raise his game and style of play, his adaptability is uncanny, he’s a natural.

43 Aiden Kirkwood LSF College Charles-Lemoyne Strong two-way winger, above average skater, will need to continue to work on that area of his game, plays the game the right way, just needs to get to the spots quicker, processes the game and position well, projects to be a bottom six energy player at the Q level, can play in any situation, good on the forecheck, will need to get stronger, but rugged on his skates, plays with grit and intensity, good in traffic and is all around the puck in the offensive zone.

44 Gabriel Anctil LSD College Notre-Dame Strong skating two zone defender, very active stick in all three zones, defends well and processes the game and position very well, Will need to improve his quickness and explosiveness from a pivoting perspective and in tight situations while defending below the dot in his own zone to reach his full potential at the next level. Takes good routes to pucks on puck retrieval, an increase in strength will only help his overall style of play and skating ability, Solid awareness and instincts to jump into the play when needed, won’t light the world on fire offensively at the Q level, not his role,  but has the skill and is patient enough to help in transition, solid first pass, will kill penalties for days, has the potential to be a nasty tough to play against defender. 

45 Max Hanley LSD Valley Max Hanley is a sneaky freakishly good defender! There’s no question this kid has flown under the radar this season, but if teams have done their homework they will know how solid this kid actually is! This kid competes so well in all three zones, he’s a polished two and half zone defender at the U18 AAA level who projects to be  the same style of defender at the Q level, that might take a little bit of time, but this kid is that good in my books, Hanley takes so much pride in playing the game and position the right way every time he steps on the ice, Some people might question his overall skating ability, agility and quickness, but I think his skating is ultra good, he’s a strong skater and a defender that just keep coming at you and plays an in your face style or brand of hockey. On the offensive side of things he isn’t flashy but this kid controls and creates opportunities with his smarts, vision and solid puck skills, he has ice in his veins on the offensive blueline, he possesses and plays with a ton of confidence, Critics will question his size, but he never backs down, he’s solid on puck retrievals has a great first pass, Again comparisons are hard and unfair at times, but he plays a very similar style to that of former Halifax Moosehead, Moncton Wildcat and Detroit Red Wings draft pick Jared McIssac, He doesn’t have McIssac offensive ability and won’t put up big offensive numbers, but that doesn’t mean he can’t distribute, transition and join the rush at the Q level. The team who selects Hanley will be getting an excellent defender that can definitely step in and contribute, he’s Q Ready and could be a steal within the draft from a defensive perspective,

46 Dylan Caron RSD Trois Rivières Great skater, great edges and agility, good gap control and very active stick in all three zones, patient with the puck, doesn’t panic, good 1^st pass, good release from the backend, processes the game and position very well, projects to be a full two and a half zone D-man, can really defend as well, takes pride playing in his own zone, will have to get stronger, but has all of the tools to be a great defender in the Q.

47 Daniel Walters LSF Halifax Macs Definitely all the makings of middle six forward at Q level,  I had him ranked as a C Prospect at the Q Cup in October, at that point of the season I felt he needed to work on his skating and explosiveness, which he has worked on throughout the campaign, At times I felt he needed to bring more jam to his game, When I saw him play in a game versus the Moncton Flyers in Amherst, he was way more engaged and got to the middle with more frequency. Processes the game well, solid puck skills and understands his role moving forward at the Q level, might need some time, but definitely projects to be that middle six tight checking forward with tons of offensive upside. Type of player that if he gets a quicker can play up and down any lineup.

48 Xavier Sabourin RSF Chateauguay Powerful skater, good linear speed, will need to refine his agility, but moves very well for a big man, great two-way presence here, power forward in the making, won’t light the world on fire offensively at the Q level, but will score goals just by being willing to go to the dirty areas of the ice,  Sabourin will provide energy and will be royal pain in his opponents ass, great in on the forecheck, he will cause nightmares for D-men across the league, solid puck skills, and has a good release, here’s a type of player that coaches will trust out on the ice at any time, skilled enough to play up and down the lineup and in any situation, very serviceable player, tons of potential, wouldn’t be surprised to see this kid go much higher than he’s ranked,

49 Rowan Walsh LSF Charlottetown Knights Strong skating two-way gritty forward with solid puck skills, and good heavy accurate release, Drives offensive opportunities, is relentless on the forecheck and never backs down and is always engaged, Goes to the middle and is solid in traffic, I had him ranked as a B prospect at the Q Cup in October, he progressed very well throughout the season, He will have to get stronger and more polished from a skating perspective, but this player’s will and compete level can take him where he wants to go, He won’t light the world on fire offensively at the Q level, but he will definitely make life very difficult for his opponents, this kid just doesn’t go away, he plays in your face nonstop.

50 Samuel Rochon LSF Seminiaire St Francois Very good skater, two-way winger with a solid skill set, will have to get stronger to reach full potential at the Q level, takes a lot of pride in playing the game and his position the right way, Goes to all the dirty areas of the ice, Can play in any situation, brings a ton of energy in all three zones, plays a lot bigger than his size and stature

51 Benedetto-Antonio Masi LSF Laval-Montreal Speed demon, great skater, but needs to engage more and get stronger to ensure he reaches full potential at the Jr level, good puck skills, processes the game well, just needs to take more advantage of his speed and get to the middle, he’s skilled enough to execute when he gets there, just needs to find that consistency to his game, great release, a little too perimeter to his game at times, when he gets to the middle he’s a lot more effective, This kid can play, he’s dynamic and has great offensive instincts just needs to get stronger and more consistent when getting to the inside

52 Zachary Gill RSD Moncton This kid projects to be a 5/6 QMJHL regular depth defender, full two-zone D-man, Everyone looks at his skating as an issue, he processes the game well, moves pucks effectively and efficiently, will have to slightly increase his quickness and efficiently to reach his full potential at the Q level, but you can say that about any young defender, One of his strengths in my opinion is that he doesn’t try to be anything he’s not, he’s a solid two and half zone D-man at the U18 level, but at the Q will be a solid two zoner, Zach Gill isn’t his brother Dyllan or Spencer, he’s Zach Gill and that’s perfectly fine and he is comfortable being just that which is amazing in my opinion. I had him as a B level prospect at the Q Cup in October, mobility and agility was a slight issue, but he’s so smart and getting better every time out, He has a solid release from the point position, he’s not a transporter of the puck, he’s a distributor, he can lock things down defensively, An increase in strength will undoubtedly help his overall game and style of play. This kid has and continues to work wickedly hard at his game and has really turned the corner in the last calendar year with regards to his passion for the game and position. From U15 to now, this kid has rededicated himself on and off the ice and it definitely shows with his overall progression.

53 Alain Bourdeau LSD College Charles-Lemoyne solid skater, good edges and pivots, solid two-way defender with very good puck skills, projects to be 4/5 at 19, won’t score or generate a ton of offense, but this kid is very reliable in all three zones, deceptive speed in open ice can make people miss and transitions the puck very well, thinks the game and position well, good 1^st pass, this kid can really play the position, he’s hardnosed and doesn’t backdown,

54 Justin Thibault LSF Levis Smooth speedy skater, good edges, competes hard in all three zones, good in traffic, great hands, very good shielding the puck protects it well, great in traffic, will need to get stronger to make sure he can win his share of battles on the halfboards at the Q level, does everything at top speed, processes the game extremely well, reliable two-way presence active stick on the forecheck, supports the puck very well, really busts into seams and knows when to turn it on, doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, an increase in strength will only allow him to get to the middle of the ice even more frequently at the next level, plays a lot bigger than his frame and stature, Great passer of the puck in tight areas, can really rip the puck for his size

55 Angus Proctor RSF Halifax Strong skating right winger, solid speed and agility, really progressed well since the beginning of the season, I had him ranked as a C Prospect during the Q Cup in October, power forward potential here, especially when he stays engaged through the middle, good on the forecheck, processes the game well, solid hockey IQ, good in traffic, solid puck skills, here’s a kid that can definitely play up and down any lineup, will have to get a ½ step quicker to ensure he reaches full potential at the next level.

56 Lynden Larsen LSF Selwyn House Very interesting player here, tons of potential, raw when it comes to his puck skills power forward potential all day long, this kid can skate, he’s very powerful, processes the game and position ok, but rushes things when the puck is on his stick,  Things just need to come together and align that’s what makes Larsen an intriguing prospect,  all the tools are there, just needs time, can definitely skate at the next level, just has to work on his puck skills and being more consistent and patient with the puck on his stick in order to make plays.

57 Anthony Dontigny LSF Maurice Reliable two-way winger, good skater and quite fast, active stick in all three zones, supports the puck very well on the attack and through the neutral zone, will need to get stronger to play at the next level, processes the game well, solid puck skills, isn’t timid going to the dirty areas of the ice, just needs to get stronger, games I saw he played up, didn’t look out of place, doesn’t bring a ton of offence right now, but that doesn’t mean he won’t, he’s skilled and brings a lot of energy to the game and position.

58 Alex Dagenais RSF Gatineau Strong skater, powerful stride, needs to keep his feet moving, good linear speed, pain in the arse to play against, hit’s hard on the forecheck, good puck skills, great heavy shot, skates well enough to play the middle at U18, perhaps he might be better suited on the wing at the next level, but is very responsible two-way center, power forward in the making here, active stick in all three zones, plays a lot bigger than his 5’10 frame, he’s a monster out there

59 Vincent Moreau LCG College Charles LemoyneGood lateral movement, very active and athletic in there, good technique, challenges incredibly well, he’s a battler, fights for space through traffic, he’s way out on some occasions, ultra confident in his movements and his skating, down early on some occasions, just needs to trust it and be a touch more patient

60 Vincent Gaudette RSD Richelieu Solid skater, processes the game and position well, active stick, defends well, will need to work on quickness and agility to reach full potential at the next level, especially when it comes to pivoting in the neutral zone, decent puck skills, solid first pass, projects to be a two-zone defender has a good release from the point

61 Victor Morrissette-Richer LSF College Notre-Dame Great skater, floats out there, very fast, type of player that could skate for days,  needs to engage more defensively in his own zone, but back checks very hard, good puck skills, has a solid release, he’s a natural center, but will need to get stronger/more physical to play through the middle at the Q level, tons of talent and potential here

62 Nathan Crane LSF Stanstead College great skater, very fast, powerful stride, solid two-way forward, can play both positions, probably better suited on the wing, where he can fly and generate more offensive off the rush, great instincts, high hockey IQ, active stick in all three zones, great shot and good hands in tight, Had him ranked as a B+ prospect at the Q Cup in October, tons of potential here, very creative in one on one situations in open ice, makes people miss, very deceptive speed and agility, gets to the middle always engaged

63 Wassim Rabbath LSD Chateauguay  good skater, good puck skills, needs to get stronger, but has a great frame in which to build, good mobility and agility, getting stronger will only help him in those areas, good gap control, very active stick in all three zones, projects to be a very solid two-zoner, can play in any situation, good release from the point, tons of potential here, kid processes the game and position well,

64 Nathan Birch RSD Bishop College strong skating D-man, great heavy release from the backend, great offensive upside and instincts that will certainly translate to the next level, defends well, will need to tighten up a touch with his angling and stick when closing in and defending below the dots,

65 Isaih Rogerson LSF Saint John As soon as you see Rogerson skate you think he’s a QMJHL player all day long, and twice on Sunday, At times however early on in the season he needed to learn how to involve teammates, like all skilled forwards he did skate into trouble from time to time, but that happens when you have and want the puck on your stick all of the time. That area of his game did improve as the season progressed, he skates well enough to play through the middle at the Q, but I see him as a middle six forward that can definitely play in any situation, he will have sure up his defensive play and play along the halfboards in his own zone to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Q level, but this kid has all the tools, the natural tools to be a gamebreaker. At times this season, his feet and mind didn’t match up, if things get aligned which they will for sure because you can tell this kid wants it, he is going to be a hell of player. He has a wickedly impressive shot, it’s a howitzer, he shoots very well in stride, at times he relied on that aspect of his game too much, but again that’s what young players do, He will refine those areas and tidy them up and be a force at the Q level. This kid can skate for days, he’s a great transporter of pucks or a one man regroup and attacking force, he reads the ice well when the puck is on his stick, but needs to make sure he gets to the middle with more force and frequency at the Q level to generate offensive chances for himself and teammates.

66 Charles-Albert Pouliot LSF Levis solid skater, north/south type winger, will have to work on his agility and shiftiness if he wants to reach his full potential at the next level, solid skill set, just needs to work on his skating, thinks the game well, from point A to B he gets there, but to make people miss more he needs to get quicker, active stick in all three zones, good on the forecheck, two-way presence, good release

67 Ludovic Lapointe-Perreault LSF Magog strong skating defensive minded two-way winger, good skill set, good on the forecheck, if he was to get a ½ step quicker that would definitely help his overall game for the next level, power forward potential here, just needs to keep his feet moving, good release,

68 Josh Henry RSD Rothesay Netherwood Incredibly gifted player with tremendous skating ability, solid puck skills and natural ability, He’s a transporter of the puck and projects to be a full three zone defender at the QMJHL level, but that might take some time, He defends well, but might have to tidy up some tendencies in the defensive zone with his stick positioning and angling below the dots, but that can be said about any young defencemen, He’s Q ready and can definitely step in and play in a 5/6 role as a 16 yr old, and probably contribute on the 2^nd unit power play, but again he will have to tighten up some aspects of his processing and defensive game if he wants to jump in and play that 5/6 role in the Q next year. Solid first pass coupled with his ability to lug the puck and read and react, will need to move it a slight bit faster and get stronger from an upper body perspective to ensure he wins his share of puck battles at the next level.

69 Aaron Chipp LSF Halifax Macs I love small skilled players that don’t back down, it’s like they always have something to prove, they prove people right and wrong! At times Chipp appeared to be timid or hesitate in certain situations, but those tendencies were apparent early on, He is tremendously skilled, processes extremely well, and skates well, good in traffic with the puck and is very creative, Critics will question his skating ability for the next level, or if he’s strong enough right now to get to the inside and do damage at the next level,  I saw him at the Q Cup in October and had him as a C level Prospect, due in large part to his skating, grit and mobility, yet he still somehow scored a ton of points there, because of who he is as a player, 1^st viewings can be misleading, you have to focus on the full body of work, I’m not sure if he can drive offence at the Q level as a 16 year old right away, but let me tell you if a team were going to surround him with someone that can get him the puck and a top end goal scorer that kid will better than a point a game, He has to be willing to go to the middle of the ice with more frequency and intensity, and get stronger, but I wouldn’t bet against him, this kid has the ability and will to be a very effective player for the years to come. Here’s a perfect example of a player that everyone focuses on what he can’t do or what he isn’t instead of focusing on what he can bring to the game and position,

70 Xavier Caron LCG Seminaire St Francois very athletic and active in there, great technique, down a touch early on some shots, challenges well, great lateral movement, fights very well through traffic, this kid is a solid netminding prospect, just needs small refinements to his movements to make them more efficient and effective,

71 Will Cole LCG Cole Harbour Very solid goaltending prospect, again people may criticize his size and stature, but this kid can tend goal! He moves incredibly well, very quick and concise with his movements, challenges well, I would like to see him telescope out a slight be more, overall he has great technique, but the best aspect of his skill set in my opinion is the fact that he’s a battler in there, He fights for space through traffic at the top of the blue paint and has a solid glove. He is incredibly solid down low as well and has good rebound control. Teams would be very wise not to pass up on this young netminder, again he’s larger than his stature when he’s between the pipes,

72 Jace Evans LSF Dartmouth Solid two-way player above average skater, but that’s one area where he could improve, a solid stride,  just needs to be more explosive, that will come with more strength and experience, active stick in all three zones, good positioning and processes the game well, good on the forecheck, engages and gets to the middle, Just needs some work on his skating which will serve him very well at the next level, might need some time, but this kid is creative and tenacious, just needs to get there quicker

73 Zack Miller LSF Laval-Montreal Strong skating winger, good hands and passer of the puck, north/south type player, will have to work on his quickness and agility to be even more effective at the Q level, two-way player, can play in any situation at the U18 level, especially when it comes to killing penalties, that aspect of his game will no doubt translate, will have to get a ½ step quicker to do so at the next level, but thinks the game very well, great stick in all three zones. Phenomenal release, this kid can really rip a puck

74 Hugo Charron LSF Chateauguay above average skater, decent puck skills, thinks the game ok, needs to be more engaged and intense defensively especially on the halfboards in his own zone, needs to be sharper and more attentive in traffic, will need to get stronger and a step quicker to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Q level

75 Dylan Pelletier RSD Stanstead College Very good skater, great edges, can really transport the puck, processes the game and position well, transports it well, but needs to move it a touch quicker at times, projects to be a solid two and half zone defender, has good puck skills and a good shot, at times he’s quick to want to get out and join the rush, needs to remain focused on playing a solid two way game, will need to get stronger to ensure he wins puck battles in his own zone, good stick and defends well, solid gap, but as mentioned tends to get caught up ice a touch too much

76 Vincent Vachon RSD Laval-Montreal great skater, strong lateral mobility and good edge control, processes the game and position well, great gap control, active stick in all three zones, defends well and is quick enough to close in on opponents below the dots. Good instincts to jump into the play when needed, won’t drive offensive opportunities or transport pucks, projects to be a very good reliable 4/5 at the Q level and a full two zone defender, solid shot from the point position, really not sure why this kid is ranked at 76^th overall, Vachon can really bring it and takes pride in playing the game the right way.

77 Charlie Morrison LSD Champions Hockey Academy strong skating D-man will have to get quicker from lateral mobility perspective to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Q level, good stick and processes well, eager to jump in and support the rush, good puck skills and quality first pass,

78 Thomas Morin LSD Seminaire St Francois strong skating stay two- and a half zone defender, solid first pass, processes the game and position very well, good gap control, will have to a touch stronger upper body wise to reach full potential, defends well, projects to be a solid 5/6 D man at the next level, probably ranked where he is due to his size which is unfortunate, you can tell he takes pride in the play the game and position the right way,

79 Xander Boutilier LSF Mississauga  Saw this player at the Q Cup in October and absolutely loved the way he plays the game, obviously critics will question his skating or linear speed, but he gets from point A to point B, he’s a nasty in your face gritty winger that reads the play and processes the game exceptionally well, Obviously he will need to get a ½ step quicker, but I think that will come with maturity and more experience, playing against the top players from Atlantic Canada, this kid didn’t look out of place, if anything he stood out, with regards to his playing making ability and defensive responsibility. His offensive instincts are tremendous, he can rip a puck and is calm, cool and collected in traffic, He moves the puck very well, he can lug the puck because of his great puck skills and deceptive skating ability in open ice, but this kid can pass the puck.

80 Rafael Courchesne LCG St-Hyacinthe good lateral mobility and solid technique, solid downlow, solid glove, but that area of his game needs more refinement for him to reach his full potential at the Jr level,  down early at times, needs to keep his glove a touch higher when he’s down in the butterfly,

81 Jeremy Jarret LSF Amos Strong two-way presence on from the wing position, can play through the middle, but better suited on the wing at the Jr level, skates well, needs to get stronger, good puck skills, gets to the middle and engages skilled enough to execute and create offensive opportunities, processes the game and position very well, great quick release, shoots very well in stride, plays a lot bigger than his size and stature.

82 Samuel Roy RSF College Charles Lemoyne good skater, responsible two way forward, good puck skills, will need to get stronger upper body wise to ensure he wins puck battles at the next level, can play in any situation, great puck skills, good in traffic, won’t drive offence, but great complementary player

83 Owen Dyke LSD Tri Pen strong skating defender, good puck skills, defends well, skates light the wind, great 1^st pass, needs to get stronger to defend at the next level, but definitely projects to be a 4/5 transitional two and half zone d-man at the Q level,

84 Caylen Blake LSF Mount St Charles very good skater, very linear speed and shiftiness , good in on the forecheck, thinks the game very well, great offensive instincts. Very effective at getting to the middle of the ice, will need to get stronger to ensure he wins his share of puck battles at the next level, fast enough to play through the middle at the U18 level, but he might be better suited to play the wing at the next level, projects to be a middle six forward with offensive upside at the Q level

85 Jason Faith RSF Lac St Louis good skater, processes it well, good puck skills, good passer, will need to get stronger, needs to bring more jam to his style of play, good in traffic, just needs more strength which will help his overall game,

86 Josh Demers LSF Levis very good skater, will need to get stronger but this kid plays the game and position the right way, very good puck skills, good in traffic, very reliable two-way presence, backchecks with the same intensity as when he has the puck on his stick, this kid is incredibly smart, could jump in and play in a bottom six role and kill penalties right now due his skating ability and his hockey IQ, isn’t going to bring a ton of offensive numbers, but can still contribute regularly because he’s so smart, type of player that can play up and down your lineup. Always engaged, goes to the dirty areas, not sure why this kid is ranked here, plays the game with intensity and grit

87 Etienne Maheu RSD Magog strong skating forward, gritty two way presence, isn’t going to bring a ton of offence but that doesn’t mean he won’t create opportunities because of his physicality and compete level, good puck skills and has a solid release, here’s another kid that’s Q ready from a physicality perspective, could definitely fill a bottom six role, will need to get a touch quicker or more explosive to reach his full potential at the Jr level, but Maheu really competes hard which is great to see,

88 Cruz Scaanzano RSD Lac St Louis good skater, needs to work on his posture, posture is so important for young defenders, over commits at times because of his posture and stick positioning, will need to work on his strength to win puck battles in all three zones, processes the game well, works incredibly hare, good puck skills and patience on the offensive blue line with the puck, good gap control and stick positioning, from a posture perspective, try to stand a touch straighter and eyes up, far too hunched over, perhaps a longer stick would help in that area,

89 Elliot Mullen RSF Mississauga Solid two-way winger, good skater, solid edge control, good puck skills and is good in traffic, good vision and passer of the puck needs to continue to work on his explosiveness and that will come with time and increase strength, Would like to see him engage more and get to the middle with more frequency and poise. Solid heavy release, good hands in tight, at times lack finish in tight, needs to elevate the puck or shoot quicker, that aspect will come with more experience

90 Jordan Rittenberg LCG Cole Harbour Very technically sound big netminder, challenges well, but I would like to see him telescope out more often, down a little early at times, needs to keep glove a slight bit higher in the butterfly and needs to fight through traffic more, but that can be said about every young netminder. Solid downlow, moves well laterally, but will have to work on getting quicker, but that will come with more time, strength and experience

E Rated Atlantic Canadian Prospects by the CSR in Alphabetical Order

Andrew Akerman LCG Tri Pen This kid moves incredibly well, Blade Mann Dixon 2.0, he’s a battler in there, I would draft this kid in a second, tons of compete level and never gives up, great competitor, great technically, people will question his size, but he’s quick enough to make up for all of that, he will surprise a lot of people,

• Derek Andrews LSF Kensington very solid two-way player, brings an element of grit, good skater, great release, isn’t scared to go to the middle and engage, good in traffic,

• Brady Belliveau RSF Moncton  Very similar player to that of Jaxon Somers needs more polish with the puck and his skating ability, definitely spirts of brilliance, but not consistent enough, solid shot, I had him ranked as a C prospect at the Q Cup, processing could also be an issue at time speeds, still lacking an identity for the junior level, which will come with time and experience, depth energy forward at the Q level,

• Charlie Benigno RSF Cole Harbour solid reliable two-way presence, works hard in all three zones will need to work on his explosiveness to reach his full potential at the Jr level, but that will come with getting stronger and more experience, processes the game well, great puck skills and passing ability, tons of potential here, great in tight, good hands and calm in traffic,

• Cole Bent LSD Cole Harbour Hardnosed stay at home two-zone defender, nasty to play against, active stick in all three zones, solid skater, but definitely needs to work on his agility  to reach his full potential at the next level, solid gap control, this kid takes tons of pride playing the position and game the right way, plays in every situation at the U18 level, and logs tons of minutes there as well, projects to be a solid 5/6 at the Q level, might take a little bit of time to refine certain areas of his game, but the talent and the will to prove people is there,

• Daniel Blanchard LCG Saint John Solid netminder, I like his composure in there, tough year for the Vito’s so far, he’s down a little early, needs to challenge more, and keep his glove higher, but has all the makings to be a solid back up at the Q level, I had him ranked as a C prospect at the Q Cup in October

• Noah Boland LSF Pinnacle Growlers Good skater, needs to work hard away from the puck, good in the dot, good puck skills and overall skill set, processes the game and position well, but lacks intensity at times,

• Simon Bourque RSF Moncton Flyers Really like his two-way game, when he keeps things simple, struggling right now with confidence from a Flyers perspective, I thought he was excellent at the Q Cup, I still had him as a C prospect there, just because of his overall skill set versus others there, but he could be a very effective 3/4^th line C at the Q level or a bottom six checking winger at the Q level,
• Malik Bourque-Vigneault RSD Team Maryland No Viewings

AJ Boyd LSF Cape Breton West Rugged defensive winger, tough to play against, works incredibly hard in all three zones, power forward in the making here,  plays bigger than his 5’10 frame, hits everything that moves, solid puck skills, has a solid release

Joseph Breen LSD Cole Harbour above average skater, processes the game and position well, will have to work on his quickness, pivots and agility to reach full potential at the Jr level, good gap control and very active stick in all three zones,

Grady Burns LSF Northern Moose Had him ranked as a B prospect at the Q Cup, solid skater, hardnosed two-way winger, good puck skills gets to the middle, will need to work on his explosiveness, knack for the net, solid release, can play both positions at the U18 level, but I like him better on the wing for the junior level,

Ashton Campbell LSF Charlottetown Knights First saw him at Q Cup, didn’t jump off the page for me at that time of the year, Needed to work on his skating and processing, he turned the puck over quite a bit at that time of the year, but really worked hard and grew throughout the season Rugged two-way forward, solid puck skills, skates well enough to play through the middle at the U18 level, but definitely suited to play the wing at the Jr level, all around the net, has a real knack to generate chances just needs to continue to work on his skating to refine that area, tons of nasty and intensity to his game which will translate well to the next level as a depth energy bottom six winger

Reed Chafe RSD Pinnacle Growlers Has improved a lot since the Q Cup in October, above average skater, need to process the game a little quicker, solid puck skills projects to be a depth full two-zone defender, will need to get stronger and quicker to reach full potential at the Jr level.

William Clark LSF Saint John Vitos Needs to work on his skating,  which he did throughout the season this kid has great mits, was a tag bit too one dimensional early on, but really worked hard at his over game, big and strong and great compete level, If this kid gets a step quicker, he will generate a ton offensive opportunities, definitely has a knack for the net, when he’s engaged and moving his feet he’s incredibly effective

Zach Clinton LCG Charlottetown Knights Had him ranked as a D prospect at the Q Cup, tough to pass judgement because they were shellshocked, I remember him being very deep and not the greatest lateral movement, here’s another kid that worked really hard on his game and got a lot better and more consistent throughout the season, projects to be a solid backup at the Jr level.

Gavin Connors LSF East Coast Blizzard above average skater, needs to work on his overall speed and agility, needs to tighten up his defensive play, can play both forward positions, but better suited on the wing.

Mason Cook LSD Kensington Wild had him ranked as a B- prospect Q Cup, all the makings of a 5/6 depth Q defender,  good  skater, not the flashiest of players, but I like what he brings to the table, transitions pucks and plays with some grit as well.

Xavier Cormier LSD Bishop College Skates well, good gap control and active stick, needs to work on his pivots and agility, will need to get stronger to ensure he wins more puck battles in below the dots in his own zone, processes the game very well, jumps into the play, doesn’t panic with the puck in offensive situations,

• Riley Creelman Jr RSD Halifax Macs A depth 5/6 d-man, decent puck skills, hard worker, above average skater needs to work on his mobility and pivots, I had him ranked as a C Prospect
• Brody Dawson RSF Sydney Rush  crafty play making forward, thinks the game well, good hands in traffic, solid skater, solid two-way winger, good instincts for the game and position, needs to lengthen his stride a touch to gain even more speed to ensure he wins puck battles at the next level, engages and gets to the middle frequently,

• Alex Deschenes LSF Fredericton Caps solid two-way winger, processes the game and position very well, needs to get stronger and quicker, needs to get to the middle with more frequency and intensity, good in traffic, good puck skills and offensive instincts, just needs to get stronger to generate and create more time and space for himself and teammates.

• William Dunn RSD Charlottetown At times looked in over his head, but really improved his game as the season progressed, good skater, good pivots and agility, just needs to get stronger, good gap control, thinks it well, and has an active stick, just needs to get stronger to reach his full potential

• Declan Flynn LSD East Coast Blizzard above average skater, solid puck skills, stay at home two-zone D-man, needs to get a step quicker and work on his agility, processes the game and position well, just needs to get quicker, active stick in all three zones, good gap control,

• Jordan Flynn RSD East Coast Blizzard good edge control and speed, processes the game very well, responsible two-way center, supports the puck well in all three zones, needs to engage more frequently, needs to get stronger, probably better suited for the wing position at the Jr level, great offensive instincts and creativity, just needs to get to the middle more and execute

• Logan Foote LSD Halifax Macs Solid two-zone 5/6 depth Q D-Man, not the most polished skater, thinks it ok, solid first pass, potential there, but he’s not flashy at all stay at home type of player, if he thinks he’s something else other than he could be in trouble

• Brody Ford LSF Sydney Rush Great skater, versatile winger, skates well enough to play through the middle, but brings speed, skill and two-way presence to the wing position, great puck skills, and has a solid release, goes to the dirty areas to create and generate offensive opportunities, this kid can play, just needs to get stronger,

• Schafer Gibbs LSD Cole Harbour Solid two and a half zone defender at the U18 level,  love how this kid plays the game, transitions pucks, but plays with in edge, he’s at his best when he plays with that edge, moves it well, can transport the puck as well, but has a solid 1^st pass, people will question his size, just needs to get stronger which will help with his quickness. Plays a lot bigger than is size and stature

• Adian Green LCG Fredericton Caps  Here’s a kid that had a fantastic start to the season, but lost his confidence at times, he’s a solid netminder, down early at times, but battles hard in there, great mobility, solid glove and good rebound control, needs work on that aspect of the game especially during high traffic or pressure situations or off the rush,

• Lucas Hannay LSD Fredericton Caps Had him ranked as a B prospect at the Q Cup, phenomenal skater processes it very well, needs to get stronger to ensure he wins puck battles, needs to be more engaged at times in his own zone, but I would draft this kid in a second, projects to be solid 5/6 Q level D man, just needs to get stronger and touch more grit to his game to fulfill that role at the Jr level.

• Jacob Hartlin RSD Halifax Strong skating right winger, good release, processes the game and position well, great play making capability, great vision and passing ability, will have to work on his explosiveness and agility to ensure he can get to the spots to create and generate offensive pressure at the next level, very serviceable two-way presence which will definitely translate to the Q level, is gritty enough to play a bottom six role at the Q level as a 16, but will again have to get a step quicker and stronger to reach his full potential at the Major Junior level. 

• Anthony Hurley LSF South Kent highly skilled forward, skates well, very one dimensional, needs to engage more and be more intense and defensively responsible away from the puck, game breaking speed to the outside, great puck skills and great hands in tight, needs to get stronger upper body wise to reach full potential at the next level

• Patrick Lambe LSD Bishop College Solid skater, strong powerful stride, processes the game and position well,  will have to work on his quickness/1^st step and his agility to ensure he reaches full potential at the next level, needs to work on his stick positioning and angling below the dots in his own zone, can play in any situation, and is solid with the puck in the offensive zone, projects to be a solid two zone 5/6 depth defender at the next level

• Connor Leblanc LSD Saint John Vitos great skater and passer, transitional 2 ½ zone d man, very skilled, defends well, just has to get stronger upper body wise to win more puck battles, this kid can skate for days, tons of potential here,

•  Cameron LeBlanc RSD Northern Moose Very good skater and decent puck mover, processes it well, but needs to focus more on his own zone and the overall position instead of getting out on the rush and creating offence, needs to work on his gap control, all the makings of a 4/5  d-man at the Q level, needs to get stronger and take better angles in one on one situations when opponents come out of the corner, takes good routes to pucks, but still needs to work on that, a player to keep a close eye one, I had him ranked as a C prospect at the Q Cup in October, but has really progressed and grown as a player

• Luca Leger-Andrade LCG Twin City Mavericks No Viewings

• Ian Lovett LSF RNS Size, size, size, people will question this kids size, but they will never question his heart and compete level, this kid plays the game the right way and at top speed, speed demon, drives offensive opportunities and gets to the middle and has the skill to execute can play both positions with relative ease, he’s probably better suited to the wing at the next level, but this kid has amazing hockey sense

• Cohen MacIsaac RSF Sydney Rush Solid skater, good puck skills and processes the game well, active stick in all three zones, ok gap control, always looks to jump into the rush, needs to pick and choose his spots a touch better, plays in every situation, needs to get stronger upper body wise, projects to be a depth defender at the Jr level.

• Ayden MacKay RSF Kensington Wild above averagetwo-way presence, above average skater and puck skills, won’t light the world on fire offensively, complementary winger, works hard, needs to get stronger and more explosive to generate more jam in all three zones,

• Declan MacLauchlan RSF Charlottetown Knights Had him ranked as a C+ prospect at the Q Cup in October, very physical player, needs to work on his skating and mobility, which he definitely worked on this season, linear speed, needs to get stronger to ensure he wins puck battles at the next level, tons of grit and compete level to his game, what he might lack in skill, he makes up for it twice as much with intensity and determination

• Dylan MacLean LSF Kensington Solid skater, two-way presence, processes the game well, hard working player relentless on the forecheck, hits everything that moves, solid puck skills,projects to be a solid bottom 6 depth energy forward at the Jr level

• Cole MacLeod LSF Cole Harbour smooth skating two-way forward, skates well enough to play through the middle or both positions, but probably better suited to be a winger at the Jr level, gets to the middle and dirty areas of the ice, responsible player, active stick in all three zones, thinks the game very well,

• Cooper MacNeil LSD Cape Breton West Solid skater, great stick positioning below the dots, will need to get stronger to ensure he reaches his full potential at the next level, solid gap control and good foot work, solid first pass and great instincts for the game and position, projects to be a 5/6 lockdown two zone defender at the junior level, solid puck skills, just needs to get stronger and he will be a very good two-way defender

• Aiden McCullough RSD Fredericton Caps This kid is great story, has really come a long way on and off the ice, great transitional d-man projects to be a solid two and a half zone D man, just needs to continue to gain confidence and belief in his ability, tons of potential here, defends well, just needs to continue to progress and work on his agility, stick positioning and angling below the dots, but has definitely done that throughout the year, had a fantastic year for the Caps and showed tremendous leadership before and after Will Reynolds got traded and sent to the Titan

• Ryder MacQueeen LSF Dartmouth Steel Subarus solid skater, needs to get stronger to reach full potential at the junior level, two-way presence, good instincts for the game and position, better suited to play on the wings rather than through the middle, energy player, good passer of the puck, needs to engage and get to the middle more frequently, but an increase in strength will definitely help in that area, projects to be a bottom 6 forward at the next level that is skilled enough to play in any situation, and up and down any line up.

• Brody Molloy RSF Stanstead College Had him ranked as a C+ at the Q Cup, solid two way player, needs to work on his skating and puck skills in traffic, processes the game well

• William Morgan LCG East Coast Blizzard Technically sound, very square, to the shooter, sharp crisp movements, very athletic in there, great quickness, down early at times, needs to telescope out, solid glove, needs to keep glove a little higher in the butterfly,

• Noah Muise LCG South Shore  Technically sound, square, to the shooter, sharp crisp movements, He’s quick, athletic in there,  needs to telescope out a touch more, solid glove, calm, cool and collected.

• Carson Murnaghan LSF Charlottetown Knights  strong skating defensive winger, solid puck skills, decent in traffic, hits everything that moves,  brings tons of energy shift in, shift out, needs to work on his explosiveness, he’s a strong skater,  good linear speed, just needs to work on his quickness and 1^st step, processes the game well,

• Owen O’Donnell LSF Steel Subaru’s Here’s a kid that played in the shadow of the other O’Donnell kid on the team all season long, this kid can play, solid two-way presence, has a knack for the net, great skill set, will need to work on his skating and overall quickness, but he processes the game and his position very well, will need to get stronger to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Jr level

• Nate Ostridge RSD  Bishop College Love how this kid plays the game and position not flashy, forces the issue sometimes because he cares, I liked his game at the Q Cup in October, solid two and half zone d man at the U18 level, will have to get strong and a ½ step quicker to reach full potential at the Q level, projects to be a solid two zoner at the Q level, defends well and has an active stick in all three zones, solid puck skills and good 1^st pass.

• Ethan Percy LSF East Coast Blizzard Solid skill set, good puck skills, good skater, but quite one dimensional at times, needs to better and more engaged away from the puck, needs to bring some intensity to the position, probably skates well enough to play through the middle, but lacks that jam to his game, needs to bring stops and starts to his game,

• Nathan Pilgrim LSD Pinnacle Growlers Above average skater, needs to improve that area of his game to reach his full potential at the Jr level, needs to improve his gap control at times, an improvement in his agility will help that area of his game, solid stick positioning, processes the game and position well, solid puck skills good 1^st pass, he pivots incorrectly while playing on the left side, it’s like he’s played the right side or something,

• Jacob Pineau LSF Moncton Flyers  Here’s a great story, played high school last year and dominated as a Gr 9 kid, forced to switch positions this season at the U18 level and did fantastic on the wing, needs to get stronger upper body wise, fairly strong on his edges, just needs to continue to refine his skating stride, great instincts for the game, engages and gets to the middle, just needs to do that more consistently, great release, heavy and accurate, drives offensive opportunities when put with the right players, can play in any situation, great vision and knack for hitting the open man, sees the ice very well,

• Jake Poirier RCG Cape Breton West solid technique, needs to improve his quickness and lateral movement, very square plays deep, needs to keep his glove up higher in the butterfly has a tendency to drop it a little, sometimes loses his net which is a touch scary especially when he’s down early and the puck goes behind the net, really needs to refine his lateral mobility

• Kayden Robitaille  LSF Sydney Rush solid skater, needs to work on his explosiveness and quickness, good puck skills, processes the game well, strong two-way presence, north/south time of winger, strong on the forecheck, brings tons of energy just needs to get a ½ step faster to cause more havoc, good release,

• Zachary Roy LCG Northern Moose Love the way this kid tends net, ultra-competitive, moves incredibly well, has a great glove hand, great technically, moves incredibly fast laterally, tons of potential and has really come into his own in the 2^nd half of the season, needs to refine his rebound control, but that can be said about every young netminder, but other than that just needs more reps and continue to gain experience, projects to be a solid backup at the Q level, needs to get stronger and trust his technique

• Dami Seo LSF Moncton Flyers Depth Q player in the making, processes the game very well, good puck skills and distributors the puck well, needs to get to the inside more, struggles sometimes with body positioning, a little hesitate at times, but can skate like the wind, would love to see him play with more skilled players I think you would see his game rise up more, I had him as a C+ prospect at the Q Cup, great speed there, but needs to engage and get to the middle and execute more when the puck

• Will Shearer RSF Halifax Macs I had Shearer ranked as a B Prospect at the Q Cup in October, when I saw him again vs Flyers in the Amherst I thought he was a little too one way at times that game This kid is skilled and skates well, In my opinion, at times he needs to go more North and South and get to the middle with more frequency and urgency to his game, There’s no question this kid can play and has all the tools to be a key contributor to any lineup at the Q level, His offensive numbers didn’t translate from U15 AAA to U18, but he’s definitely skilled and can spot the open man and create time and space, and offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. That aspect of the game will obviously get harder as he continues to climb the ladder but he will adjust and adapt to contribute to be a complete two-way player at the Q level.

• Max Sheppard LSD Stanstead College great skater, good puck skills, thinks the game well, good gap control, great stick positioning and angling, size, size, size, there’s no question this kid is ranked where he is because of his size, obviously he’s not the biggest, but he isn’t scared to go to the dirty areas of the ice especially in his own zone to defend, very good on puck retrievals as well, will need to get stronger upper body wise, but his skating is good he has great escapability

• Jesse Sinclair RSF Valley good skating forward, needs to bring more jam to his game defensively, but great speed, solid puck skills, he has more jam when play through the middle, one dimensional at times, great release and offensive instincts,

• Saylor Smallman LSF Champions Hockey Academy Solid skill set, good puck skills, average skater, needs to work on his first step, needs get stronger to reach his full potential, needs to engage and get to the middle more frequently,

• Gavin Smith  LSF RNS Tons of potential here, obviously everyone is going to compare him to his brother Gabe who plays for the Moncton Wildcats and will no doubt get drafted into the National Hockey League in June, but as always comparisons are unfair, Gavin is trying to pave out his unique path in the game. He skates well, and that aspect of his game will continue to grow and develop with time, obviously it’s not as polished as some people may want it to be, but this kid can get from point A to B in good time. He has solid puck skills, and solid hard and accurate shot, he’s a grinding forward that works incredibly hard in every battle in all three zones, He can play through the middle at the U18 level, but he’s no doubt better suited to be a winger at the Q level. Here’s a player that can contribute in a multitude of different ways, you don’t have to watch him too long to realize just how bad he wants to be a key contributor and how much he loves to compete and play the game. Gavin Smith has a ton of potential, and is definitely a sleeper pick when it comes to his potential impact he could bring, this kid competes and would do just about anything to help his team win. He processes the game well and isn’t scared to go to the middle of the ice and the dirty areas of the ice, Time is going to be a key factor, Gavin just needs some time to continue to grow and polish his overall game and skillset.

• Jaxon Somers RSF Moncton Flyers Depth/energy Q player in the making, needs to engage more and work on his puck skills while at top speed, needs to find his identity for the junior level, could be a very effective two-way winger, when he goes north to south he’s effective, less is more, needs work receiving pucks, decent puck skills and good shot, I had him at B- prospect at the Q Cup, I thought he was very good there, 

• William Stonehouse LCG Shawinigan Lake School Still can’t believe he fell through the draft a season ago, great technically moves well, plays big and square, he’s a battler in there, needs to challenge a touch more and trust his technique.

• Gavin Sudds LSD Halifax Macs QMJHL Dman through and through, Q teams might question his skating, I think its good enough, but excellent example of a wait and see approach where he goes in the Q draft, but I like what he brings to the table, I had him as B Prospect at the Q Cup, but he’s really improved since then in my opinion,

• Carter Sullivan  LSF South Shore very good skater, good puck skills, processes the game very well, reliable two-way player, skates well enough to play through the middle at the U18 level and perhaps the Jr level, probably better suited on the wing at the Jr level, very creative, drives offensive opportunities, great release, brings a ton of energy and goes to the dirty areas of the ice, never hesitates to go there, skilled enough to execute when he gets there,

• Dawson Swift LSD Cole Harbour very good skater, strong pivots and mobility, solid puck skills, processes the game well, defends well, good gap control and solid first pass, might need to get stronger upper body wise to have a little more jam to his game defensively so he’s tougher to play against at the Jr level, but he certainly doesn’t shy away from the physicality of the position or the game, plays in every situation, not sure why this kid is rated as a E Prospect

• JD Trainor RSF King’s Edgehill I absolutely love how this kid plays the game and position, he’s a throw back player that works his arse off every shift, doesn’t matter the score or anything, this kid might not look like a polished hockey player, but let me tell you something this kid plays the game and his wing position the right way. He’s a beast out there, power forward mentality, willing to do just about anything to help a teammate or the team win!

• Logan Trewin RSD Halifax Macs QMHJHL Depth D man  potential, very good skater, and transitions pucks very well, needs to get stronger and more engaged defensively, thinks the game very well, has some offensive upside, knows when to jump in and pull back, needs to work on gap control and quickness when pivoting to the boards, I had him ranked as a B prospect at the Q Cup

• Tristan Turner LSF Halifax Macs I had ranked as a B+ prospect at the Q Cup in October, processes the game very well, good skater, will need to work on his explosiveness, solid two-way presence, good on the dot, good puck skills, solid in traffic, just needs to bring more jam and consistency to his overall game,

• Chike Uzochukwu RSF Steel Subaru’s skilled winger, good skater, good linear speed, very shifty, makes people miss, great hands in tight areas, terrific release, needs to engage and get to the middle with more frequency, Very hesitate to engage and go to the dirty areas, possesses all of the tools to be an effective player, but needs to bring intensity to every aspect of the game, very anxious when he has the puck on his stick at times, needs to be more patient, has the skill set to make plays

• Brandon Vincent LSF Saint John Vito’s great skater, speed for days, solid two-way player, definitely a player to watch moving forward, has all the makings of a bottom six energy forward with offensive upside at the Q level

• Ryan Vohra LSF Pictou solid two-way forward, great skater, good linear speed, might need to work on his agility to improve his escapability in traffic, skates well enough to play both positions at the U18 level, but definitely a natural winger, good puck skills and release, good on the forecheck, active stick in all three zones, plays in any situation at the U18 level, projects to be an effective middle six forward at the Q level, processes the game and position very well,