2025 QMJHL Draft Preview 6th Edition: Final Scouting Reports and Draft Analysis

The future of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League is upon us. Going strictly off the QMJHL CSR’s Final List, I dive into some quick analysis and scouting reports from predominantly video on the Top 90 prospects of this year’s draft class. Watching video isn’t the same as being in the rink and it never will be, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a lot about player tendencies especially what they do way from the puck.

Young players that compete like hell and do all the little things the right way jump off the screen. Video platforms continue to be a game changer. Clearly, they’re not the same as the eye test or being in the rink, but they are the next best thing.

The Prospect Exchange and Hudl/Instat continue to be on the cutting edge of the technology which make our jobs easier by providing access to players from a far. Obviously, I couldn’t have done these reports without Hudl/InStat and The Prospect Exchange. Both platforms are critical and really help scouts to drill down refining and projecting player tendencies.

TPE does a comprehensive job covering Atlantic Canadian teams/players which provides those prospects with more exposure which is essential for identifying and projecting young talent.

1^st Round Rankings by the CSR

Alexis Joseph College Esther-Blondin powerful skater, thinks the game and position well, man amongst boys at time with regards to his presence on the ice, will have to continue to work on his 1^st step in traffic to be even more elusive at the next level, great puck skills and offensive instincts, turns his back on the play at times, but that’s a very minute detail on an otherwise very highly touted prospect, Does skate well enough to play through the middle at the next level, but that might take some time, more than likely to start on the wing, definitely a power forward potential, very good in the dot, Other than the obvious skills, he has a tremendously active stick and great hand eye coordination, and great vision, very underrated as a passer of the puck. Tremendous release and very accurate

Malik L’Italien Stanstead Calm cool and collected, doesn’t panic with the puck, defends well, thinks the game and position very well, great gap control and has a very active stick, great instincts to jump in and picks his spots well, great skater, will have to get stronger upper body wise to make sure he wins more puck battles, great puck skills, has full 3 zone potential, can play both sides with relative ease, but probably better suited to play the right side,

Antoine Provencher College Charles-Lemoyne Strong skating center, could skate for days, great two way presence, very good in the dot, thinks the game at a very high level and does everything at top speed, great puck skills especially in traffic, Unrelenting type of player, never gives up on the play, this kid really wants the puck.
Thomas Charbonneau Shattuck St-Mary’s Very good skater, great 1^st pass, very calm with the puck, will have to get stronger upper body wise to make he sure he wins his share of puck battles especially below the dots in his own zone, good instincts when it comes to jumping into the play and is skilled enough to execute in the offensive zone, projects to be a solid two and half zone defender, Again here’s an issue of player that might need more time to get stronger and bigger before making the jump, Skates incredibly well and has great agility, but needs to bring more edge to his defensive game
James Scantlebury Bishop Kearney Selects Lightning speed and agility, deceptive shot and very elusive player, unrelenting in his approach to the position and game, Amazing 1^st step and can really drive offensive opportunities with his dimensional speed, obviously skates well enough to play through the middle at the next level, but probably better suited on the wing where he can use his skill and speed to create and attack the seams all over the ice, Given his size, critics will suggest he’s too small and will struggle, but this kid is driven and isn’t scare to go to the dirty areas of the ice. Can definitely step in and contribute to any Top 9 and will no doubt appear in a team’s top 6 in a matter of two to three weeks at the QMJHL level. This kid has game breaking capability. Tremendous puck skills and shot, Tons of pro potential even at his size

Zach Arsenault Seminaire St Francois Smooth skating shifty scoring winger, Needs to bring more urgency to his game on the defensive side of the game, very active stick in the offensive zone, Offensive force, one dimensional at times, will need to improve his defensive game to earn the trust of coaches at the next level,
Benjamin Veitch York Simcoe Solid linear skater, good passer, needs some work on his edge control, agility and first step, Too one dimensional at times, needs to bring more urgency on the other side of the puck, Great puck skills in traffic, but here’s a big body player that needs to engage even more, can really go when he focuses on moving his feet, but that needs to happen more to ensure he reaches his full potential at the next level,
Louis Etienne Halley St-Eustache strong two way big body presence, strong skater for his size, but needs to work more on his agility and 1^st step to reach his full potential, clearly power forward capability, Thinks the game well, and once he gets going, very effective, good puck skills and definitely plays with an edge
Nolann Heroux St-Eustache speedy shifty diminutive winger with tons of grit, tremendous speed and hockey IQ, doesn’t shy away from the dirty areas, great compete level, Will have to get stronger, but here’s a kid that can play in any situation and is a coach’s dream, plays the right way shift in shift out and doesn’t take a shift off at all. Can definitely play both forward positions, because of his smarts, but again critics will say he’s too small to play through the middle at the Q level, but this kid gets it and competes like hell
Phenwick MacLean Dartmouth Played against this kid’s father, a long time ago and it’s like watching his dad all over again, deceptive speed and agility, moves incredibly well, tons of upside when it comes to his skating, it’s only going to get better and better as he matures and gets stronger, This kid is not done growing, he will have to get stronger upper body wise to handle the increase in physicality, but he will adapt quickly to the level and then generate points with his smarts and skill set, thinks the game and position exceptionally well, This kid is always in the play, due in large part to his smarts and an incredibly active stick, puck always seems to find him, he works very hard, but will have to amp up his defensive game to excel at the next level, but he has all the tools it takes to contribute and have a big impact at the Q level
Emrick Nolette-Robidoux St Hyacinthe Great skater, two-way winger, great instincts for the game, great edge control, type of player that could skate for days, great shot, quick release, great vision and passer of the puck, engages and gets to the middle, but will need to do more of that at the Q level and getting stronger will definitely help that area of his game, skilled enough to execute and create time and space in the middle as well, another coaches dream because you could throw him over the boards in any situation and he will be able to play and contribute

Deryk Lemaire Magog Very good linear speed, great puck skills, north/south type of player, will need to work on his speed to the outside to generate even more offensive opportunities at the next level, very reliable at both ends, tracks well back to pucks, no doubt can play through the middle at the Q level, but that will take time and experience, probably see some time through the middle in the second half of the rookie season and then a move to the middle in a bottom six role will no doubt help him, but this kid projects to be a nasty 3^rd line center with a lot of offensive upside, just has to get even more quicker or shiftier, might be better suited on the winger as well and be a power winger, depends on the coach and organization, but this kid competes and plays the way,Loik Gariepy St-Eustache This kid has speed for days, and unrelenting on the forecheck and all over the ice for that matter, energy player through and through, Can play in any situation, could instantly jump into any line and solidify their bottom six through the middle at 16 and contribute, not going to generate a ton of offence and that doesn’t matter, because this kid can bring it, Will need to get stronger, but can step in and play next season, is talented and smart enough to play both positions up front,

Maxwell Branton Toronto Marlboros Tons of potential in this player, powerful skater, big body player with great puck skills and hockey sense, projects to be a nasty 2^nd line center, can really break players down with his skill set, will need to continue to work on his speed and agility if he wants to play beyond the Q, but definitely something here in the player, pro potential if he continues on a good trajectory, good distributor of the puck through the middle, can definitely step in and play a bottom six role and is skilled enough to step up and play the winger or through the middle in a little time in the top six when or if needed at 16

Quinn Norman Vaughn Kings This kid can flat out skate, he has great feet and he thinks the game as quickly as he skates, Young D that can skate like the wind often run into times where they should have moved it a little quicker or not make the 3^rd move, and settle for the 2^nd move before distributing the puck, As this kid develops, he will no doubt understand the importance of that and pick and choose his spots, but as of right now he does pick and choose his spots very well, He gaps up good, and needs to continue to get stronger to make sure he adapts to the physicality especially below the dots, but the way he skates he will avoid a lot of contact because of his mobility,

Clement Landry Laval-Monteal solid skater, needs to refine his lateral mobility, decent puck skills and he does skate well for his size, but a quicker first step and more emphasis on maintaining his posture is critic for his growth and development, Needs to get stronger upper body wise, needs to be more assertive or have a nasty streak to his game, Projects to be a solid two zone d-man at the Q level, Thinks the game well and is responsible in all three zones,

Olivier Charron Chateauguay Solidly skilled winger will need to dig in more on the defensive side of things to reach his full potential at the next level, very skilled, good vision and passing ability, Needs to engage at times and get to the middle with more consistency,

Julien Nadeau College Notre-Dame Very good skating defender, great stick and thinks the game and position well, Gaps up well, solid shot from the point, will need to get stronger to better defend at the Q level, Projects to be a solid two and half zone d-man, won’t generate points at the Q level, but here’s a kid that’s going to log big minutes in any situation.

2^nd Round Rankings by the CSR

Yoan Carrier Magog Smooth operator on the backend, doesn’t panic with the puck very good skater, good first pass, good posture which is incredibly important for young D or any D to have, good gap control and quality pivots, Thinks the game and position very well, great stick downlow and really does a great job closing in when defending below the dots, Contains well when defending, will need to get a ½ step quicker and touch more agile to reach his full potential at the Q level,

Marc MacPhee Moncton You don’t have to watch this player too long to realize he’s Braeden MacPhee’s brother. Comparisons are difficult and not fair at all at times, because every player is different, but this kid plays the game and position the right way just like his older brother and is relentless when it comes to the game. Obviously, people will say his size might be an issue, but this kid’s heart and drive again is massive and will make up for any perceived deficiencies in his game, Just has to continue to find a way to get to the middle and execute, but his character and identity which he always plays to will propel him to great heights at the Q level. Can play both forward positions, but I think he’s better suited on the wing where he can use his speed and skating ability to create, Coaches dream can play in any situation and type of player that can skate for days.

William Dube College Notre-Dame Very good skater, will have to get stronger to do more damage defensively, but this kid can really skate, Great gap control, thinks it well, Projects to be a solid two and half zone D-man at the Q level, can play in any situation, and can run the PP, he’s not going to light the world on fire offensively and doesn’t need to but he will be a solid 2/3 type D man, Fantastic instincts and great passer of the puck, finds the quiet areas of the ice in the offensive zone, very good puck skills, Always ready to receive and distribute the puck, has a great release
Zakary Horvat-Edouard Laval-Montreal Speed for days, this kid could skate for days as well, great offensive instincts, solid on the forecheck, Can play both forward positions, but definitely projects to be solid two-way winger, but he will need to amp up his defensive game at times and show more intensity and finish more hits to reach his full potential at the Q level, Great composure when he has the puck on his stick, processes the game well from an offensive perspective, but needs to be more aware on the other side of the puck, which you can say about a lot young prospects, does everything at top speed, will need to get stronger to ensure he wins more puck battles on the halfboards,
Alex Desruisseaux Levis Solid two-way center, great puck skills and passer, solid skater, great speed, very elusive, Brings tons of energy to every shift, Isn’t shy to go to the dirty areas of the ice especially given his size, definitely has some grit to his game, solid release, will need to get stronger, but this kid doesn’t back down and can really create time, space and offensive opportunities
Alexis Bonin-Lallemand St Eustache Solid reliable two and a half zone defender, good skater, thinks the game and position well, comfortable on the right side of the ice, which is hard to do and rare to pull off at such a young age, Great gap control, good composure with the puck on his stick doesn’t rush plays, very good passer of the puck, good shot from the backend,
Cameron Haye South Kent Strong skating forward, very aggressive on the forecheck, has the potential to be a solid two way forward, needs to stop on pucks in his own zone with more regularity and engage more on the defensive side of things, Great puck skills and can really create in open ice, good in traffic and can really pass the puck in high traffic areas, does everything at top speed,
Camden Jackson Chateauguay Solid skating two zone defender, good puck skills, will need to refine this area to increase his effectiveness and efficiency at the next level, good lateral mobility, for his size and age, but like all young D can always keep working on his skating. Active stick downlow and defends well, with a few some adjustments like maintaining his posture he definitely could be a solid 5/6 lockdown D man at the Q level.
Bastien Michaud Bishop’s College solid skater for his size and age, will need to refine his lateral mobility and backward skating to reach full potential at the Q level, but has all the makings of a nasty stay at home two zone defender. Good puck skills and thinks the game and position well, good shot and plays with his head up and is aware, good passer of the puck, Good composer on the offensive blue line with the puck, Needs to watch and maintain his posture especially when he pivots, Gaps up well and has very active stick, just needs to work on his skating and he could be a very solid defensive prospect, good shot from the blueline
Mathys Fortin St-Eustache Solid goaltending prospect, big and square, moves well for his size and challenges well, down a touch early on some shots, good recovery and strong push to recover, but those actions will have to get quicker at the next level to ensure he gets back to position for 2^nd and 3^rd shot opportunities, needs to hold his glove hand a touch higher when down in the butterfly, He’s a touch to low in his crouch position even with his height, players in the Q will be able to fire pucks over his shoulders, but that’s a very minor refinement
Loic Brunet Laval-Montreal Good skater, decent speed, needs to refine his agility to reach full potential at the Q level, reliable two-way center, great in the dot, process the game and position very well, hard worker, good stops and starts in his own zone, Can play in any situation, definitely projects to be a very good 3^rd or 4^th line center, good puck skills and plays well traffic, will have to get stronger and touch quicker to get in and out of traffic at the next level, Plays the game the right way, never out of position, great passer of the puck,
Cole Renaud St-Hyacinthe Good skater, good puck skill, good on the forecheck, tracks well back to pucks and provides a good passing option, projects to be a solid two way winger, plays a gritty style of game doesn’t shy away from things, Not going to light the world on fire offensively, but can play in any situation and is skilled enough to play up in the lineup energy player
Frederic Bergeron Trois-Rivieres Good skater, thinks the game well, reliable two way winger, good puck skills, very smart player, will need to work on his skating to excel at the next level, good in traffic, solid in the dot when he plays through the middle, definitely has some grit to his game, but needs to bring even more intensity and energy especially on the forecheck, Can really fire the puck,
Sam Berthiaume South Kent Very active in there, potentially too active at times, very good technique, needs to not over commit, when he’s quiet he stays very square, his recovery and lateral mobility is exceptional, plays too deep at times, needs to come and fight for his space through traffic, When in the crouch he’s a touch too low which allows players to exploit upper part of the net,
Matys St Gelais Penguins Elite Solid skater, good speed, good puck skills, good in traffic, smart player, needs to work on lengthening out his stride and get stronger which will definitely help him moving forward, energy type of player, brings that energy every shift,
Jase MacPherson Kensington Moves well, very square netminder, needs to challenge a touch more at certain times and fight for space through traffic, good technique, good recovery and strong push to recover, solid lateral movement and mobility, but has to refine that area of his game to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Q level, Definitely a battler in there, good quickness, and very solid up high in the butterfly, quite square when down but needs to keep his glove a touch higher, good rebound control
Louis Felix Guay St-Hyacinthe Very good skater, processes the game well, two-way two zone defender, very active stick downlow, not a big body D-man, but doesn’t back down or shy away from the physicality, Good transitional D man when he has a chance to go with it, can lug the puck, but needs to pick and choose spots a touch better, skates well enough to play both sides, but definitely better suited to play his strong side, deceptive shot from the blueline

Justin Beaulieu Seminaire St-Francois Very good skater, thinks the game and position well, great composure with the puck, in all three zones, very active stick and defends very well off the rush, needs to maintain his posture better, will need to get stronger, to win battles and contain things at the next level especially below the dots, but is very smart and will use his hockey IQ and speed to get out of tough spots in his own zone to kick start transitional opportunities, Skates well enough to play the right side which is rare at this age, looks very comfortable making plays from that position,

3^rd Round Rankings from the QMJHL CSR

Liam Armit Stanstead rugged and deceptively skilled two-way forward, powerful skater, thinks the game well and takes good routes to pucks, Will have to continue to work on his quickness and lateral agility to reach his full potential at the Q level and beyond, but this kid can play, Armit could jump in and be a great option in any teams bottom 6 at 16, but let me tell you right now, this kid will find himself in the top 9 by late October or early December based on his compete and smarts, He knows his identity and plays to it, which is rare, solid puck skills and uses his frame and stature to get to the middle, Surprised he is ranked where he is based on the footage I’ve watched, he brings a gritty element to his game that is highly sought after in today’s game, Plays a complete game,
Raphael Dupre College Esther Blodin Very strong two way presence, competes hard, honest player that would do anything for the team, understands and relishes his role, real pain in the arse to play against, coaches dream, can play in any situation, can play both positions at the U18 level, but probably better suited on wing at the Q level, Very good skater, good speed, needs to get a ½ step quicker, but he’s so smart he can make up for that with his processing, great release, will need to get stronger to win more puck battles,
Drew Murphy Kensington Solid two-way forward, definitely plays with grit and has a downright nasty edge to his game which is great to see, Smart player and has good hands in traffic, Solid skater, but that’s one area that he will have to continue to work on and refine to have the largest impact at the Q level, Great release, good in traffic, just needs more work on his agility and edge control, North/South type of winger and tons of potential here, power forward potential, Can play in any situation, Has a nose for the net and loves going to the dirty areas,
Malike Desrochers St-Hyacinthe Very good skater, thinks the game very well, great vision and passing ability, two-way presence, hardworking energy player, Good puck skills and patience with the puck, will need to get stronger to be more effective on the halfboards in the Q level, will need to continue to engage and get to the middle more frequently he’s skilled enough to execute and create offensive opportunities or generate time and space
Jayden Pominville College Esther-Blondin Incredibly smart player, good puck skills, solid skating ability and edge control, Critics will focus on his size, but this kid can flat out play the game and position, Very effective on the forecheck and very active stick in all three zones, Great passer of the puck, moves pucks incredibly fast which is great to see, In this day and age, a ton of players overhandle the puck to showcase their skills rather than move it quickly, this kid gets it and moves the puck and gets into the seems to create time and space, He can finish as well, great release
Leo Gabriel Gosselin Seminaire St Francois speed demon, does everything at top speed and does things well, engages well and gets to the middle that trend will need continue at the Q level, Very active stick strong two way presence, Can play in any situation and constantly works hard with and without the puck, solid puck skills, very comfortable in traffic,
Alexy Lafleur College Notre Dame Skates well for his size, that’s one area that he will have to continue to refine to reach full potential at the next level, Good puck skills, solid in traffic and thinks the game and position well, not going to light the world on fire offensively, but brings energy and compete level, power forward potential, Finishes on of his hits and hits everything and anything that moves which can be highly effective, This kid will no doubt hear his name earlier than his ranking based on what he brings to the game
Elliot Bibeau-Rivard St-Hyancinthe Great skater, can no doubt skate for days, active stick, Competes like hell on both sides of the puck, incredibly active on the forecheck and finishes all of his checks, needs to use stops and starts a touch more frequently in his own zone, Solid puck skills and great quick release, this kid could become an ultimate pest and a real pain in the ass to play against
Jesse Dunlap Rothesay Netherwood Very good skater, quality pivots and edge control critics will focus on his size, but he’s an effective transitional D man, Good gap control and very active stick, Will need to get stronger to make sure he can win battles downlow, Doesn’t shy away from the physicality aspect of the position and game, but just needs to get stronger, Processes the game very well, good puck skills and passing ability
Nathan Ouellet Quebec Solid skater, processes the game well, Great puck skills, can make plays at top speed, pretty dynamic with the puck and can breakdown defenders in one on one scenarios, Isn’t timid to engage, will have to get stronger upper body wise, quiet talent here, very effective and efficient, just has to continue to fight for his time and space at the next level and take full advantage of open ice at the next level to continue to showcase his skill set.
Vincent Deveault College Esther-Blodin Solid skating winger, responsible two-way presence, good puck skills and processing, supports the puck well and takes good routes to pucks, type of player that can play in any situation, Needs to get stronger to more effective and elusive in the offensive zone, Solid shot, engages well and gets to the middle, but will need to continue to go there more frequently at the next level in order to generate more offensive opportunities

Austin Hoyt Pictou Solid skater, can definitely play both positions at the U18 AAA level, but might be better suited to be a North/South type of winger at the next level, but he can definitely skate well enough to play through the middle at the Q level, Might need some time on the wing before making the move to the middle, Good puck distributer from the middle, Good two-way player, competes like hell, Coaches dream can play in any situation, Good in open ice, reads and processes well with and without the puck, Good on the halfboards on the power play,
Jeremi Duclos-Claude St-Hyacinthe Solid skater, good defensive center, Very solid offensive numbers at the U18 AAA, won’t drive a ton of offense at the Q level, but is skilled and thinks the game very well, projects to be a solid checking 3^rd line or 4^th line center, but is skilled enough to play up and down any lineup, Good in the dot, Can play in any situation, Good first step and quality speed and acceleration, but will need to continue to refine his skating to reach his full potential at the Q level, Good in traffic, doesn’t back down even given his size,
Tanner Hayden Pictou Good skater, solid in traffic, good puck skills, great hands in tight, Will need to continue to refine his skating, but that’s one area that any young player can always work on that area to reach his full potential at the Q level and beyond, Great compete level, can definitely jump in right away and help a team in the bottom 6, but he will find his way into the Top 6 within a month at the Q level. Phenomenal pro release, This kid has a nose for the net and can find all of the quiet areas of the ice and finishes with tremendous accuracy
Benjamin Corso Amos Good skater, transitional type of defender, projects to be a solid two zone defender at the Q level, Definitely a 5/6 type of defender at the next level, Good first pass and gap control, Very smart player, processes the game and position well, good posture, but that’s one area any young defender can work on, For him to be a 5/6 lockdown defender at the Q level he will have to get stronger, but definitely can skate at that level which will help in his progression within the league, Can play in any situation, and can run the power play at the U18 level, but he can definitely log big minutes and play up in the lineup if needed based on how he skates.
Loik Collin College Esther Blondin Above average skater, another two zone defender that could be tough to play against with time and an opportunity in the Q, Good gap control, and a very active stick in all three zones, Projects to be a solid 5/6 shutdown defender, good instincts to jump and join the rush, good first pass and thinks it well,
Felix-Sylvain Hache Northern Excellent skater, great compete level, Doesn’t shy away or back down, very skilled gets to the middle and engages, but he’s going to have to do more of that at the next level, Good in the dot, can definitely play both forward positions with relative ease, but probably projects to be a middle six forward at the next level, Great puck skills and release, and doesn’t mind high traffic areas and definitely looks comfortable going there, Tons of potential in this player,

Jayden Napon Laval-Montreal Very good skater, great speed and edge control, energy player, loves to hit and has a very active stick, Good puck skills and very comfortable in traffic, Definitely can make the jump and play right away and contribute to any team’s bottom 6, is skilled and smart enough to play up, very good complementary player and great passer of the puck,

4^th round rankings by the QMJHL CSR

Alexis Desroches Gatineau Solid skater, two-way presence, active stick in all three zones, Takes good routes to pucks especially through the neutral zone, good edge control and speed, but will have to get a ½ step quicker, loves the rough stuff and physicality, good puck skills and awareness, projects to be a solid bottom 6 player with some offensive upside, skates well and is smart enough to play up when needed, but he’s an energy player and a very good competitor, loves to finish all of his hits which is great to see
Evan Sercerchi Fredericton reliable two way center, skates well, but will have to continue to work on it and refine his skating if he wants to reach his full potential at the Q level, especially at his size, Good speed, and thinks the game and position very well, very active stick in all three zones, Tracks well back to pucks and provides good outlets to receive pucks, would like to see him more engaged in puck battles down low, pretty dynamic in open ice with time, good passer of the puck, good on the back check, and works his ass off, but will have to get stronger to contribute at the Q level, Good release and good hands in tight,
Dominic Schnarr Bishop’s College A man amongst boys out there, skates very well for his size and has good agility, good hands and has a high quality release, Thinks the game and position very well, finds the open areas and seems in the offensive zone, this kid is a monster out there, just needs to continue to work on his agility and speed and look out, definitely has a nose for the net as well, very impressed with his hockey sense and ability to get in on the forecheck and create havoc, Some players at this size and age are considered to be very raw, that’s not the case with this kid at all, he has tons of potential and this ranking is a touch surprising to me due his overall skill set and ability, Schnarr could have a massive impact at the Q level for the right team in the right environment, A lot of tall players just need more time to grow, no pun intended, but time and an opportunity is critical for players like Schnarr to adapt and then be a key contributor which is very capable of
Felix Foucher College Esther Blondin Very smart player, thinks it at a high level, critics will look at his size as a barrier, but this kid can skate and engages and gets to the middle, he doesn’t hesitate, good release and great compete level, energy type of player through and through, skates well enough to play through the middle at the U18 AAA level, but might have issues at the next level if he doesn’t get stronger, doesn’t back down which is great to see, active stick in all three zones, good puck skills, very reliable defensively, won’t light the world on fire offensively, but is quick and smart enough to pay up if needed,
Isaak Berube Moncton smooth skating transitional two and half zone defender, defends well has good gap control, good first pass, and possesses quality offensive instincts and knows when to pick and choose his spots to join the rush, needs to focus in on his posture especially when defending and skating backwards, can play both sides, but better suited on his strong side, Good offensive instincts and patience on the offensive blueline, doesn’t rush plays, but will need to focus on the other side of puck if he wants to have a big impact at the Q level, plays to his identity now, but he will have to be even more aggressive and nastier to play against at the junior level, he can play in any situation, but just needs to be more urgent at times defensively,
Noah Levy Kuper Academy Good skater for his size and age, but will definitely need to work on his lateral mobility, quickness and agility to have an impact at the next level, good speed and skating stride going forward, but just needs to work on getting his pivots quicker and more fluid, tons of potential here in this player, very active probably too active when trying to get up ice, needs to be touch more patient especially when he’s the last man back in the zone, above average puck skills, this player has a tremendous base and skill set in which to build, he as good gap control, and a good stick, but now it’s all about learning and building on things to become the best version of himself as he can be so he can be that ultra shutdown full two zone nasty defensive D-man
Charles Genereux Stanstead Solid skating two and half zone defender, Thinks the game and position very well, good composure with the puck and quality first pass, Here’s another young Dman that needs to focus on his posture especially backwards skating, Good stick and gap control, Skates well enough to be able to lug pucks and has good puck skills, but will have to become even more polished in that department, Definitely projects to be 3/4 type of defender at the Q level, Smart enough to play in any situation, isn’t going to generate a ton of offense at the next level, but doesn’t have to, the main focus should be for Genereux is to win puck battles and start transition, Here’s a young defender with a ton of lockdown in your face potential,
Jax Ginnish Halifax phenomenal skater, floats out there, type of player that could skate for days, processes the game and position at a very high level, good first pass and isn’t scared to take a hit to make a play, very good gap control and overall awareness, Obviously teams will be looking at his ability to defend and keying in on that aspect of his game, He has the potential to be a full three zone d-man, but will have to get stronger in order to ensure he wins battles below the dots in his own zone at the next level, Clearly his ranking is no doubt a reflection of his size, but again he doesn’t back down and isn’t timid, but the team that drafts him won’t be disappointed, Here’s a kid that just might need more time and reps before making the jump to the Q, but given the right environment and situation, could definitely step in next year and play, If teams do elect to send him back for more touches and experience when he does make the jump he’s going to be a catalyst for transition and generating speed off the breakout, rush or all over the ice, Ginnish can really play, and knows when he can pick and choose his spots to be the most efficient and effective, One area is posture to make sure he stands up a little taller when playing a one on one so his weight and balance is better distributed
Alexis Benoit Basses-Laurentides Speed demon, does everything at top speed, very good puck skills, needs to engage and be more intense in battles, especially on the defensive side of things, but that will come with more experience and reps, very calm in traffic and doesn’t mind going there, but just needs to show more jam at times on the other side of the puck,
Nikola Antonacci Culver Academy Moves very well laterally and has good recovery, challenges the shooter and telescopes very well, Solid fundamentals and technique, good downlow, Very agile and quick, trusts his technique, has very quiet feet when he sets up to face the shooter, very square, might need to refine his glove positioning when down in the butterfly, just needs to slightly raise it to ensure he doesn’t get up high in those sequences,
Christopher Kelly Lac St Louis Solid skating two-way forward, active stick in all three zones, good puck skills, skates well enough to play through the middle at the U18 AAA level, but probably better suited for the wing at the Q level, can play in any situation, but needs to be more aggressive at times on the forecheck and defensive side of the puck, Processes the game and position well, good on the halfboards, will have to continue to work on his explosiveness and agility,

David Messier College Charles Lemoyne Solid skater projects to be a two-zone defender at the Q level, not flashy, but very effective, lockdown potential, good gap control, will need to continue refine his skating and agility, especially his first couple strides going backwards, solid pivots and feet just needs to get quicker, good puck skills, Processes the game and position well, This kid understands his role and identity, and he doesn’t try to be something he’s not, which is rare these days,

Simon Chartier Levis good skater, thinks and plays the game at a quick pace, moves the puck very well, active stick, Can play in any situation, very reliable and accountable defensively, good puck skills and isn’t scared to go to dirty areas, to create, but will have to get stronger and bring even more compete level and a touch more urgency to find his niche at the next level, he’s brings energy just needs to be a touch more consistent
Brock Lyons Saint John This kid can flat out shoot the puck, he has a pro release and it’s accurate, Obviously tremendously skilled with great hands, but needs to continue to work on his skating stride, agility and speed in order to play within a Q teams Top 6, Lyons has a massive amount of potential, but just needs to put the work in on his skating, Lyons is always around it and finds all the quiet areas of the offensive zone and he can execute and is lethal when firing the puck, Can score from anywhere, no doubt one of the best releases of the draft, he’s a pure shooter and scorer, Could be scary good if his skating progresses over the next few years.

Charlie MacLeod Sydney Big body forward, solid skater, will need continue to refine his agility and speed to have a big impact in a Q teams top six, Thinks the game and position well, Hardworking forward, but needs to bring even more compete and grit to his game to reach his full potential at the next level, especially on the other side of the puck, Good passer of the puck, can really do a lot of damage on the power play with his creativity and release Tons of potential with this player just needs to continue to get better and stronger to be even more effective

Frederik Emond Ec Secondaire De la Magdeleine Solid skater for his size and age, good puck skills, good gap control, Good processing, and solid first pass, Will need to bring more grit to his game and style of play if he wants to reach his full potential, Projects to be solid two-zone defender, needs to refine his lateral mobility and pivots,
Felix Guerard Trois Rivières Very good skater for his size and age, will need to continue to refine and work on that area has he progresses through the game, very reliable two-way defender, very active stick and solid posture, good first pass and very composed and focused on making the right/simple plays well which is great to see from a young defender, Doesn’t over handle pucks or try to do too much with it when it’s on his blade, Plays a little too wide at times, needs to stay between the dots or on the dots which will pay dividends at the next level, Tons of potential here just needs more time, but projects to be a very solid 5/6 type defender at the Q level.

Xavier Halloran Gatineau Very composed in there, moves well, but that’s one area that he will have to continue to refine is his quickness and recovery, Fundamentally sound and good foundational technique just needs to get quicker, Needs to challenge more and trust his technique, ok to look big, but needs to stay tighter with his technique and trust things more at the top of blue or when telescoping out,

5^th round rankings from the QMJHL CSR

Edouard Theriault St-Hyacinthe Very good skater, great edge control, great gap control and good pivots defends very well and has a very active stick, Thinks the game and position very well, will have to get stronger upper body wise to make sure he wins battles downlow, has to be careful of his posture, he’s hunched over at times which throws off your balance and weight distribution, Very good puck skills and very calm, cool and collected in traffic,

Benjamin Lefebvre Richelieu Good skater, will still have to refine some aspects of his skating and agility to make the largest impact at the Q level, power forward type of player, Could be highly effect in a North/South energy or bottom 6 role as early as next season based on his size and skating ability. Again here’s a kid that’s no doubt still growing and adapting to his role as a player, Players like this just need more time and experience which will pay massive dividends in the end when they arrive at the next level, Good puck skills and loves playing in traffic,
Mathis Bernier Magog Good skating defender, projects to be a 5/6 at the next level, does everything the right way, good gap control and stick positioning, Very patient with the puck in all three zones, doesn’t rush things, doesn’t bring a ton of offensive upside and that’s perfectly ok, because he understands who he is, which is great because he doesn’t have to act like a top point getter High quality first pass and is really composed
Evan Lyver Halifax Very good skater, can definitely skate through the middle at the next level, but will still have to continue to get stronger upper body wise and a half step quicker to make the jump to the Q look seamless, Great to see him finish all of his hits in all three zones, Very good puck skills and release,
Derik Morin Trois Rivieres Good skater, great compete level and drive, Provides a two way presence on the wing, definitely better suited to play on the wing in the Q in a bottom six role and then earn more time, smart enough to make plays and skates well enough to play up Isn’t scared to through his weight around either which is great to see
Dax Robichaud Fredericton Big and square, does move well, but will need to a touch quicker especially in his recovery efforts, challenges quite well for big goaltender, but I would like to see him out a fraction more, but like all tall goalies nowadays Robichaud does play deep, needs to keep his glove up a touch higher when in the butterfly,
Zachary Chouinard College Notre Dame Tons of speed to the outside, good puck skills, hard working winger, processes the game very well and isn’t scared to go to the middle of the ice to create, but would like to see him hang on the puck a touch longer to create even more time and space for his linemates, Reliable two-way player, just needs to get stronger,
Benjamin Tremblay Richelieu Solid technique, looks really big in there, a lot bigger than 6’2, moves well, Challenges well and telescopes out, calm, cool and very collected in the blue paint, comfortable playing the puck, Needs to get a touch quicker in his recoveries and sets
Nathan Ruel Chateauguay Solid skating north/south winger with power forward potential, good puck skills and thinks it well, Good in traffic, will have to refine his agility and explosiveness to reach his full potential at the next level, supports the puck well in all three zones, good on the forecheck, Just needs to get quicker, solid release,
Zachary Petit College Charles Lemoyne Good skater, transitional type of defender, projects to be a two and a half zone defender, processes it very well and skates well enough to play both sides, looks very comfortable on the right hand side, which is tough to play, Plays a touch too wide, good first pass, and good mobility, calm cool and collect on the offensive blueline, he skates well but you will see him get even quicker when he gets stronger, active stick in all three zones,
Noah Paxton Magog Can this kid ever skate, fun to watch, can really lug pucks, has a very good first pass, Has solid release from the blueline, plays bigger than his frame, but obviously teams will look at his size as a potential deterrent, Processes the game and position very well and is really smart, makes the right plays at the right times which is rare amongst D at that age,

Yundi Cai College Esther-Blodin Good technique, moves well, definitely a battler in there, good recoveries and quickness, down a touch early on certain shots and sequences, plays deep, so he has to be even quicker at the next level, solid downlow and above average glove,
Arnaud Desjardins Lac St Louis Good skater, very smart and thinks it very well, tough gritty energy player, can play in any situation, tracks well back to puck and very active stick, reliable two-way presence, always finishes his checks,
Louis-Emile Dumais Seminiare St Francois Speedster, very shifty two way winger, Relentless in his approach to the game, top speed no matter what, doesn’t back down and very smart, You can tell this kid loves to play the game and loves to engage, Great vision and passing ability, good puck skills moves the puck quickly and with accuracy which is great to see
Jacob Veilleux Moncton Rangy two-way defender, I’ve watched this kid on several occasions, he’s really worked hard on his skating, but it still needs to be refined, less is more right now, He processes the game well, but needs to understand spacing and angles which will make his job much easier at the next level, He’s definitely has an edge and I’ve seen him blow up some guys, lateral mobility and agility is the key, from a backward skating perspective, his forward skating is very good and he has very good hands and isn’t scared to use them in traffic, but his puck retrievals and pivots need to improve in order for him to make the jump to the Q and be an effective shutdown presence, Projects to be a two zone defender at the Jr level, He does have some offensive upside and can really fire a puck, but in order for him to be successful at the next level, he will have to tighten up his overall game, which he’s very capable of doing, This kid has tons of potential, I would love to see him really work on his footwork in front of the draft and over the summer because he’s got a very high ceiling if things get refined.

Philippe Garneau College de Levis solid skating winger, North/South tendencies which is great, plays with an edge, good hands and thinks it well, Needs to work on his edge control, agility and overall speed to be an effective checking winger at the Q level, works very hard and understands his role, but just needs to continue to develop his skating, very good shot, again tons of potential here,

Alexis Guevin Trois Rivières Good skater, smart and thinks it very well, tough gritty energy player, can play in any situation, back checks well very active stick, reliable two-way presence, good compete level, Needs to get stronger and continue to work his way into the middle,

Ethan Jones East Coast Blizzard Smart two way center, good skater, thinks the game very well, very active stick in all three zones especially down low while defending, good release and distributes the puck very well through the middle, Will have to continue to work on his speed and agility to make the biggest impact at the next level, no doubt could probably play both positions up front, but he’s potentially better suited on the wing at the Q level,

Scouting Reports for Atlantic Canadians Ranked as “C” and “E” Prospects by the QMJHL CSR

Atlantic Canadian “C” Ranked Prospects by QMJHL CSR Rounds 6 to 8 by Alphabetical Order

Duncan Anderson South Kent Solid skating defender, skates well enough to play both sides, but better suited to play on his strong side at the junior level, good puck skills and processes the game and position well, posture issues when skating backwards, has to really focus on that aspect, Will need to get stronger and continue to work on his agility and explosiveness, but is solid defender, projects to be a solid depth D at the junior level, transitional possibilities due in large part to their skating

Calvin Carver Dartmouth Very good skater, tons of potential here, energy player, good puck skills, processes the game and position very well, two-way presence, Will need to get stronger to be more effective at the Junior level, but skates well enough is smart enough to play up and down the lineup. Finishes hits which is great to see, very effective on the forecheck

Kaegan Hounsell Central Great skater and possesses very good puck skills and patience with the puck in traffic, Will need to get stronger and more engaged defensively at times to reach full potential at the next level, but tons of potential here, skates well enough to play through the middle, but will need to become even more explosive and agile to skate through the middle at the Q level, processes the game very well and knows how to create time and space,

Ryan Jewer South Kent Very good skater for his age and size, good puck skills and awareness for the position and game, will have to continue to work on his agility and mobility to reach his full potential at the Jr level, but this kid has a great foundation in which to build, definitely projects to be a nasty shutdown 5/6 two-zone D-man at the Q level,

Nathan Kydd Cole Harbour Strong skating two-way forward, good puck skills, will need to get to the middle more and engage at the next level, energy player brings great compete level, Skates well enough to play through the middle at the next level, but will need to get stronger and take slightly better routes to pucks in transition and regroup sequences to aid in his puck distribution from the center position.

Griffin MacEachern Pictou good skating two-way defender, good gap control and processes the game well, projects to be a solid depth defender at the Junior level, will need to continue to work on his lateral mobility and agility with regards to his pivots in open ice and in small areas of the defensive zone

Max MacKenzie Charlottetown Above average skating rangy defender, projects to be a two zone defender, solid stick positioning while defending, needs to work on his agility and lateral mobility while defending below the tops of the circles in his own zone,

Nicholas MacKenzie Pictou Solid skating rearguard, powerful stride and plays a nasty in your face style of game, processes the game and position well, Solid gap control, good puck skills, will need to continue to work on his explosiveness and agility from a backward skating perspective, very strong forward skater, tons of nasty in your face defending in this player which is great to see, projects to be a solid shutdown two zone depth defender

Jacob Seaman Valley Good skating two-zone defender with very good puck skills, will have to continue to work on his agility and explosiveness to reach his full potential at the junior level, Has to remain mindful of his posture while backward skating and make sure only one hand is on the stick in those sequences, good gap control and active stick in all three zones,

Brendan Smith Dartmouth great skating two way energy forward, works incredibly hard and isn’t scared to go to the high traffic areas, will need to continue to bring that energy to the next level and get stronger to ensure he wins more puck battles, can definitely skate through the middle, but no doubt better served on the wing position at the junior level

Tyler Sullivan Pictou Above average skating defender, for his age and size, nasty to play against,good stick, but will need to work on his agility and lateral mobility below the dots to maximize his potential, another young defender here that needs to focus on his posture which will only help his balance and mobility in all areas of his game, but especially in the defensive zone,

Gabriel Walker Fredericton Above average skating defender, needs to refine his puck skills and mobility when under duress, when he has time, he’s a lot more patient with the puck on his stick and makes good decisions, Will have to continue to work on his overall skating and agility especially with his pivots to reach his full potential at the Jr level, Walker is quite raw still, just needs time and more refinement to be a solid depth guy at the Jr level.

Jack White Fredericton solid skating rearguard, good mobility will need to get a ½ quicker to make sure he maximizes his chances to be a two and a half zone defender at the next level, good gap control and stick positioning, reads the play well and processes the position and game very well, This kid has tons of potential, obviously the points might not be there at the U18 AAA as a rookie, but this kid can play and has great instincts in all three zones,

Aaron Whitten Pinnacle Growlers Solid skating two-way winger, processes the game well, good puck skills, needs to engage even more and get to the middle and create time and space for himself and teammates in order to reach his full potential at that Jr level,

All other Atlantic Canadian Eligible Players (“E” Ranking) as per the QMJHL CSR in Alphabetical Order

Caleb Adams Mountain Kings Academy very good skating ability and mobility, thinks it well, good transitional defender, projects to be a solid two and a half defender at the Jr level, Type of player that can play in any situation, I think this is a perfect example of a player that could be ranked higher and might not have had a ton of visibility, but his overall game jumps off the screen at times,

Parker Banks Stanstead skates very well for his size and age, power forward potential, good agility, but that’s definitely one area to continue to work on to reach his full potential at the Jr level, good puck skills skates well enough to play through the middle at the U18 level, but no doubt better suited on the wing at the Jr level to be a North/South type power winger that can chip in offensively

Grayden Bath Pinnacle Growlers solid skating center, good two-way presence, active stick in all three zones, good in the dot, Needs to engage and stay in the fight longer on the defensive side of the puck, but has a very good foundation in which to build, needs to refine his agility and explosiveness so he more elusive through the middle, Works very hard and back checks with purpose, just needs to continue to get stronger to ensure he reaches his full potential at the next level,

Dimitri Belanger Moncton Very good skating forward, would like to see him stop and start more at times especially in the offensive zone, Also at times needs to show more urgency on the defensive side of the puck, This kid is full of potential, processes the game and position well, skates well enough to play through the middle at the U18 level, but definitely projects to be an energy player on the wing, but really has to ratchet up his intensity at times and engage, get to the middle more and finish hits in all three zones.

Jack Bell Cape Breton West good technically, moves well, and covers the bottom of the net well, needs to continue to work on his recoveries and laterally mobility to get that aspect of his style and game even quicker, challenges well, but I would like to see him telescope out a touch more at times, Needs to get stronger which will only help his overall progression and development.

Dylan Benautio Dartmouth good technique, challenges very well and gets out there, but down early in some sequences. Moves well and covers the bottom of the net well, Very good lateral mobility and recovery, would like to keep his glove a touch higher at times when he’s in his crouch and butterfly. Appears at times he gives up some room on his blocker side, very square and fights through traffic and tracks the puck well, but any young goaltenders needs to continue to refine those areas of their game.

Grady Betts King’s Edgehill Solid skating hard working two way forward, Might play through the middle at the U18 level, definitely projects to be a strong north/south up and down power forward potential at the Jr level, active stick in all three zones, Needs to work on his first step and explosiveness, but thinks the game well, good puck skills, Not going to light the world on fire offensively, but could definitely help out any team’s bottom 6 by bringing energy and grit.

Louis-Simon Boucher Moncton Very good skating defender, solid gap control, but will have to continue to mindful of his posture and having two hands on his stick while backing up through the neutral, because that will throw off his balance, Projects to be a transitional two-zoner defender, will need to ramp up his upper body strength to make sure he defends with more jam at the next level

Nick Burcham Pictou Solid skater, this kid works his ass off every shift, which is great to see, great competitor, needs to work on lengthening his skating stride, but he has great linear speed, but needs to refine his lateral mobility to maximize his full potential at the next level, would like to see him take better routes to pucks on some occasions on puck retrievals, good puck skills and processes the game and position well, just needs small refinements to help polish his overall game, Competes like hell which is great to see and doesn’t back down from the physical aspects of the game and position which is great to see,

Kael Campbell Cole Harbour Athletic netminder, very quick downlow and square, needs to continue to work on rebound control, challenges well and very active between the pipes, Needs to continue to fight for more of his space and track pucks through traffic, Needs to continue to get stronger which will help him with his quickness in his recoveries and pushes, Very solid netminder, just needs to refine some aspects of his technique to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Jr level.

Zach Clinton Charlottetown Had him ranked as a D prospect at the Q Cup in October 2023, 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.

Justin Cluett Cole Harbour solid skating two-way winger, brings a lot of energy, straight line linear type of player, two-way presence, will need to continue to work on his puck skills, thinks the game well, great stride in open ice, just needs to work on his agility in small areas and bring even more energy and grit to his style of play,

Isaac Connolly Valley Above average skating winger, two-way presence, Good puck skills, and shot, Here’s a young player with good potential, but needs to bring more urgency, grit on and away from the puck with more consistency to reach his full potential at the Jr level, Great foundation in which to build, just needs to find more jam on a consistent basis to be a quality energy player with offensive upside at the next level, which he definitely possesses,

Gavin Connors East Coast Blizzard Above average skating forward especially for his size and age, solid puck skills, processes the game ok, will need to continue to work on his skating stride to generate more speed and but especially agility, loves to play with a ton of physicality which is great to see, but needs to zero in on his skating, good in the face off dot, and doesn’t look out of place playing through the middle at the U18 level, but will no doubt be better suited on the wing at the next level and be a north/south straight line type of power forward, here’s a player that just needs more time to continue to work on his speed to enhance his chances to play Jr hockey and be an effective bottom six grit and energy player that is a real nasty player to play against,

Jessy Cormier Notre Dame Hounds calm, cool and collected in there, very good technique, very square, challenges well and has great lateral mobility, and recovery, Very athletic and has impressive quickness, down a touch too fast on some sequences, solid netminding prospect, just needs to continue to get stronger and quicker to reach his full potential at the next level,

Xavier Cormier Bishop’s 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,

Jack Davis Pinnacle Growlers Smooth and powerful skating forward, speed for days, this kid is a pure skater, works incredibly hard on both sides of the puck, Sometimes with speedsters like this sometimes have trouble matching their footspeed with their puck skills and processing, Davis does a good job balancing that aspect of his game, good in the dot, Like to see him and players like that stop and start on more occasions, but again Davis has tons of potential, can definitely skate at the Jr level through the middle at the Jr level

Dax Doiron Bishop’s College very good technique, square and challenges very well, very active in and around the blue paint, good recovery and strong pushes, a touch more refinement in that areas will only help his progression to the next level, When young goalies are active in there, it usually results in their feet being all over the place, he does a good job of staying active, but not over committing. Very solid goaltending prospect

Ryan Doyle Charlottetown Above average skating two way forward, will have to continue to work on his speed and agility to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Jr level, thinks the game well, but needs to make quicker decisions at times with and without the puck, very good in the dot,

Carson Ferdinand South Kent Solid skating stride, good two way winger, will need to continue to get stronger which will only help his overall game, solid puck skills and possesses a good shot, processes the game and position well, Just needs to continue to work on his agility and explosiveness to improve his elusiveness and escapability at the next level, Very reliable two-way player that works his ass off every shift.

Josh Fitzgerald Boston Hockey Academy Incredibly speedy and shifty skilled forward, skates like the wind, processes the game well and does everything at top speed, will need to zero in a touch more and bring more intensity on his defensive side of his game to ensure he reaches his full potential at the Jr level, with any speed forward, I would like to see them throw on the brakes a touch more and focus in on stops and starts, those little aspects and details can pay dividends at the next level in gaining the trust of coach to throw them out in any situation.

Ethan Fitzpatrick Northwood School Not entirely sure why this player isn’t ranked higher in his draft class, The kid has a tremendous amount of potential, and skates incredibly well for his size and age, Perhaps here’s a kid that might not have been seen with the same frequency as other players, but he can flat out play, has great puck skills, and is an incredibly powerful skater, straight line speed and brings a shifty and elusive aspect to his game Power forward potential here for days, especially with the way he skates. The team that selects this kid is going to have a great two-way forward that plays the game and position the right way.

Colby Fleet Cape Breton West Above average skater for his age and size, thinks the game well, just needs to keep his feet moving at all times and continue to work on his stride efficiency and explosiveness, tons of potential to be a big rangy power forward, solid puck skills, needs some refinement with those puck skills in traffic, but that comes with time and more reps. Two way presence, active stick in all three zones, just needs to continue to play with more pace and urgency in all three zones, good foundation in which to build.

Sam Flemming Halifax speedy, shifty two-way center, does everything at top speed, gritty energy player, probably better suited to play the wing at the Jr. level, but can definitely skate through the middle if he gets stronger, competes like hell, and processes the game well, backchecks with the same intensity as when he has the puck on his stick, which is a rare and incredibly invaluable trait to possess these days.

Leo Forance Cabot Moves very well, good technique and challenges very well, needs to trust his technique and be a touch quieter with his feet so he stays square at all times, very athletic, down early at times and needs to keep his glove a touch higher in the butterfly, Just needs more time to refine things and keep things simpler,

Marc-Antoine Foulem American Hockey Academy solid technique, square to the shooter, better suited when he’s challenging more, down early at times, needs to trust his technique, moves well, but has tendencies to lean forward while in the butterfly, just needs to get stronger to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness in his movements and recovery, covers the bottom of the net well, but just needs to trust his ability and stay a little quieter/confident in there,

William French Northwood School solid skating defender with good puck skills and processing, another young defender that needs to be more mindful of their posture, doesn’t need two hands on his stick in open ice, which will only help him stay more upright and provide better coverage and pivoting and mobility possibilities, solid gap control, but needs to be more assertive at times and trust his backward skating which will only help him maintain his gap and plus he plays a touch to wide in certain situations, projects to be a reliable 5/6 depth defender.

Camden Gallant Cole Harbour very good skating two way winger, good first step, this kid works his ass off, competes hard and could definitely help a teams bottom six with his energy and grit, very good puck skills in traffic, thinks it well, just a matter of getting to the middle even more and continuing to fight for his time and space at the Jr level, which he is more than capable of, this kid is talented enough to up and down any line up, Here’s another player that should probably be ranked higher given his skating ability and style of play

Henrik Gerard Dartmouth Good skating transitional defender, good puck skills and processes the game and position well, good stick, needs to make sure he leads with that stick and goes really hard stick on stick to contain and then finish players off with contact, a lot of potential with this player, Here’s another player that should probably be considered to be ranked higher given his foundational skill set and skating ability, Obviously, needs to continue to get stronger to provide even more pop and grit at the next level,

Dace Gruchy Pinnacle Growlers Moves well, quick downlow and strong push, challenges well with a good telescope, would like to see him move out a touch more at times, Very athletic in there, down early at times, needs to get stronger to ensure he can continue to recovery with speed, but also to keep his upper body square in the butterfly, has a tendency to lean ahead and lose his balance

Justin Hanscomb Northern Solid two way center that skates very well, processes the game and position well, needs to continue to bigger upper body wise to win battles in all three zones, good on the forecheck, and works incredibly hard, good puck skills and distributes pucks very well, very underrated passer and play maker very good in the face off dot, another player that should be ranked higher given his overall play and this kid plays to his identity and trusts his skill set and doesn’t try to be something he’s not,

Noah Hawco Cole Harbour Always tough to play the right side as a left shot D-man, he’s definitely better suited to play his strong side at the next level, skates well and has decent puck skills, would like to see him have a touch more patience with the puck, tends to rush plays, Like all young defenders, you want to move it fast, but you also have to read and react, process it not rush things and execute. I think he thinks it well, but is sometimes worried to make a mistake and then in turn rushes things, Solid gap, but just needs trust his skating ability and be mindful of his posture while defending, active stick, here’s a young defender that can skate, but just needs his feet and processing to match up and sometimes that takes time

Justyce Johnson Dartmouth This kid can really skate, very good edges and agility coupled with tons of speed, processes the game and position very well, just has to get stronger to compete and win more puck battles at the next level, smart player, good puck skills and makes good decision with the puck on his stick, good passer and has good vision,

Jake Kelly New Hampshire Mountain Kings Smart two way winger, possesses very good puck skills, good skater, but will have to get more explosive and stronger to make sure he reaches his full potential at the next level, plays the game and position the right way, would like to see him be more assertive on the defensive side and use more stops and starts while defending, he finishes checks which is great to see, but will need to make even more contact at the next level to play in a bottom six energy role, Skilled and smart enough to play up, but just needs to bring more consistency and urgency in some sequences, solid potential in this player,

Cameron LeBlanc Northern Very surprised he fell through the draft a season ago, 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 5/6 d-man at the Jr 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 of 2023 but has really progressed and grown as a player

Hunter MacDonald Cape Breton West Hardworking two-way forward with good speed and agility, energy player that gets in on the forecheck and is effective, coaches dream because he can play in any situation, very reliable, honest player

Declan MacLauchlan Charlottetown Had him ranked as a C+ prospect at the Q Cup in October of 2023, 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 Kensington Solid skater, two-way presence, processes the game well, hardworking 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

Nathan Morgan Pinnacle Growlers Smart transitional defender, has great instincts for the position and game, very good skater, doesn’t panic with the puck, makes the simple plays and that’s to see in a young defender, will need to get bigger and stronger in order to hold his own at the next level, but competes like hell, doesn’t try to do too much, plays to his identity and there definitely something to say about that, good gap control, but that can always improve,

Maddox Neuman Valley Solid technique, moves well, would like to see him challenge more and telescope out more, Covers the bottom of the net very well, quick to recover, getting stronger will help his overall game, Would like to see him keep his blocker and trapper a touch higher when he’s in the crouch position, very comfortable in there and athletic, you can tell he’s a battler

Ethan Normore Dartmouth strong skating rearguard, good puck skills, will need to continue to refine his agility and mobility to maximize his potential at the next level, tends to get too wide at times in the neutral zone, which throws off his gap control, needs to trust his skating more and tighten his gap up, by staying more central he will be able to read and react better, better positioning will undoubtedly help his overall game,

Kellan Case O’Leary SC Berne This kid has speed for days, can really skate and that’s easy to see on the big ice over in the Europe, Good puck skills and awareness, thinks the game very well, Clearly teams will have to weigh in on his readiness to step in and play next year, will have to get bigger and stronger, but here’s a player that can play and distribute pucks, has good vision and hockey IQ, Just needs to continue to engage and get to the middle to create time and space with more consistency especially if he wants to play at the next level. He certainly doesn’t shy away from the middle of the ice and you can tell loves to compete and win one on one puck battles,

Rowan Patterson Fredericton Always tough for a lefty to play the right side back there, he does a fine job of it, good skater, good agility and mobility, active stick, thinks the position and game well, at times gets too wide, especially in the neutral zone, good puck skills and good first pass, would like to see him be a touch more patient at times when the puck is on his stick, playing fast is great and all, but a lot of young d-man rush things, if they take a look and make quality scans first then the game slows down, Projects to be a depth defender at the Jr level, probably better suited to play on his strong side at the next level, but definitely doesn’t look out of place on the right side.

Ethan Percy 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,

Sam Pitcher Tri Pen Good technique, very square, plays a touch too deep, but calm and cool in there, very quick downlow and strong pushes good recovery

Ben Reardon Saint John Solid skating forward with very good puck skills and processes the game well, will need to continue to work on his agility and speed to ensure he reaches his potential at the next level, Very smart player, will need to continue to create and ensure he gets to the inside more frequently at the next level.

Grayden Robertson-Palmer Phillips Andover Academy This kid can really skate, powerful stride and power forward in the making, plays with edge and grit, he’s relentless on the forecheck and has great hockey sense, puck skills and passing ability, really don’t know why this kid is ranked where he is, He has dynamic tendencies to his game and can really bring it, He will have to dial in a touch on the defensive side of the puck to ensure he reaches his full potential at the next level, great in the face off dot as well, this kid can definitely step in and play and have an immediate impact at the Q level

Liam Ryan Shawinigan Lake School Solid technique, very active in there, moves very well, good recovery, plays a touch deep at times, would like to see him telescope out and challenge, he’s very square to the shooter and very athletic, like to see him refine his crouch a touch and be more upright and less hunched over,

Sam Ryan Boston Hockey Academy Above average skater, two-way presence, would like to see him engage more and be more assertive on the defensive end at times, processes the game well, good vision and passing ability, will need to work on his explosiveness and first step to reach his full potential at the next level,

Kaidan Sahajpal Winchendon School Everyone will obviously look at this kids size, as a deterrent but he can really play and he competes, incredibly smart player, good skater and very good speed, Like all diminutive players, just needs to continue to engage and go to those dirty areas to create time and space, great playing making ability, tremendous hockey IQ has a knack for spotting the open player, can break down players one on one with his speed and agility, Just needs to get stronger upper body wise so he can protect/shield the puck better and be even more elusive at the next level,

Jesse Sinclair 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,

Tucker Sinclair Sydney Speedy center, great feet, very active stick and two-way presence, responsible player, hardworking and good on the forecheck,

Hudson Sisk Northern Good skating transitional defender, solid puck skills, will have to continue to work on his agility, processes the game well, and gets his head up when the puck is on his stick which is great to see, he’s certainly not flashy but he gets the job done, reliable honest hard-nosed defender, good gap control, just needs to continue to work on his backward skating to increase the speed and efficiency,

Jared Sorhaindo Pictou Solid netminder, stays square and quiet in there, solid mobility and good recovery, will have to continue to refine his quickness to be ready to make the jump to the next level, good compete level in there which is great to see,

Down a touch early in moments, but his technique and will to compete and second effort shines through, might have to watch his angle at times, gives up some room on the blocker side

Cameron Spurrell RNS Speedy diminutive forward, good hockey IQ and puck skills, doesn’t shy away from the physicality of the game and competes like hell, will have to continue to get even quicker to have an impact at the Jr level, but can definitely provide energy and skill to any teams bottom six, finishes his checks which is also great to see, great stick in all three zones, and provides a solid two way presence as well,

Eliot Tozer Saint John good skating two-way center, good puck skills, needs to make sure he continues to engage and get to the middle with more consistency, so he reaches his full potential at the next level, good in the face off dot,

Parker Travis Saint John solid skating energy forward, good puck skills, provides a two-way presence, will have to continue to work on his speed and explosiveness in order to have an impact at the Jr level,

Chike Uzochukwu Halifax Still surprised he fell through the draft a season ago, 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

Ryan Vohra St-Paul’s School 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,

Brayden Waterhouse Fredericton Above average skater, but will have to refine that areas of his game to reach his full potential at the Jr level especially from an agility perspective, good puck skills, thinks it well, hardworking north/south type of winger

Brayden Watson Fredericton Solid skating winger with a powerful stride, good puck skills and processes the game and position very well, good passer of the puck, Watson skates very well, but will need to continue to work on his agility and explosiveness to be even more effective at the Jr level

River Welsh Halifax Solid skater, hardworking winger, not going to light the world on fire offensively, but competes on both sides of the puck and definitely has some offensive upside and skill, skilled and smart enough to play up and down any line, just needs to get stronger to fulfill that role at the Jr level,

Ewan White Pictou Solid skating two-way winger, honest player, not flashy, but incredibly reliable, he will need to lengthen his stride to generate even more speed and agility to play at the next level, Needs to continue to get in on the forecheck, possesses a quality active stick in all three zones, but will need to continue to engage and stay in the battle longer and with more consistency at the next level

Benjamin Yabsley East Coast Blizzard reliable two-way center, above average skater, will need to continue to work on his speed and agility to reach his full potential at the next level, Good compete level and good puck skills, would like to see him finish more checks on the forecheck, Thinks the game well, projects to be a solid depth forward just needs to continue to work on his skating

Share this:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply