The QMJHL is never short on storylines. With the start of the 2025-26 season only hours away the entire league and Canadian Hockey League for that matter is entering an entirely new era of the game. Major Junior hockey is about to see a renaissance or it’s demise depending on the particular markets and how they will adapt and adjust to the new reality of junior hockey and the NCAA rule change.
Free Trade
The NCAA rule change has drastically changed hockey’s traditional landscape especially considering the CHL. We are all well aware that some markets in the QMJHL definitely have the upper hand in attracting and landing key free agents, but with the influx of US born players the QMJHL market is certainly still not flooded by any means. Let’s get something straight right now, US born players debuting in the Q will still have to go through an adjustment period, nothing comes easy for players in their first foray in the Q or any new league or level. Some markets across the CHL have undoubtedly benefited from the rule change but it remains to be seen what impact it could have on the overall performance of specific teams and organizations. The game is played on the ice and you can have all the talent in the world on paper, but those groups and players have to find chemistry and gel together, that’s how winning gets done, so US born players, there success and exposure is definitely one storyline that will be very intriguing and worth following when it comes to the Q.
Identity Complex
The Eastern Conference boasts a plethora of storylines and really good teams. Clearly the Moncton Wildcats have loaded up with US born players and rightfully so, what did everyone expect? For more on the Wildcats click the following links.
The Chicoutimi Sagueneens will be a force to be reckoned with no doubt one of the deepest rosters in the entire Q, but they will have to find their identity and trust their style of play if they want to go where they want to go. Speaking of identity Gordie Dwyer’s Newfoundland Regiment know who they are and know exactly the damage that they can inflict on the conference and entire league this year. The Regiment have all the pieces to be a dark horse and could surprise a lot of teams this season come playoff time.
The Saint John Sea Dogs have a mere shit ton of talent, but they still might be lacking an identity. What are the Saint John Sea Dogs? What kind of team are they? Those are great questions and Travis Crickard has done a good job building out a very solid roster, they to will also surprise a lot of teams this year, if they buy in and play as a group.
Everyone knows what the Charlottetown Islanders bring each and every game, but Jim Hulton’s group will be definitely more skilled and deeper upfront and they will be looking to score more goals. The Isles backend might go through some growing pains, but that team will be considerably better the a season ago.
The Halifax Mooseheads continue to do everything the right way when it comes to rebuilding, retooling and growing a potential contender in the years to come. The Herd will be a very fun team to watch and it’s great to see Brad MacKenzie get a chance at the helm to lead a very exciting young and talented team. If the Herd get solid goaltending they will win a lot of games that they might not be supposed to win.
Saying the Baie Comeau Drakkar are a young inexperienced team would be the understatement of the year. JF Gregoire is one hell of a coach and he has an uncanny knack of getting the best out of his players, but he will have his work cut out for him this year especially with the forward group. Scoring goals might be tough for the Drakkar and they will struggle from time to time, but they will find their footing and become a very tough group to play against. Their backend is very good and can line up against anyone, and Beckman has the potential to steal a lot of games that the team will probably have no business winning.
The Cape Breton Eagles will also be searching for a new identity with a ton of changes that have occurred over the spring and summer. The Eagles will be tested, but they will push back and be more competitive than some teams or prognosticators predict. Jason Clarke can flat out coach and his group will be fully committed to their systems, and they will execute with the best of them. Grit, character and quiet talent, Clarke will have all of that and more at his disposal. Look for the Eagles to be very tough out near the end of the season.
The Rimouski Oceanic will be like any other team that loaded up for a championship run and hosted the Memorial Cup. There might be some long nights in store for the Oceanic, but that group of players have a shit ton of pride, character and grit and that starts behind the bench with the likes of Joel Perrault. Perrault is one hell of hockey coach and this scout and writer was blown away by his transparency and performance behind the bench a season ago and especially in the playoffs. Confronted with injuries and adversity Perrault got absolutely everything and more out of his group a season ago and pushed the Wildcats to 6 games in the Q Finals. It’s easy to see that every player on the team would have gone through a wall for that man and he would have done the same for them. Perrault will lead a rebuilding group with the same passion and conviction as he did with a Cup contending team and that’s exactly why he’s destine to behind a pro bench very soon. Oh and by the way, the Oceanic have a goaltending tandem that can steal games from any team in the Q. The moves the Oceanic will make at the Trade Period will solidify their next run at a championship in the years to come.
Everyone knows the powerhouse teams within this conference and league, but not a lot of prognosticators have the Quebec Remparts in the upper echelon of the league. The Remparts are a great young team that play the game the right way. They’re a systematic juggernaut of talent, grit and character. The Remparts are still a young group, but they won’t backdown or be intimidated by any team in the league. Eric Veilleux and his entire staff will get the absolute best out of each and every player on that roster. This also marks the second season of Paul Boutilier’s 44 Second Defensive Program with the Remparts. David Savard has joined Boutilier to provide mentorship and guidance for a very underrated and skilled backend that can also play any style it takes to win. Don’t be surprised to see the Remparts near the top of the standings this season.
The West Side
Well, it’s the Blainville Boisbriand Armada’s to lose, right?
That’s what everyone is thinking and possibly saying right now. The Armada are just too strong and just too good on paper. Games still need to be played and whenever you have that much talent on one roster, chemistry and role identity have to be taken into consideration. The Armada’s brain trust have done a tremendous job landing that much talent, it’s going to be very intriguing to see how they play and come together as a group.
The Shawinigan Cataractes will also be a force to be reckoned with. They possess a very skilled veteran heavy roster that can score goals and generate offence with the best of them. Goaltending could perhaps be the only question mark for the Cataractes when it comes to contending for a championship. Fernandez is incredibly athletic and active goaltender in there and has a shit ton of experience. Nevertheless, he will have to be at his best all season long if Shawinigan wants to go to the promise land.
The Drummondville Voltigeurs will struggle, but after the last two seasons of being an exceptional team that’s to be expected. They have done all the right things in the past and they will continue to build out a contender because they know the formula. They will probably struggle on the backend this season, but they have enough veterans up front to be somewhat competitive and put some points on the boards.
The Val d’Or Foreurs will be strong and pretty dynamic young group and they will surprise a lot of teams. The Victoriaville Tigres will continue to build, D’Aigle will lead the way between the pipes. As D’Aigle goes the Tigres will go.
The Huskies will also be a team depending on having stellar goaltending to go as far as they can. The Huskies boast a solid blend of veteran talent throughout their roster, but will lean heavily on Samule Meloche to win games late into the season.
The Sherbrooke Phoenix are one of those teams that might surprise. They have the ability to generate offence and well be a very good skating team. Goaltending could possibly be an area of concern for the Phoenix with them starting the campaign with a pure rookie and another tendy with only 16 games of Q experience.
The Gatineau Olympiques continue to rebuild and insert young talent into their group. Any rebuild takes time and the Olympiques are going through all of the growing pains that come with.
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