For the fourth time in a row, a QMJHL team could win the Memorial Cup.
The Remparts arrived in Kamloops and observers thought it was going to be very difficult against the home team. Quebec triggered them.
Against Seattle, the big favorites, finally, it had to be the real and big test. But no, the QMJHL team won.
Yes, yes, the QMJHL, this league that wants to ban fights.
This league formed “of frogs softer than baby shit”, wrote a user on social networks, when the end of the fights was announced in the Quebec junior.
“That’s why we don’t want your shit chickens on the Canadian team at the World Junior Championship,” it also read.
“That explains why the QMJHL is far behind the leagues of Ontario and the West,” cleverly analyzed another Internet user.
This league, since 2013, has only managed to send 42 players to the national junior team. So 17% of players in 11 years came from the QMJHL. It’s really not a lot.
This league, since 2013, which has only managed to draft 209 players by NHL teams.
That’s 68% less than the OHL.
That’s 47% less than the Western League.
That’s 18% less than American college hockey.
This league which since 2000 has managed to draft 524 players. That’s 359 less than Ontario and 276 less than the West.
Philippe Langlois, QMI Agency
Table showing players drafted to the NHL since 2000, separated by Canadian junior league origin. (Credit: Philippe Langlois, QMI Agency)
Are we no good?
Are we so worse than that in Quebec?
It is true that it is worrying to see how Quebec hockey players are less and less drafted and are still rarely sought after to be part of the national team.
And this, as NHL teams continue to snap up players in Ontario and Western Canada.
We often hear that hockey in Quebec is sick. That we are not as good as elsewhere and that we have to review our entire development.
It is true that it is important to always question yourself. But what do we rely on to think that we are not good? Should we really be embarrassed?
I repeat. For the fourth time in a row, a QMJHL team could win the Memorial Cup. Surely it’s not luck.
Strong Quebecers
The second leading scorer at the last Junior World Championship was Joshua Roy, a Beauceron.
The year before, in the top 20, there were still Roy and William Dufour, from Quebec.
The year before, it was Jakob Pelletier – also from Quebec – who was among the best in the world.
The year before, it was Alexis Lafrenière who dominated.
The year before, it was Maxime Comtois who was the heart of the club.
And before, it was Thomas Chabot and Julien Gauthier who were all fired up.
We actually don’t have many Quebecers on our national junior teams, but it’s damn lucky that they are there, because they are often among the heroes of these clubs.
If we look at 2020, in the first round, among all the players who were selected and who came from Canadian junior hockey, who has the most points in the NHL so far?
Dawson Mercer, proud product of the Voltigeurs and Saguenéens (98), and Alexis Lafrenière (91), two guys from the QMJHL.
The others aren’t bad, that’s not my point. But we are also capable of developing players.
So, does the development of hockey in Quebec need to be improved? Certainly.
But are we so bad that our players deserve so much to be ignored by the NHL or Hockey Canada? No.
Are players from Quebec at a disadvantage and being beaten by players from elsewhere when it comes time to decide? I’m afraid so.
And I’m even afraid that it’s done unconsciously, because it’s been like that for a long time, as if European or American hope was going ahead.
Errors
Jonathan Drouin’s difficulties in Montreal have certainly silenced many fans who demand that the CH set an example by fielding Quebecers.
But we must not forget that there are many more examples that go in the other direction.
Not so long ago, the CH preferred Noah Juulsen to Anthony Beauvillier, Jacob De La Rose and Michael McCarron to William Carrier, Lukas Vejdemo to Nicolas Roy, Nikolas Koberstein to Samuel Blais and Connor Crisp to Anthony Duclair.
It’s easy afterwards to pull out these examples.
The CH was obviously not the only club to pass over these players. But these are also mistakes after the fact, where Quebec talents have been underestimated.
– With the precious collaboration of Philippe Langlois