Is the QMJHL hiding another Harvey-Pinard?

Often singled out for not drafting enough Quebec players in the QMJHL draft, the Canadiens seem to have made an effort in recent years and it pays off. The choice of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, in the middle of the seventh round in 2019, when he was 19 years old, turns out to be a real masterstroke. Xavier Simoneau, also drafted at 19, in the sixth round, is having a good start to his professional career. After discussions with scouts from the QMJHL, we present to you 11 Quebecers ignored in the draft that the CH must keep an eye on.

justin gill

Sherbrooke Phoenix

Center

Statistics 2022-2023: 68 games, 44 goals, 49 assists 93 dots

Junior age: 19 years old (3^e year of draft eligibility)

Gill has proven himself this season with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, surpassing all of his personal bests on the offensive front. The link with the Canadian would be natural since he has been at the center of the team’s prospect Joshua Roy for most of the season. The Phoenix have a team aiming for top honors and a good series could help them increase their rating even more.

Maxime Pellerin

Victoriaville Tigers

Right winger

Statistics in 2022-2023: 68 games | 40 goals | 46 assists 86 dots

Junior age: 19 years old (3^e year of draft eligibility)

The Victoriaville Tigres have caused some upset this season. After missing the playoffs last year, they finished fifth overall this season and are among the contenders for the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. Pellerin, the team captain, is no stranger to these successes.

Milo Roelens

Sherbrooke Phoenix

Center

Statistics in 2022-2023: 68 games | 22 goals | 37 assists 59 stitches

Junior age: 19 years old (3^e year of draft eligibility)

In light of discussions with some recruiters, it cannot be confirmed that Roelens will be drafted, but, one thing is certain, he is intriguing. Because, no, he doesn’t have impressive offensive stats (even though he’s gone from 18 points in 2021-22 to 59 this season), but at 6’6″ and 207 lbs, he’s got the physicality of the ‘job. A project.

Theo Rochette

Quebec Remparts

Center

Statistics in 2022-2023: 65 matches | 42 goals | 64 assists 106 dots

Junior age: 20 years (can sign a professional contract)

No one can take away Théo Rochette’s individual skills and vision of the game. What scouts have been hoping to see since coming to the QMJHL is his ability to win one-on-one battles and score goals where it hurts. The Philadelphia Flyers have a strong interest in him and he will have the opportunity to silence his critics in the playoffs.

William Rousseau

Quebec Remparts

Goalie

Statistics in 2022-2023: Sheet of 35-8-1-2 | average of 2.22 and save percentage of 0.908

Junior age: 19 years old (3^e year of draft eligibility)

Many scouts are annoyed when it comes time to evaluate William Rousseau. After a sparkling start to the season and a convincing performance at the Team Canada junior camp, he had a lackluster second half of the season. If Rousseau was able to hold the fort and lead the Remparts to victory in the playoffs, he could get a late draft selection.

William Veillette

Victoriaville Tigers

Center

Statistics in 2022-2023: 66 matches | 34 goals | 33 assists 67 dots

Junior age: 20 years (can sign a professional contract)

Invited to the development camp of the Nashville Predators last summer, Veillette did not explode offensively like some other 20-year-old players, but once again stood out for his aggressiveness, his leadership qualities and his work ethic. It is for these reasons that the Tigres acquired it from the Shawinigan Cataractes during the holiday season.

Nicholas Savoy

Quebec Remparts

Defender

Statistics in 2022-2023: 65 matches | 7 goals | 41 assists 48 dots

Junior age: 20 years (can sign a professional contract)

Savoie has spent the last five seasons with the Remparts and has become one of the favorites of head coach Patrick Roy who, a few weeks ago, did not hesitate to say he was surprised that no professional team showed interest in him. Savoie is a reliable defender who stands out for his leadership and his desire to do everything to help the team win.

Francesco Lapenna

Gatineau Olympics

Guardian

Statistics in 2022-2023: 32-15 sheet | average of 2.41 and save percentage of 0.922

Junior age: 20 years (can sign a professional contract)

Lapenna was simply brilliant early in the season with the rebuilding Charlottetown Islanders, maintaining a 2.59 goals-against-average and .919 save percentage. Traded to the Gatineau Olympiques, he now has the opportunity to prove that he can lead his team to the conquest of the title, after losing in the final with the Islanders last year.

Pier Olivier Roy

Victoriaville Tigers

Defender

Statistics in 2022-2023: 68 games | 6 goals | 62 assists 68 dots

Age : 18 years old (2^e year of draft eligibility)

After being an integral part of the Tigers’ 2021 President’s Cup as a 16-year-old, Roy was unable to convince scouts to draft him at 17 due to his lack of of offensive production. This season, however, he exploded with 68 points in 68 games.

Markus Vidicek

Halifax Mooseheads

Center

Statistics in 2022-2023: 68 games | 32 goals | 48 assists 80 dots

Junior age: 18 years old (2^e year of draft eligibility)

The Kirkland native has been among the Mooseheads’ biggest offensive threats this season. Well, maybe not at the level of the 140 points of his teammate Jordan Dumais, but he still finished third in points for his team with 80 points, 15 more than last year. He was invited to the Arizona Coyotes’ development camp in 2022.

Jonathan Fauchon

Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Center

Statistics in 2022-2023: 53 matches | 25 goals | 40 passes 65 dots

Junior age: 18 years old (2^e year of draft eligibility)

Fauchon has been the heart and soul of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada offense this season, but a lower-body injury forced him to miss his team’s last 15 games. In his absence, the Armada had only two wins, being almost excluded from the playoffs.