2019-20 CHL Season Preview Series: QMJHL’s Maritimes Division
Day 6 of a 12-day coast-to-coast series previewing the 2019-20 Canadian Hockey League season features the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Maritimes Division:
Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Last 5 Years
2014-15: 17-43-6-2, 42 Points (6th in Maritimes Division)
2015-16: 27-35-3-3, 60 Points (5th in Maritimes Division) ▲
2016-17: 39-23-4-2, 84 Points (3rd in Maritimes Division) ▲
2017-18: 43-15-8-2, 96 Points (1st in Maritimes Division) ▲
2018-19: 8-54-5-1, 22 Points (6th in Maritimes Division) ▼
Best Playoff Result: 2018 – Won 4-2 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand in President’s Cup Final; Defeated Regina to win 2018 Memorial Cup
Need to Know
Head Coach: Mario Durocher, 2nd Season
2019 QMJHL Entry Draft (Top Pick): 1/11 (C) Riley Kidney (Midget Majeur de Cole Harbour Pro Hockey Life Wolf)
2019 CHL Import Draft (Top Pick): 1/3 (D) Noah Delemont (Biel Jr.)
2018-19 Notable Graduates: (G) Mark Grametbauer, (LW) Jesse Sutton, (LW) Daniil Vertiy
NHL Prospects: N/A
Noah Delémont has officially arrived in Bathurst 🇨🇭
Noah Delémont est officiellement arrivé à Bathurst 🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/ssJJ546F4Z
— Titan Acadie-Bathurst (@ABTitan) August 17, 2019
Players to Watch
Returning Leader: (C) Evan MacKinnon
On the Horizon: (D) Noah Delmont
The retooling Titan will have a big-time reinforcement on board in 2019-20 with budding blue-liner Noah Delemont set to make his North American debut. Selected third overall in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, the Swiss-born defenceman is a tantalizing puck-mover who will help distribute to Acadie-Bathurst’s scoring forwards, particularly centreman Evan MacKinnon who is the highest scoring returnee following a 35-point campaign.
Cape Breton Eagles
Last 5 Years
2014-15: 31-31-3-3, 68 Points (5th in Maritimes Division)
2015-16: 38-24-5-1, 82 Points (3rd in Maritimes Division) ▲
2016-17: 39-25-2-2, 82 Points (4th in Maritimes Division) ◀▶
2017-18: 32-28-6-2, 72 Points (4th in Maritimes Division) ▼
2018-19: 40-22-1-5, 86 Points (3rd in Maritimes Division) ▲
Best Playoff Result: 2016 – Lost 4-3 vs. Saint John in Round 2
Need to Know
Head Coach: Jake Grimes, 1st Season
2019 QMJHL Entry Draft (Top Pick): 1/17 (D) Jeremy Langlois (Cyclones de Quebec)
2019 CHL Import Draft (Top Pick): 1/36 (C) Ivan Ivan (Vitkovice Ostrave Jr.)
2018-19 Notable Graduates: (RW) Mitchell Balmas, (D) Wilson Forest, (D) Leon Gawanke (Winnipeg), (C) Declan Smith
NHL Prospects: (RW) Shawn Boudrias (Minnesota, 6/179, 2018), (D), (C) Mathias Laferriere (St. Louis, 6/169, 2018), (G) Kevin Mandolese (Ottawa, 5/157, 2018)
The Cape Breton Eagles are saddened to learn of the passing of Kelly Nobes. Nobes's son Bodie is a draft pick of the Eagles.
Kelly served as head coach of McGill Redmen for nine seasons and was respected throughout the hockey community. Our thoughts are with Bodie and family. pic.twitter.com/IfbhM1XCn7
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) September 5, 2019
Players to Watch
Returning Leader: (C) Mathias Laferriere
On the Horizon: (C) Ivan Ivan
Selected with the club’s first pick in the 2019 CHL Import Draft, the uniquely named Ivan Ivan will be entrusted to step into a scoring role with the Eagles this season, a fair expectation given his ability to put up 39 points in 43 appearances last year with Vitkovice’s under-19 squad. Up front, the 17-year-old will be joined by St. Louis Blues prospect Mathias Laferriere, who finished second in team scoring in 2018-19 after posting 74 points across 68 appearances.
Charlottetown Islanders
Last 5 Years
2014-15: 35-28-1-4, 75 Points (2nd in Maritimes Division)
2015-16: 35-26-5-2, 77 Points (4th in Maritimes Division) ▲
2016-17: 46-18-4-0, 96 Points (2nd in Maritimes Division) ▲
2017-18: 37-24-7-0, 81 Points (3rd in Maritimes Division) ▼
2018-19: 40-21-4-3, 87 Points (2nd in Maritimes Division) ▲
Best Playoff Result: 2018 – Lost 4-3 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand in Round 3
Need to Know
Head Coach: Jim Hulton, 5th Season
2019 QMJHL Entry Draft (Top Pick): 2/31 (G) Jacob Goobie (Halifax Macs)
2019 CHL Import Draft (Top Pick): 1/39 (RW) Gaetan Jobin (Fribourg-Gotteron)
2018-19 Notable Graduates: (D) Hunter Drew, (LW) Daniel Hardie, (RW) Jordan Maher
NHL Prospects: (C) Nikita Alexandrov (St. Louis, 2/62, 2019), (D) Xavier Bernard (New Jersey, 4/110, 2018)
No better sight than a clean sheet 😍 pic.twitter.com/dezaXNtfKr
— Charlottetown Islanders (@IslandersHKY) September 5, 2019
Players to Watch
Returning Leader: (C) Nikita Alexandrov
On the Horizon: (D) Lukas Cormier
After impressing with 36 points in 63 appearances as a freshman, young rearguard Lukas Cormier will take on an even bigger role this season with the Islanders as he skates into his NHL draft year where the preliminary projections see him as an early pick. As he readies for the big day, Cormier can lean on returning forward Nikita Alexandrov for draft day advice, given the gifted goal scorer was selected by the St. Louis Blues this summer after tallying 61 points in 64 games last season.
Halifax Mooseheads
Last 5 Years
2014-15: 32-30-4-2, 70 Points (4th in Maritimes Division)
2015-16: 21-39-7-1, 50 Points (6th in Maritimes Division) ▼
2016-17: 27-35-3-3, 60 Points (5th in Maritimes Division) ▲
2017-18: 43-18-6-1, 93 Points (2nd in Maritimes Division) ▲
2018-19: 49-15-2-2, 102 Points (1st in Maritimes Division) ▲
Best Playoff Result: 2019 – Lost 4-2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda in President’s Cup Final
Need to Know
Head Coach: J.J. Daigneault, 1st Season
2019 QMJHL Entry Draft (Top Pick): 4/70 (LW) Cole Foston (Midget Majeur de Cole Harbour Pro Hockey Life Wolf)
2019 CHL Import Draft (Top Pick): 1/48 (C) Senna Peeters (Selects Academy 16U at SKS)
2018-19 Notable Graduates: (C) Samuel Asselin, (LW) Arnaud Durandeau (N.Y. Islanders), (C) Keith Getson, (C) Antoine Morand (Anaheim), (D) Jake Ryczek (Chicago), (RW) Ostap Safin (Edmonton)
NHL Prospects: (G) Alexis Gravel (Chicago, 6/162, 2018), (C) Benoit-Olivier Groulx (Anaheim, 2/54, 2018), (RW) Raphael Lavoie (Edmonton, 2/38, 2019), (D) Jared McIsaac (Detroit, 2/36, 2018)
Give a big Moose Country welcome to 2019 CHL Import pick Senna Peeters. 🔥🔥 #GoMooseGo pic.twitter.com/90DLGVo6DQ
— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) August 9, 2019
Players to Watch
Returning Leader: (RW) Raphael Lavoie
On the Horizon: (D) Justin Barron
After falling short in last year’s Memorial Cup Championship Final, the Mooseheads will have a reconfigured look this season following some key departures, particularly at the forward ranks. That will create more ice time for the next wave of talent, including returning forward and Edmonton Oilers prospect Raphael Lavoie, who dominated last year’s postseason with a QMJHL-leading 20 goals in only 23 appearances. This season will once again see plenty of talent evaluators in Halifax keeping tabs on defenceman and 2020 NHL Draft hopeful Justin Barron, who put up 41 points as a sophomore.
Moncton Wildcats
Last 5 Years
2014-15: 46-19-0-3, 95 Points (1st in Maritimes Division)
2015-16: 36-21-9-2, 83 Points (2nd in Maritimes Division) ▼
2016-17: 14-51-2-1, 31 Points (6th in Maritimes Division) ▼
2017-18: 27-33-5-3, 62 Points (5th in Maritimes Division) ▲
2018-19: 38-21-4-5, 85 Points (4th in Maritimes Division) ▲
Best Playoff Result: 2016 – Lost 4-2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda in Round 3
Need to Know
Head Coach: John Torchetti, 2nd Season
2019 QMJHL Entry Draft (Top Pick): 1/3 (C) Zachary L’Heureux (Grenadiers de Chateauguay)
2019 CHL Import Draft (Top Pick): 1/30 (D) Axel Andersson (Sodertalje SK)
2018-19 Notable Graduates: (G) Francis Leclerc, (RW) Brady Pataki, (D) Gabriel Sylvestre
NHL Prospects: (C) Alexander Khovanov (Minnesota, 3/86, 2018), (LW) Jakob Pelletier (Calgary, 1/26, 2019), (G) Olivier Rodrigue (Edmonton, 2/62, 2018), (D) Jordan Spence (Los Angeles, 4/95, 2019)
#TBT to last year's home opener in front of a sold out crowd at the @AvenirCentre! Who's ready for hockey to be back 🙋🏻#DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/peVQUMr4JP
— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) July 18, 2019
Players to Watch
Returning Leader: (LW) Jakob Pelletier
On the Horizon: (LW) Elliot Desnoyers
Following his first-round selection by the Calgary Flames in this summer’s NHL draft, scoring forward Jakob Pelletier is set to return to the Wildcats, where he will once again headline the club’s offensive attack after finishing second in team scoring last season with 89 points. Pelletier will be joined by second-year forward and 2020 NHL Draft prospect Elliot Desnoyers, who notched a modest 12 goals and 19 assists in 61 appearances as a freshman.
Saint John Sea Dogs
Last 5 Years
2014-15: 32-26-4-6, 74 Points (3rd in Maritimes Division)
2015-16: 42-20-6-0, 90 Points (1st in Maritimes Division) ▲
2016-17: 48-14-5-1, 102 Points (1st in Maritimes Division) ▲
2017-18: 14-43-9-2, 39 Points (6th in Maritimes Division) ▼
2018-19: 13-49-2-4, 32 Points (5th in Maritimes Division) ▼
Best Playoff Result: 2017 – Won 4-0 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand in President’s Cup Final
Need to Know
Head Coach: Josh Dixon, 3rd Season
2019 QMJHL Entry Draft (Top Pick): 1/1 (C) Joshua Roy (Les Chevaliers de Levis)
2019 CHL Import Draft (Top Pick): 1/6 (D) Joona Lehmus (Tappara Tampere B)
2018-19 Notable Graduates: (D) Michael Campoli, (G) Mikhail Denisov, (D) Benjamin Gagne
NHL Prospects: (G) Zachary Bouthillier (Toronto, 7/209, 2018), (RW) Maxim Cajkovic (Tampa Bay, 3/89, 2019)
Sea Dog @max_cajkovic88 was drafted to the @TBLightning in June.
He recalls year 1⃣ in the @QMJHL, his time leading up to the @NHL Draft, and his desire to help his teammates navigate their draft year.
Full story > https://t.co/GmJlRNkW9p#QMJHL #NHLProspect #TBLProspect pic.twitter.com/Kb2D9Gnk6U
— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) August 27, 2019
Players to Watch
Returning Leader: (RW) Maxim Cajkovic
On the Horizon: (C) Joshua Roy
Excitement is coming to Saint John in the form of budding scorer Joshua Roy, the first-overall selection from the 2019 QMJHL Entry Draft who will make his debut with the Sea Dogs this fall. The 16-year-old dominated the midget ranks last season, notching 88 points in 42 appearances with the Levis Chevaliers. Meanwhile, leading the charge offensively for Saint John will be returning forward and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Maxim Cajkovic, whose rookie season saw him register 22 goals and 24 assists in 60 contests.
Last 5 Years: QMJHL’s Maritimes Division
2019-20 CHL Season Preview Series
Day 1 – WHL’s B.C. Division
Day 2 – OHL’s Central Division
Day 3 – QMJHL’s West Division
Day 4 – WHL’s Central Division
Day 5 – OHL’s Midwest Division