DRAFT REFLECTION: Two decades of first round players
By: K. Bryannah James
For the first time in four years the Acadie-Bathurst Titan have two picks in the first round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Entry Draft. On Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8, Titan General Manager and Head Coach, Gordie Dwyer, and his hockey operations team will meticulously decide which of the many talented hockey players will be selected by the Titan.
Bathurst holds the ninth and 18th overall selections in the opening round of the 2024 draft at the Avenir Centre in Moncton. In the last 24 years – dating back to 2000 on the league website – Bathurst has never picked the ninth or 18th overall section.
Below is a list of all the players the Titan have drafted in the first round over the course of the last 24 years.
2020
Player Drafted: Lane Hinkley
Selected: 16th
Position: Defence
Competed in the QMJHL: 2021-22 to 2023-24
2019
Player Drafted: Riley Kidney
Selected: 11th
Position: Centre
QMJHL Career: 2019-20 to 2022-23
QMJHL Highlights: 2020 Acadie-Bathurst Titan Rookie of the Year / 2022 seventh in league scoring / signed three-year entry-level contract with Montreal / Titan Offensive Player of the Year/ Won gold with Team Canada at the U20 World Junior Championships / 2023 Canadian Hockey League’s Third All-Star Team/ QMJHL First All-Star
NHL: Drafted 63rd overall in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens
Current Team: Laval Rockets/AHL
Player Drafted: Cole Huckins
Position: Left wing
Selected: 16th
QMJHL Career: 2019-20 to 2023-24
QMJHL Highlights: 2020 Acadie-Bathurst Titan Rookie of the Year / Attended Flames’ 2021 and 2022 training camps as well as Calgary’s 2023 development camp
NHL: Drafted 77th overall in the third round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames
2018
Player Drafted: Benjamin Roode
Selected: 14th
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2018-19 to 2019-20
Post-QMJHL: Yarmouth Mariners (2020-2023), Ontario Tech University (2023-present)
Current Team: Ontario Tech University
2016
Player Drafted: Noah Dobson
Selected: 6th
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2016-17 to 2018-19
QMJHL Highlights: 2017 Titan Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year/ Team QMJHL 2017 & 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series/ 2018 Top Prospects Game/ 2018 First All-Star Team/ 2018 Team Canada/ 2019 First All-Star Team/ Winner 2019 Guy Lafleur Trophy/ 2018 President Cup & Memorial Cup/ 2019 President Cup &Memorial Cup
NHL: Drafted 12th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders
Post-QMJHL: New York Islanders (2019-present)
Current Team: New York Islanders/NHL
2015
Player Drafted: Antoine Morand
Selected: 2nd
Position: Centre
QMJHL Career: 2015-16 to 2018-19
QMJHL Highlights: 2016 All-Star Team/ Team QMJHL 2016, 2017 and 2018 CIBC Canada Russia Series/ 2017 Top Prospects Game/ 2018 President Cup & Memorial Cup
NHL: Drafted 60th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft
Post-QMJHL: San Diego Gulls, Syracuse Crunch and San Jose Barracuda (2019-20 to 2021-2022)/ SaiPa (2022-2023 to 2023-24) / Lukko (2023-24 season to present)
Current Team: Lukko / Liiga
2014
Player Drafted: Jordan Maher
Selected: 6th
Position: Right Wing
QMJHL Career: 2014-15 to 2018-19
QMJHL Highlights: 2018 President Trophy & Memorial Cup
Post-QMJHL: University of Prince Edward Island (2019-20 to 2022-23)/ Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts (2023-24 to present)
Current Team: Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts/CWSHL
2013
Player Drafted: Guillaume Brisebois
Selected: 5th
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2013-14 to 2016-17
QMJHL Highlights: QMJHL Team 2014 Canada/Russia Subway Super Series/ Team QMJHL 2015 and 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series/ 2015 Top Prospects Game/ QMJHL 2016-17 Second All-Star Team
NHL: Drafted 66th overall in the third round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks
Post-QMJHL: Utica Comets/ Abbotsford Canucks & Vancouver Canucks (2017-2018 to present)
Current Team: Abbotsford Canucks/AHL
Player Drafted: Christophe Boivin
Selected: 14th
Position: Right Wing
QMJHL Career: 2013-14 to 2016-17
QMJHL Highlights: 2016-17 Second All-Star Team/ 90-point season 2017
Post-QMJHL: University of Québec-Trois-Rivières (2017-2020)/ Nottingham Panthers (2020-2022)/ Rouen (2022-present)
Current Team: Rouen/ Ligue Magnus
2010
Player Drafted: Brent Turnbull
Selected: 13th
Position: Right wing
QMJHL Career: 2010-11 to 2013-14
Post-QMJHL: St. Francis Xavier University (2014-2018)
2008
Player Drafted: Vincent Arseneau
Selected: 11th
Position: Left Wing
QMJHL Career: 2008-09 to 2012-13
QMJHL Highlights: Won 2012 Memorial Cup with Shawinigan Cataractes
Post-QMJHL: Lake Erie Monsters, Denver Cutthroats, Ontario Reign, Indy Fuel, Worcester Sharks, Allen Americans, San Jose Barracuda, Wichita Thunder, Utica Comets, Abbotsford Canucks and Providence Bruins (2013 to 2023-24)
Current Team: Providence Bruins
Player Drafted: Stefan Fournier
Selected: 17th
Position: Right wing
QMJHL Career: 2008-09 to 2012-13
QMJHL Highlights: Won 2013 President Trophy and Memorial Cup with Halifax Mooseheads
Post-QMJHL: Hamilton Bulldogs, Wheeling Nailers, St. John’s Ice Caps, Brampton Beast, Springfield Falcons, Tuscon Roadrunners. Syracuse Crunch, Kalamazoo Wings, Orlando Solar Bears, Wichita Thunder, HK Dukla Michalovce, Trois-Rivières Lions, Cardiff Devils, Allen Americans, Thetford Mines Assurancia and Beaupré Montagnards (2013-14 to 2023-24)
Current Team: Thetford Mines Assurancia/Beaupré Montagnards
2007
Player Drafted: Cameron Critchlow
Selected: 14th
Position: Left wing
QMJHL Career: 2007-08 to 2011-12
Post-QMJHL: University of New Brunswick (2012-2017), Adelaide Adrenaline/ Adelaide Falcons, Jacksonville Icemen, Manchester Storm and Great Britain (2017 to 2023-24)
Current Team: Manchester Storm
2006
Player Drafted: Antoine Tardif
Selected: 14th
Position: Goalie
QMJHL Career: 2006-07 to 2009-10
QMJHL Highlights: Won 2009 President Trophy with Drummondville Voltigeurs
Post-QMJHL: McGill University (2010-11) and Thetford Mines Isothermic (2012-13)
2005
Player Drafted: Mathieu Perreault
Selected: 2nd
Position: Centre
QMJHL Career: 2005-2006 to 2007-2008
QMJHL Highlights: Team QMJHL 2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge/ 2006 Offensive Player of the Month/ 2007 QMJHL First All-Star Team/ 2007 QMJHL MVP winner of the Michel-Briere Trophy/ 2007 CHL Second All-Star Team/ Team QMJHL 2007 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge/ 2007 Offensive Player of the Week/ 2008 Offensive Player of the Week/ Set 2007-08 record for longest streak in the QMJHL (27 consecutive games) with at least one point per game/ 2008 Offensive Player of the Month/ 2008 Second All-Star Team/ 2008 QMJHL Jean Beliveau Trophy winner / 2008 CHL Second All-Star Team
NHL: Drafted 177th overall in the sixth round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals
Post-QMJHL: Hershey Bears/Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens (2008-09 to 2021-22)
Current Team: Retired
2004
Player Drafted: Alex Lamontagne
Selected: 2nd
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2004-05 to 2008-09
Post-QMJHL: Muskegon Lumberjacks and Flint Generals (2008-09)/ University of Québec-Trois-Rivières (2009-10)
2003
Player Drafted: Marc-Andre Cote
Selected: 11th
Position: Right wing
QMJHL Career: 2003-04 to 2007-08
Post-QMJHL: Université de Moncton (2008 to 2013)
Player Drafted: Mathieu Carle
Selected: 14th
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2003-04 to 2006-07
QMJHL Highlights: QMJHL 2004 All-Rookie Team, won bronze medal at U17 WHC
NHL: Drafted 53rd overall in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens
Post-QMJHL: Hamilton Bulldogs, Syracuse Crunch, Dinamo Riga, Genève-Servette HC, Medvescak Zagreb, Adler Mannheim and Black Wings Linz (2010 to 2015)
2002
Player Drafted: Jean-Claude Sawyer
Selected: 16th
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2002-03 to 2006-07
*Sawyer never competed for Bathurst. He made his rookie debut and major junior career with Cape Breton
QMJHL Highlights: 2007 Defensive Player of the Week/ 2007 Second All-Star Team
NHL: Drafted 161st overall in the fifth round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild
Post-QMJHL: Rockford IceHogs, Fresno Falcons, Gwinnett Gladiators, Toledo Walleye and Cincinnati Cyclones (2007 to 2011)
2001
Player Drafted: Bruno Gervais
Selected: 16th
Position: Defence
QMJHL Career: 2001-02 to 2003-04
QMJHL Highlights: 2003 QMJHL Second All-Star Team
NHL: Drafted 182nd overall in the sixth round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Ne York Islanders
Post-QMJHL: Bridgeport Sound Tigers/New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, Heilbronner Falken, Philadelphia Flyers, Adirondack Phantoms, Lake Erie Monsters and Eisbären Berlin (2004-05 to 2016-17)
2000
Player Drafted: Michael Tessier
Selected: 3rd
Position: Left Wing
QMJHL Career: 2000-01 to 2004-05
NHL: Drafted 76th overall in the third round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres
Post-QMJHL: Dayton Bombers, Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal, Angers, Saguenay Marquis, Sorel-Tracy Carvena HC, Sorel-Tracy Éperviers, Cornwall River Kings and Waterloo Maroons (2005 to 2016-17)
Player Drafted: Michael Lambert
Selected: 5th
Position: Centre
QMJHL Career: 2000-01 to 2003-04
NHL: Drafted 99th overall in the fourth round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens
Post-QMJHL: Hamilton Bulldogs, Long Beach Ice Dogs, Fischtown Pinguins, Alaska Aces, Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay, Sorel-Tracy GCI and Rivière-du-Loup 3L
Player Drafted: Nicolas Laplante
Selected: 15th
Position: Centre
QMJHL Career: 2001-02 to 2004-05
QMJHL Highlights: 2004 winner of the Marcel-Robert Trophy as the Scholastic Player of the Year
Post-QMJHL: Université de Moncton (2005-2009)
The Acadie-Bathurst Titan will keep fans up to date throughout the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft via our social media accounts and website.