Sumpf, Desnoyers grab 2025 Golden Pucks

The QMJHL continues to award its individual honours, the Golden Pucks, with the presentation of the winners for the seven trophies whose finalists were announced on Thursday.

 Here are the prestigious award winners for the 2024-25 season.

_

 

David-Desharnais Trophy

(Most sportsmanlike player, while being effective)

• Winner: Julius Sumpf, forward, Moncton Wildcats

Thanks to his 65 points (26-39), Sumpf finished third in scoring for the Wildcats, the top team in the QMJHL as well as in the entire CHL during the regular season. His +61 differential was the highest in the League and he registered a total of only 24 penalty minutes. The German forward, who just finished his 19-year-old season, was invited to an NHL training camp with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023 and the San Jose Sharks in 2024.

• Finalists: Matthew Butler, Charlottetown, and Philippe Veilleux, Val-d’Or

 

Guy-Carbonneau Trophy

(Top defensive forward)

• Winner: Matyas Melovsky, Baie-Comeau Drakkar

In his third season with the Drakkar, the 20-year-old veteran set new personal bests for goals (26), assists (57) and points (83). Seventh in the QMJHL in scoring, Melovsky was also the third most productive passer. Constantly used by Jean-François Grégoire against the opposition’s top lines, the Czechia native nevertheless had a +40 differential, along with a 59.1% success rate in the faceoff circle (7^th). In fact, only three players took more faceoffs than Melovsky (1444) this season. He was drafted 171^st overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2024.

• Finalists: Maël St-Denis, Rimouski, and Markus Vidicek, Moncton

 

Kevin-Lowe Trophy

(Top defensive defenseman)

• Winner: Alex Carr, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

In his fourth full season in the QMJHL, Carr finished with 45 points (6-39) in 62 games, placing him eighth among defensemen in scoring. Constantly matched up against the top opposing forwards, he nevertheless finished with a +29 differential, the 10^th highest among League defenders. Carr, who will continue his career at the University of New Hampshire, finishes sixth among defensemen in team history in games played (213) and seventh in points (107). Carr was also in contention for the Kevin-Lowe Trophy in 2023-2024.

• Finalists: Anthony Lavoie, Baie-Comeau, and Pier-Olivier Roy, Rimouski

 

Maurice-Filion Trophy

(General Manager of the Year)

• Winner: Olivier Picard, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

Very few teams can recover from the loss of the league’s leading scorer and yet, that’s what the Armada did this season. After trading Jonathan Fauchon to Rimouski, the team continued to compete with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for first place in the West Division, eventually finishing five points behind. Picard filled the offensive void by adding veterans Egor Goriunov and Zakary Lavoie, a former OHL player. Goriunov scored an impressive 24 goals in 33 games with the team! Another good move by Picard: the acquisition of Félix Hamel, who became the team’s number one netminder. In 22 games with the Armada, Hamel posted a 2.63 GAA and .914 save percentage, numbers comparable to the best goaltenders in the League.

• Finalists: Danny Dupont, Rimouski, and Taylor MacDougall, Moncton

 

Michel-Bergeron Trophy

(Offensive Rookie of the Year)

• Winner: Matvei Gridin, forward, Shawinigan Cataractes

In his 18-year-old season, Gridin led all QMJHL rookies in virtually every offensive stat, including points (79), goals (36), assists (43), plus/minus (+31), shots (236), game-winning goals (5), power-play assists (15) and shorthanded goals (4). He finished tied for first in Shawinigan team scoring with Félix Lacerte, who played six more games than him, and 12^th overall in the QMJHL. A first-round pick of the Calgary Flames in 2024, Gridin was taken with the first overall pick in the 2024 CHL Import Draft by the Val-d’Or Foreurs, before being traded to Shawinigan.

• Finalists: Thomas Rousseau, Sherbrooke, and Lars Steiner, Rouyn-Noranda

 

Paul-Dumont Trophy

(Personality of the Year)

• Winner: Caleb Desnoyers, forward, Moncton Wildcats

Caleb Desnoyers has been in the spotlight since the beginning of the season. He currently ranks 7^th among North American prospects according to NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming draft. In addition, he led the top-ranked Moncton Wildcats in scoring with 84 points (35-49) in 56 games, ranking fifth overall in the league. All this during his 17-year-old season! Desnoyers has truly been an excellent ambassador for the QMJHL, both on and off the ice.

•  Finalists: Justin Carbonneau, Blainville-Boisbriand, and Linards Feldbergs, Sherbrooke

 

Raymond-Lagacé Trophy

(Defensive Rookie of the Year)

• Winner: William Lacelle, goaltender, Rimouski Océanic

Lacelle posted an impressive 27-5-1-2 record between the pipes for the Océanic, winning the Jacques-Plante Trophy along the way thanks to his league-best 2.38 goals-against average. Among rookies, he finished second in save percentage (.909) and third for games played (36) and wins (27). Lacelle, who helped the Océanic finish second in the overall standings, is a prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

• Finalists: Lucas Beckman, Baie-Comeau, and Benjamin Cossette Ayotte, Val-d’Or

_

Please take note that the other Golden Pucks will be awarded on June 5, at a press conference held in Quebec City in conjunction with the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft presented by Fenplast.

This final ceremony of the season will include the Émile-Bouchard, Marcel-Robert, Michael-Bossy, Michel-Brière, Patrick-Roy, Ron-Lapointe, Sidney-Crosby and Humanitarian Player of the Year trophies.