2025 QMJHL Draft | Full recap of the first round
Sea Dogs choose Joseph first, Remparts put on a show during First Round of QMJHL Draft
The Centre Videotron ushered in the next wave of future junior stars Friday night as Quebec played host to the first round of the 2025 QMJHL Draft presented by Fenplast. A total of 18 talented young men were welcomed into the QMJHL over the course of the evening as the first steps towards the forming of rosters for next season and beyond continued, along with the several transactions and signings that have taken place since the end of the Memorial Cup last Sunday.
_
The Saint John Sea Dogs found themselves in a familiar position. For the seventh time in franchise history, they stepped to the podium to start the night as holders of the first overall pick and selected Alexis Joseph from the College Esther-Blondin Phenix. The powerful two-way center, considered by many the top available prospect in this year’s Draft, combined a superior skating stride and a next level wrist shot to the tune of 56 points, including 23 goals in 42 games. He joins an already impressive youth movement with the Sea Dogs who begin their climb through the ‘Q’ standings.
The Rimouski Oceanic, fresh of a trip to the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Final and as host of the 2025 Memorial Cup, selected who it felt will be part of its next great club by choosing winger Zack Arsenault second overall. Though injured for an extended period last season, he elevated his reputation as a pure goal scorer while in the lineup with the Blizzard du Seminaire St-Francois, posting 24 goals and 40 points in just 23 games. This marked the third straight season in which the native of Quebec City, Quebec averaged over a goal per game.
With the third overall selection, the Halifax Mooseheads took the first defenseman of the evening by calling the name of Malik L’Italien. The youngest rearguard in the lineup at Stanstead College last year, the 6’2” Montreal product was a game-breaker nonetheless. Employing superior decision-making skills with the puck and supporting the play in all three zone, L’Italien put his offensive awareness on full display in posting 42 points in 58 games. Many considered him the top blueliner available at this year’s Draft.
The home crowd favorites stepped on stage next and with the fourth pick, made Thomas Charbonneau the newest member of the Quebec Remparts. The second straight defenceman to hear his name called, Charbonneau saw time in all situations with Shattuck-St. Mary’s. His support of the play in all three zones and fantastic outlet passes drew attention from scouts, as did his ability to angle off and use an active stick to hold defenders at bay. His final totals with the renowned Minnesota organization were 11 goals and 50 points in 61 games.
At pick number five, the Newfoundland Regiment used this opportunity to make history. The newest members of the QMJHL kept things close to home with the selection of Benjamin Veitch. After playing minor hockey in his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland, Veitch made his way to the York Simcoe Express where he continued to refine his all-around game to the point where he had been considered one of the top power forwards available in this session. The dominating center posted 42 points in 29 games with the Express, along with 40 points in just 12 games with St. Andrew’s College.
The Regiment went right back to the stage for pick number six and right back to the Newfoundland well in selecting defenseman Quinn Norman. The Conception Bay South product, much like fellow Regiment draftee Veitch, spent last season in Ontario with the Vaughan Kings, where he displayed exceptional skating ability, deft puck carrying abilities and deft footwork to compensate for a slight frame to make him the lynchpin both of the Kings and of his team at the QMJHL Cup this past Spring.
The run of picks from the Atlantic provinces continued with the selection of Antoine Provencher seventh overall by the Charlottetown Islanders. A right-handed center, the product of Candiac, Quebec has been called a coach’s dream by many, employing not only a superior wrist shot, top-end intelligence and a strong skating stride but an attention to detail and responsible style that makes him very difficult to play against on either side of the puck. In 40 games with the College Charles-Lemoyne Riverains, Provencher recorded 48 points.
For the third time on the evening, the Regiment stepped to the podium and this time, headed slightly west by choosing Phenwick MacLean eighth overall. With Steele Subaru in the Nova Scotia U-18 AAA ranks, MacLean, the top Nova Scotian selected in the Draft, unleashed his dynamic offensive acumen. His 23 goals placed him among the league leaders while his 48 points were good for second on the Subaru. His overall play away from the puck improved noticeably during the past season as well.
A last-minute trade sent the ninth overall selection to the Quebec Remparts, much to the delight of the Videotron Centre crowd. The hosts followed that up by making another splash with the selection of James Scantlebury. A member of the Bishop Kearney Selects the past two seasons, Scantlebury, who hails from Chateauguay, Quebec, can be found everywhere on the ice; at center, on the wing or on the point on the power play. A strong skater that is very hard to defend against at top speed, Scantlebury posted 100 points in 56 games for Bishop Kearney’s U-16 program and six points in eight games for the U-18’s.
The Saint John Sea Dogs made their second appearance on stage at pick number ten and chose Nolann Heroux. Small but mighty is perhaps the best description to place upon the Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Quebec product who put together a dynamic season with the Saint-Eustache Vikings. Not only did he produce 50 points in 42 games at center, Heroux employed a physical, high-energy style that will no doubt make him a fan favorite in the Port City.
The Victoriaville Tigres gained a big piece of their rebuild with the selection of Deryk Lemaire 11th overall. The fifth straight natural center selected, Lemaire continued to develop a well-rounded game last year with the Magog Cantonniers that features strong defensive awareness up the middle as well as an above-average shot, particularly on the one-timer. Another player known for being highly coachable, Lemaire registered 36 points in 40 games last year.
The 12th choice was made by the Gatineau Olympiques. Their target was size and hockey sense in the selection of winger Louis-Etienne Halley from the St-Eustache Vikings. At over 6’3”, Halley will stand out on the ice regardless. What will also bring him potential success in the ‘Q’ is his high hockey IQ and outstanding shot. Drafted as a winger, Halley nonetheless took a number of key faceoffs for the Vikings last year, while also scoring 40 points in 41 games.
The Olympiques made it back-to-back selections by choosing defenseman Clement Landry 13th overall. Another big addition to the Gatineau lineup at 6’3”, 217 lbs., Landry has been playing on the backend for only a few years. However, he’s adapted very quickly, seeing increased responsibilities with Laval-Montreal Rousseau Royal as the season rolled along. His physical capabilities are undeniable, as is his reputation as one of the toughest players to compete against at the U-18 level.
The Cape Breton Eagles continued this year’s trend of claiming centers with the selection of Olivier Charron at pick number fourteen. With the Chateauguay Grenadiers last season, the Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec product refined his gritty, versatile style, shifting between the wing and center while making life miserable for the opposition on a nightly basis. Not only was he putting other teams, not to mention scouts, on notice with his fiery style, he also did it with his stick, recording 45 points in 41 games.
The Shawinigan Cataractes kept the run on centers alive while also keeping it local by taking Frederic Bergeron of the Trois-Rivieres Estacades 15th overall. Known for an exceptional work ethic, ultra-competitive nature and a tendency to embrace the physical side of the game, Bergeron projects to be a fan-favorite in Shawinigan in the ensuing seasons. When the puck is on his stick he’s no slouch either, as evidenced by 23 points in 36 games.
At pick number 16, the Sherbrooke Phoenix chose winger Emrick Nolette-Robidoux from the St-Hyacinthe Gaulois. Considered one of the most intelligent players available, Nolette-Robidoux comes to the league with a reputation for tremendous playmaking, poise and anticipation. The Vercheres, Quebec native put all of those talents to good use last season, scoring 41 points in 42 games.
The Remparts returned to the podium one more time to make the 17th selection of the evening. Entering the U.S. market for the first time in this Draft, the club selected Carter Meyer of Winchester, Massachusetts. Meyer was named Prep School Player of the Year by the New England Hockey Journal after an impressive 70-point campaign with Rivers School. He has also been on the radar of the U.S. National Under-17 program.
The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies swung a deal with Saint John to grab the final pick of round one. They proceeded to use that 18th overall selection to welcome Jayden Pominville to the club. Though undersized, Pominville was known for his ability to both retrieve and manage pucks with a high level of skill with College Esther-Blondin. An even bet to shoot or pass in any given situation, not to mention a noteworthy power play performer, Pominville registered 40 points in 42 games last year.
The 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft presented by Fenplast continues Saturday with rounds two through twelve. Proceedings resume at 10am ET/11am AT and will air live on both CHL TV and the QMJHL YouTube Channel.
