Five Teams to Watch : the Rimouski Océanic
From the moment the Océanic was awarded hosting duties for the 2025 Memorial Cup, everyone, including the organization itself, knew it would be on the clock. Combining a solidly built base with the addition of high impact players has been a tricky task, but one that has made Rimouski a force to be reckoned with.
It’s been a building process several seasons in the making for the Océanic, one that features six players selected in the first round of the QMJHL Draft over the past four years. Included in this group are forwards Maxime Coursol and Maël St-Denis, defensemen Spencer Gill, Luke Coughlin and Anthony Paré, as well as current number one netminder William Lacelle. It’s a group that has helped carry the Océanic back to the top of the standings since the organization’s last championship run that was dashed by the pandemic back in 2020.
Though the insurance policy of hosting this spring’s tournament is a great benefit, it’s obvious the Océanic is not content with just the national championship. Starting at the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft, this roster has been reinforced though several transactions. The first two of those moves, acquiring reigning QMJHL MVP Mathieu Cataford from the Halifax Mooseheads and 2021 champion Pier-Olivier Roy from the Victoriaville Tigres, brought not only skill but valuable playoff experience to the club.
The strengthening of this already solid roster continued with a bang during the holiday trade period. Using 15 draft picks and yet another former Océanic first-rounder in Quinn Kennedy, Rimouski welcomed six newcomers to the roster over five separate transactions. League leading scorer Jonathan Fauchon was acquired from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. Next, it was back to Victoriaville and the pick-up of imposing center Maël Lavigne. Yet another deal with the Mooseheads provided the Océanic with valuable depth in the persons of forward Lou Lévesque and defenseman Jack Martin. Mathis Langevin arrived from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in an attempt to solidify a goaltending situation that saw several changes over the past two years. Finally, former Saint John Sea Dog Eriks Mateiko arrived on deadline day after providing numerous heroics for Team Latvia at the 2025 World Juniors.
It’s been a whirlwind season that is nowhere near the finish line on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. And if it ends with a banner or two in the Rimouski rafters, the chaos will be fondly remembered.
