Mikaël Diotte: The Voltigeurs’ Worst Kept Secret

Every great team has that proverbial “best kept secret”. The guy who is loved and respected by the hometown fans, commands a presence in the dressing room, but may not be the first player that catches the eye of the hockey world in general. Defenseman Mikaël Diotte is that guy for the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Or, at least, he was.

Diotte, who turned 21 during the 2024 postseason, also turned a major corner in his final QMJHL campaign. In 59 games played, he set new career highs with 12 goals and 42 points. But it was his play away from the puck that drew the most notoriety. After finishing no higher than +4 in any previous season, the Sainte-Julie, Quebec native produced an outstanding +55 rating, tied for second in the league. Those who were unfamiliar with him quickly learned his name last month, when he was named the 2023-24 recipient of the Kevin-Lowe Trophy as the top defensive defenseman in the Q.

Sylvain Favreau is completing his first season as Head Coach of the Voltigeurs. Diotte was a player that immediately stood out for him upon his arrival in town last summer.

“What I noticed when I coached against him was his poise,” Favreau explains. “He has great puck control and makes sound decisions. I thought he was special, but I also felt he was well positioned to help our club.”

And help he has; Diotte’s work in all three zones helped propel the Volts to the top of the Western Conference standings and, earlier this month, the franchise’s first playoff title in 15 years. It was a reward that reflected a club which faced previous challenges head on.

“We had a couple tough years,” mentions Diotte, who has spent his entire career in Drummondville. “But this year, the guys showed up with a different mindset. Despite everything that had happened in the past, we believed in ourselves.”

His coach is quick to point out that his veteran blueliner is “all smiles” in the dressing room, offering a quiet but strong brand of leadership. Those factors have played out on the ice all season long, making Diotte something of a tone-setter in the eyes of his club.

“His play helps our game organically,” Favreau points out. “If he’s having a good game, we’re having a good game.”

His teammates and coaches weren’t the only ones to notice Diotte’s impact on the Voltigeurs. After a pair of free agent invitations to NHL training camps with the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes, the New Jersey Devils stepped up in early March and offered a three-year entry level contract to the fourth-year QMJHL veteran. That previous pro camp experience didn’t just lead to his first pro deal, it paved the way for a season to remember in Drummondville.

“[The camps] showed me how to be a pro,” Diotte says. “The preparation is amazing. Every single detail is designed to help you build yourself and your game.”

But was it just the pro experience that has brought Diotte to this level, where both his offensive and defensive games are earning a greater degree of praise than ever before? He feels there’s more to what’s brought him to this point, much of which can be summed up in one word.

“Confidence,” Diotte stresses. “Being a 20-year-old in the league, confidence is big. Also, playing with [teammate Vsevolod] Komarov made it easy to grab a few extra points,” he adds with a laugh.

In fact, Diotte is quick to point out it wasn’t just Komarov, but all members of the Volts’ defensive corps that help both himself and the team in general elevate its game. He has spent parts of the season paired up with each of them, as injuries and coaching decisions made versatility even more critical than usual. The level of success that was yielded from those changes in personnel doesn’t surprise Diotte.

“We know each other so well and our chemistry has just been insanely good,” he mentions. “We’re best friends and all of us are really close, not just the defensemen. Communication has been the key for us.”

His coach couldn’t be happier for the guy who helped keep it all together.

“It’s a great feeling to see him receive that recognition,” Favreau says. “He’s been here since the beginning [of his Q career] and has experienced a lot over that time. I’m sure he appreciates the personal recognition but it’s also an indicator of the passion he shows for his craft.”

That passion has taken him and his teammates all to way to Saginaw this week. Next year, it will take him to the next level.