Our 18 | THREE QUESTIONS ON THE VAL-D’OR FOREURS

• How will this team rebound from last season’s second half swoon?

When the Val-d’Or Foreurs win their first game of the 2024-25 season, it will represent the first regular season triumph for the franchise since late January. That’s the kind of year it was in the area ironically named the Valley of Gold. The good news is, it will undoubtedly get better. And better still, there’s proof in the roster that the team may experience a sharper jump through the standings than meets the eye. The club’s 2023 first round selection, Philippe Veilleux, took the reins offensively last year, registering 12 points in the season’s final 11 games. Alexandre Guy and Nathan Baril, the club’s lone 20-goal scorers in 2023-24, also return. Czech winger Samuel Fiala comes back to take the next step in his development, while 2024 QMJHL first-rounder Benjamin Olivier has been turning many heads in camp as he drove offense during the pre-season.

 

• Who will shore up the defense?

It’s no secret that the Foreurs are searching for solutions to their defensive play. And although it may take some time, a few answers for the future may be in place today. While Nathan Drapeau and Evan Depatie return to the lineup, four rookies, who offer a mixture of size, strength and two-way presence, embark on their major junior careers in the Abitibi region. Among them are a pair of 16-year-olds who featured prominently at the 2024 QMJHL Draft. Second overall selection Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte was the top underaged scorer among blueliners in the Quebec U-18 AAA ranks last year, combining outstanding puck skills with a heightened attention to overall defensive play. Jacob Gouchie comes from the always strong Moncton Flyers program, where he boasted exceptional mobility and compete level. Also debuting is Alexis Fortin, a 2023 second rounder who, at 6’4”, brings some much-needed size to the Val-d’Or blue line.

 

• What impact will a pair of deals have on this roster?

The first week of June, 2024 may prove to be a pivotal moment for the Foreurs, not just due to their rich haul of drafted players but the acquisition of two key veterans. First came the deal that sent Donovan Arsenault to the squad. The competitive winger was a front-line presence on the Acadie-Bathurst Titan last year before finding himself in a depth role on the regular season champion Baie-Comeau Drakkar. With experience up and down various lineups, Arsenault not only provides veteran leadership but versatility to a Val-d’Or squad aiming to improve. Two days after trading for Arsenault, the Foreurs welcomed goaltender Cedric Massé to the organization. The situation between the pipes wasn’t ideal for the Foreurs last year, largely due to injury. Massé, who was acquired from Rimouski, represents a goalie with experience on a strong club who has been seeking an opportunity to be number one. At the onset, this matchup has great potential to be a successful one.

 

 

_

 

2023-2024 Stats:

Team Record	15-48-3-2 — 35 Pts
Division Ranking	4th West
Overall Ranking	18th
Goals For	173 (17th)
Goals Against	319 (18th)
PP (Overall)	20.1% (13th)
PK (Overall)	71.7% (18th)
Leading Rookie (PTS)	Veilleux (14-33-47)
Leading Scorers (PTS)	Veilleux (14-33-47)
	Guy (23-16-39)
	Baril (20-18-38)
	Sarrasin (14-24-38)
	Brisson (13-23-36)