Our 20’s – Drummondville Voltigeurs
Throughout the summer, the QMJHL will summarize the journey of its 20-year-old players. Today, those of the Drummondville Voltigeurs: Luke Woodworth, Sam Oliver and Riley Mercer.
Luke Woodworth, centre
Woodworth, born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, will always call Drummondville his second home. The Voltigeurs drafted him 11th overall in 2020, he spent his entire junior career with them, was their captain for the past two seasons and won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy in 2024. In Voltigeurs history, Woodworth ranks fourth in games played (293), fifth in assists (203), eighth in points (278) and seventh in playoff points (47). This season, he led the QMJHL with 66 assists and finished sixth in scoring with a career-high 84 points. The University of Nebraska-Omaha will host him next season.
Sam Oliver, centre
This season, Oliver was the only player in the QMJHL to score 50 goals, bringing his career total to 137. He also had 114 assists to finish with 251 points in 301 games. The (very) select group of 300 games! A second-round pick, 27th overall, of Charlottetown in 2020, Oliver was traded to the Voltigeurs midway through the 2021-2022 season. After winning the Gilles-Courteau Trophy in 2024, he really had an exceptional 2024-2025 season, leading the league with 18 power-play goals and 327 shots on goal. He will try to continue to fill the opposing net with the University of New Hampshire next season.
Riley Mercer, goaltender
At 20 years old, Mercer had saved the best for last, with a record of 27-15-2-2 in 46 games (7th in the QMJHL). He led the league with a .925 save percentage and 5 shutouts, while finishing third with a 2.53 goals-against-average. His brilliance earned him to be one of the three nominees for the Patrick-Roy Trophy, given to the best goaltender in the league. Mercer was also a finalist for the Marcel-Robert Trophy awarded to the student-athlete of the year. Drafted 31st overall by the Voltigeurs in 2020, Mercer spent his entire career in Drummondville, with whom he won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy in 2024. He leads the Voltigeurs all-time in wins (82), shutouts (10) and games played by a goaltender (150). He signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota Wild in April.
Photos: Ghyslain Bergeron
