QMJHL Players of the Month | December 2023

 

• Forward of the Month

Antonin Verreault – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – 11GP, 8G, 14A, 22Pts
The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies lead the Western Conference and Antonin Verreault leads the Huskies on their offensive charge through the QMJHL. The 19-year-old from Laval, Quebec went on a tear to close out 2023, recording multiple points on eight occasions and at least one goal in seven contests. Not to be outdone at the other end, the fourth-year veteran was even or better in the +/- category in every game during the month. Highlight efforts included back-to-back three-point contests against Victoriaville and Shawinigan on the 9^th and 10^th respectively, and a five-point night on New Year’s Eve versus Val-d’Or.

Verreault, acquired by Rouyn-Noranda in a deal with Gatineau at the 2023 QMJHL Draft, enters 2024 leading the league in scoring with 56 points in 36 games. The shifty winger has registered 12 points in the Huskies’ six-game win streak to close out the year.

Honorable Mention

Ethan Gauthier – Drummondville Voltigeurs – 9GP, 10G, 6A, 16Pts

 

• Defenseman of the Month

Vsevolod Komarov – Quebec Remparts/Drummondville Voltigeurs – 9GP, 4G, 9A, 13Pts

Vsevolod Komarov ended his time with the Quebec Remparts in fine style, recording a three-point game against Charlottetown on December 2. He would duplicate his feat, four days later, against Saint John in his debut with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The third-year veteran recorded two more multi-point outings in December, part of a six-game point streak to start the month. The 19-year-old from Chelyabinsk, Russia also put together an impressive +13 rating over the course of the month as the Volts climbed into a battle atop the Western Conference, ending the year on a 5-0-1 run.

Komarov was a member of the 2022-23 Remparts squad that captured the franchise’s second Memorial Cup. A fifth-round selection of the Buffalo Sabres at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he currently sits tied for third among all QMJHL blueliners with 29 points in 30 games.

 

Honorable Mention

Pier-Olivier Roy – Victoriaville Tigres – 9GP, 4G, 8A, 12Pts

 

 

• Goaltender of the Month

Olivier Ciarlo – Baie-Comeau Drakkar/Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – 4-2-0-0, 1.49 GAA, .941 SV%, 2 SO

Olivier Ciarlo may have experienced a change of address last month but make no mistake; he left a lasting impression on his former club. Starting December with back-to-back shutouts, the 19-year-old from Laval, Quebec would eventually set a new Drakkar franchise record with a shutout streak of 239 minutes and 56 seconds. This astounding performance also represents the third-longest run without allowing a goal in QMJHL history. Ciarlo would see this impressive run end in a solid 33-save triumph over Chicoutimi on the 10^th. The fourth-year veteran’s next challenge lies down the road with the Armada, who acquired Ciarlo on December 17.

Ciarlo ends the unofficial first half of the campaign as the lone 20-game winner in the Q, sporting a record of 20-5-2-0 with a 2.73 GAA, .898% save percentage and three shutouts. All of these represent new career highs.

 

Honorable Mention

William Rousseau – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – 9-0-0-0, 1.77 GAA, .932 SV%, 2 SO

 

 

• Rookie of the Month

Felix Hamel – Shawinigan Cataractes – 4-0-0-0, 1.24 GAA, .957 SV%, 2 SO

Felix Hamel came into his own in the month of December. He also came into the month pitching a shutout on the 7^th, a 19-save victory over Rimouski. He would end the year on the same note, kicking aside all 24 shots he faced to defeat Gatineau on the 29^th. Between his first two career whitewashes, the 18-year-old from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec posted a pair of brilliant performances, stopping 37 of 40 shots to defeat the powerful Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on the 10^th and turning away 31 of 33 shots in yet another triumph over Rimouski on the 13^th.

Hamel made a cameo appearance with the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last year, posting a 2-2-0-0 record. Acquired by the Cataractes during the August trade period, his record for this campaign stands at 5-3-0-0 with a 2.96 GAA and .895% save percentage.

Honorable Mention

Louis-Alex Tremblay – Sherbrooke Phoenix – 10GP, 2G, 8A, 10Pts