Road to the 2024 QMJHL Entry Draft – October Prospects
Jackson Batchilder – Defenseman – Charlottetown Knights
Hockey PEI has produced very good defenseman for the QMJHL during the last decade. It’s early in the season, but the next one getting noticed is Jackson Batchilder. He is very mobile with excellent puck handling skills, his passes are hard and on tape, he has a lot of poise with the puck when under pressure and he uses his excellent vision to find the low risk passing options.
Jackson is offensive-minded; he likes to join the rush and has the skill to quarterback the power play. But defensively, he remains reliable and can kill penalties. He often can be seen using his anticipation skills to break up plays.
- Corrado Micalef, Prince Edward Island CSR Scout
Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte – Defenseman – Trois-Rivières Estacades
Benjamin is a reliable defenseman, with good size, who likes to make the simple plays. Always calm when in control of the puck, he takes good decisions, even when under pressure.
He is very effective in his defensive zone, where he makes good use of his mobility and active stick in order to counter his opponents and reset for breakouts. It’ll be interesting to see how much he progresses throughout the season.
- Jean-Pierre Belzil, CSR Scout
Biago Daniele Jr. – Defenseman – Laval-Montreal Rousseau Royal
At 5’9’’ and 141 lbs., Biago Daniele Jr. is a left-handed defenseman who plays on the right side. He is a gifted skater, both very mobile and fluid. He’s also very good with the puck on his stick and is a terrific passer.
He never panics when his opponents are on the forecheck and, despite not being the biggest player on the ice, he’s able to win his battles along the boards thanks to his finesse. He’ll gain some physical maturity as years go by, which will make him even more effective.
- Daniel Noonan, CSR Scout
Owen Dyke – Defenseman – Tri Pen Osprey
The Tri-Pen Osprey blueliner has a mechanically-sound skating stride, which he uses to rush the puck when the opportunity is there. At 5’11’’ and 170 lbs., Dyke is solid on his skates and can win battles via his strength at the U18 level.
With the Osprey, Dyke has already shown the ability to play a lot of minutes, and will be relied upon in a big way if Tri-Pen wishes to make a title run in 2023-2024.
- Andrew Pearcey, Newfoundland and Labrador CSR Scout
Niko El Khouri – Forward – St-Hyacinthe Gaulois
Niko El Khouri possesses many interesting assets that make him a menace, especially in the offensive zone. First off, the forward stands out thanks to his mobility and speed, both of which he uses to his advantage. He’s also very skilled with the puck, including a dangerous shot that he gets off quickly.
Despite not being the tallest skater, he is very dynamic and wins his puck battles. To succeed at the next level, the left winger will need to work on his consistency and his 200-foot play. There is, however, no doubt that Niko will be of interest to numerous teams at the next QMJHL Entry Draft.
- Katerine Aubry-Hébert, CSR Scout
Lucas Hannay – Defenseman – Fredericton Caps
Lucas Hannay stands out with his hockey sense and his mobility on the ice. He’s a great lefthanded puck-moving defenseman that excels at delivering accurate passes to his open teammates to facilitate breakouts from his defensive zone. His vision and skating ability allow him to skate the puck out of the zone himself when needed. Never scared to join the rush, he is always an offensive threat.
Hannay’s hockey IQ makes him an asset in all aspects of the game. He’s great at controlling the power play from the point and he’s also good at killing penalties. He might not be the biggest player on the ice, but he has a big impact on his team.
- David Landry, New Brunswick CSR Scout
Jacob Hartlin – Forward – Halifax McDonalds
Jacob is a talented forward and one of the most complete players coming out of Nova Scotia this year. He has a great shot, good puck skills and is a good skater. He thinks the game very well and has the ability to play a strong 200-foot game, contributing both offensively and defensively.
Despite being a first-year player at the U18 level, he has shown that he can be trusted in all situations. He will be an interesting prospect to watch as the season progresses.
- Taylor P. Burke, Nova Scotia CSR Scout
Ryan Howard – Forward – Lac St-Louis Lions
Ryan Howard is the type of player most teams are looking to add. Blessed with a strong frame, he knows how to use his size to create space for his linemates. His presence in front of the opposing net will also allow him to rack up his share of points.
His grit makes his opponents uncomfortable, and his toughness will make him visit the penalty box on certain nights. But as the season progresses, he will become a very important player that’s capable of playing in all types of situations.
- Benoît Payment, CSR Scout
Romain Litalien – Forward – Séminaire St-François Blizzard
Litalien is a forward who possesses some excellent offensive qualities. As a matter of fact, he’s already showcased his talent since the start of the season, being named as the CCM Player of the Week in the LHM18AAAQ in Week 4, as well as the league’s top 16-year-old for the month of September.
The forward has a very solid shot and an above-average vision that allows him to find his teammates on the ice. At the mid-October point, L’Italien sits among the league’s top scorers with 17 points (7G-10A) in 12 games and has shown no signs of slowing down.
- Frédéric Lévesque, CSR Scout
Vincent Moreau – Goaltender – Collège Charles-Lemoyne Riverains
Moreau is an athletic goaltender that has a high compete level. He loves to challenge shooters in front of his net. That has led to him being too aggressive sometimes, making him lose his positioning within his half circle.
He’s a netminder who’s very confident in himself. He wants to be considered as a difference-maker, and he has all the tools to go out and steal some games.
- Maxime Ouellet, CSR Goaltending Specialist