Road to the QMJHL Entry Draft | April 2022 Prospects

 

Niko Boudreau — Goaltender — Northern Moose 

Niko Boudreau has been busy in front of his net this season. The goaltender faced 624 shots but allowed only 70 goals in the regular season. His ability to get himself into position, no matter the situation, means that he deals with incoming pucks from all angles well, not only making the initial save, but also ensuring there are no rebounds.

The fact that Boudreau faced 40–50 shots a game, but still gave his team a chance to win, is very impressive. The young man just gobbles up shots and has an amazing ability to make saves on shots from awkward areas.

On top of his mental game and technical prowess, Boudreau has a really good glove and stands big in between the pipes. Boudreau’s technical ability, as well as his good hand-eye coordination, help him pluck pucks out of midair with ease, even on shots that are hard and accurate.

• André Royer, New Brunswick CSR Scout

 

Dawson Grandy — Centre — Mount Academy U17

Dawson is an offensive player but can play in all situations because of his very good hockey sense. He has vision, excellent puck-handling skills, and a quick release, making him a constant threat in the offensive zone. He plays well defensively, is very good at handling the puck when it’s rimmed along the boards in the defensive zone and wins most of his puck battles.

He is a very good skater and not afraid to stop and start because of his explosive jump from a stand still. He plays with lots of energy and gives 100% on every shift. Dawson is an interesting prospect that had a successful season, showing constant progress in his game, a very good sign for his future.

• Corrado Micalef, Prince Edward Island CSR Scout

 

Félix Plamondon — Defenseman — Séminaire Saint-François Blizzard

Since the beginning of the season, Felix has made great progress and has built up a lot of confidence. He makes the right decisions when on the ice, with an effective first pass. His mobility and stickhandling make him a reliable defenseman in the defensive zone.

He needs to work on his physical skills, as his potential for progression will be interesting for a junior team that wants to have a complete and balanced defensive brigade.

• Steve Gosselin, CSR Scout

 

Mathis Langevin — Goaltender — Châteauguay Grenadiers 

Mathis is a goaltender with very good positioning, constantly facing the game. He is calm and excels on vivid shots, with his hands consistently well placed in front of his body. He has worked hard on his lateral movements throughout the season and has improved a sense of urgency which has allowed him to have a solid second half of the season.

He had a very interesting and steady progression throughout the season.

• Maxime Ouellet, CSR Goaltending Specialist

 

Ewan Cleary — Centre — Pinnacle Growlers 

Ewan is a reliable two-way forward who can play at both the centre and wing positions. The versatile forward is naturally strong, which carries over to a lot of battle wins in all three zones.

Cleary moves the puck well and scores most of his goals around the net via deflections and rebounds, which shows his willingness to go into high-traffic areas as a first-year U18 player. Fun fact: he is the nephew of former Stanley Cup champion, Dan Cleary.

• Andrew Pearcey, Newfoundland and Labrador CSR Scout

 

Connor Davis — Centre — Lac St-Louis Lions

This fast right-handed forward has top level acceleration. He executes at full speed and his shot can surprise any goaltender. He has made progress in understanding the little things and is working on improving his consistency.

Keep in mind that Connor was one of the youngest players of the 2006 class this year, yet he already has good size and scouts have seen his scoring potential. Connor has all the assets to surprise at the next level and to be of great service to the organization that will choose him in the draft.

• Benoît Payment, CSR Scout

 

Olivier Lemieux — Centre — Magog Cantonniers

Olivier is an excellent hockey player who’s second half of the season was as good as his talent level. From game to game, he improved and played with more confidence. Olivier is not a player with exceptional skills, but he can contribute both defensively and offensively.

He has a good skating stride, a good shot, a good physical presence, and he is very involved in all game situations. Lemieux is a warrior with a very high compete level, who provides energy and a physical aspect on the ice. He is a great leader and a responsible player for his team.

• Frédéric Simard, CSR Scout

 

Alexandre Lallier — Centre — St-Eustache Vikings

Despite a season plagued by injuries, Alexandre has been able to distinguish himself by his offensive game. The St-Eustache Vikings’ winger has an excellent vision and is creative with the puck. His quick hands allow him to excel in tight areas and be a threat to opposing teams.

He has a good skating stride and is able to create space for both himself and his teammates. With his smaller frame, Alexandre will need to work on managing his intensity on the ice in order to use it effectively at the next level.

• Katerine Aubry-Hébert, CSR Scout

 

Adam Fortier-Gendron — Defenseman — Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix 

Adam is a left-handed defenseman who made the Phenix roster in 2020–21 at only 14 years of age. However, due to Covid-19, we were unable to see him play. This season, he performed like a real veteran, despite being only 15 years old.

Adam is a good skater who can change directions quickly to avoid and beat the opponent’s forecheck. He has a good read of the game and does not force things offensively. He chooses the right moments to join the rush and is a true quarterback on the power play. His play choices and the quality of his passes are close to perfection.

Defensively, he is solid on his skates and physically strong. He is able to control his opponents and often sets the pace of the game, which allows him to log important minutes on the ice.

• Daniel Noonan, CSR Scout

 

William Shields — Centre — Bishop Kearney Selects

After taking his talents south of the border to the U.S. this season, Will made his presence known by leading the country with 114 points thanks to 62 goals and 52 assists. He combines good size with his smooth-skating, great vision and playmaking abilities, making him a threat to score and generate offence every time he steps on the ice.

Will is a very smart player with a great work ethic. He plays responsibly, with and without the puck, and his hockey IQ is what allows him to contribute in all facets of the game. Will has all the attributes that you look for in a player looking to make the jump to the next level and is one of the top prospects of the upcoming draft.

• Taylor P. Burke, Nova Scotia CSR Scout