THREE QUESTIONS ON THE VAL-D’OR FOREURS

• Can anyone outscore this group?

The Foreurs reached the postseason for the first time in three years last spring thanks in large part to a top line that was nearly impossible to stop. And although a pair of key pieces in Noah Reinhart and Donovan Arsenault have graduated out of the League, the players remaining, not to mention the development of depth, are sure to keep this crew from the heart of mining country an explosive one. It all starts with Phillipe Veilleux, last year’s leading scorer who’s offensive game went to the next level as a sophomore. The other third of that number one unit, Nathan Brisson, is back to not only work magic around the net but play a strong two-way game up the middle. Samuel Fiala is back after an almost point-per-game performance last year. Maxime Coursol, acquired from Rimouski during the off-season, already looks right at home while Adam Cavallin, another acquisition, will help reinforce the lineup after coming over from Drummondville.

• Will the defense take a step in the right direction?

Head Coach/GM Max Desruisseaux coaxed improvement out of his team in general. But a few of those nights weren’t exactly a coach’s dream as leaky defense led to several high scoring affairs. This year, the group is largely a returning one, brining another year’s experience to the table. Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte, the second overall selection at the 2024 QMJHL Draft, gradually adapted well to League play last year, even gaining his bearings offensively as time went on. He’ll be key to all situations on the blue line this year. His fellow 2024 first-rounder, Jacob Gouchie, followed a similar trajectory. Eduard Bondar and Alexis Fortin bring size and strength to the backend while Anothy Pare, another pickup from Rimouski, brings valuable postseason experience to the mix. In net, Emile Beaunoyer showed gradual improvement in his sophomore campaign last year. He’s teamed up with rookie Vincent Moreau, who put together a few impressive appearances early in training camp.

• How could the landscape of the league work in the Foreurs favor?

This year in the ‘Q’ is unique in that, while a couple of clubs are being earmarked as clear-cut favorites by many pundits as usual, there are a great number of teams whose performance this year will be hard to predict. And while the Foreurs seem to fit this latter category, there’s a uniqueness to their position. It’s an intriguing roster with both proven ability and plenty of potential all at the same time. And if the club can find its footing quickly, there’s no reason to believe Desruisseaux will reward his lineup and the great fans in the Abitibi with improvements he sees fit, so long as the moves make sense and the price is right. It’s been a long few years in Val-d’Or but with the club on the cusp of a couple of entertaining seasons ahead, it would be no surprise if the patience of the fans was rewarded by a team that could surprise a few people in a year where parity could be key to success.

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2024-2025 Stats: