Under the Microscope | March’s QMJHL Prospects
During each month of the regular season, QMJHL scouts provide us with reports on some of the top prospects for the upcoming QMJHL Entry Draft presented by Fenplast.
Here is their analysis of the prospects for the month of March.
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Frédéric Bergeron – Forward – Trois-Rivières Estacades
Frédéric is a right-handed centerman with good size. He is a good 200-foot player who remains involved in all three zones. He likes to impose himself physically, which often makes him hard to play against. Frédéric is also a player who executes the little details that often make the difference.
Used in all game situations by his coaches, he can create beautiful offensive plays. He’s very relentless on the puck, making him the kind of player every coach loves to have on their bench.
- Daniel Noonan, CSR Scout
Sam Berthiaume – Goaltender – South Kent School
At 6’4’’, Sam is a big-sized goaltender who’s shown good athleticism in his game. He plays based off his instincts, mostly reacting to the play. As he continues to grow, he will need to have more stability in his positioning to take better advantage of his size.
Berthiaume is considered an aggressive goaltender, who likes to challenge the shooter to take away space. While usually effective, he sometimes becomes vulnerable during these moments, especially in passing situations.
- Maxime Ouellet, CSR Goaltending Specialist
William Dubé – Defenseman – Collège Notre-Dame Albatros
William Dubé stands out for his versatility and reliability on defense, thanks in particular to his efficient skating and his ability to counter fast-moving opponents. The defenseman’s sturdiness, particularly in front of the net, makes it hard for opposing players to execute plays.
Despite an absence of nearly a month over the holidays, he quickly found back his rhythm and effectively reintegrated the Albatros’ defensive corps. Dubé has continued to improve his positioning, only increasing his value ahead of the next draft.
- Frédéric Lévesque, CSR Scout
Félix-Sylvain Haché – Forward – Northern Moose
Haché is a smooth skater that can create scoring opportunities every shift. His hands allow him to create time and space for himself by maneuvering around defenders. His speed and elite edge work also make him hard to cover as he moves around the offensive zone, with or without the puck. The centerman sees the ice very well and always seems to find open teammates in scoring positions.
In transition, his confidence with the puck is evident. He’s a dangerous puck carrier, but he can also deliver accurate passes when in movement. He’s very patient with the puck, which gives time for plays to develop and to make the best decision. All the skills mentioned above make him a major threat on the power play. He seems to always want to have the puck on his stick and when he does, he creates for everyone around him.
- David Landry, New Brunswick CSR Scout
Tanner Hayden – Forward – Week’s Majors
Tanner is a very talented player and has proved himself all year long. He capped off his first season in the NSU18MHL as the league’s top scorer, while also taking home Rookie of the Year honours.
Hayden has tremendous amounts of offensive upside. He has good skills with the puck, a great shot and a knack for scoring goals. He always seems to find a way to put himself in positions to score and has a willingness to shoot the puck. He protects the puck well in the offensive zone and knows how to use his teammates. Should he add a little more size and physicality to his game, he should become an impactful player at the next level.
- Taylor P. Burke, Nova Scotia CSR Scout
Cameron Haye – Forward – Bishop Kearney Selects
Cameron is a right-handed forward that is very dynamic. His skating explosiveness allows him to escape pressure and be a threat in all situations, all over the ice. Cameron uses his speed to play a high intensity, physical game with and without the puck. His confidence with the puck is evident as he often makes very skillful plays to create offence and alleviate pressure.
Haye also does a great job of using his strength and explosive skating ability to fight through checks and make offensive plays under contact. He has shown that he has many attributes needed to be an effective top six forward at the next level but will still need to continue to work on his overall game without the puck.
- Marcus Power, Newfoundland and Labrador CSR Scout
Nolann Héroux – Forward – St-Eustache Vikings
Explosive, fast and hungry are three words that accurately describe Nolann Héroux. Blessed with an exceptional skating stride, it’s with the pedal to the metal that he takes every shift. Known for his consistency and work ethic, this skillful forward is definitely a spark plug for his team.
His effective decision-making with the puck, his quick shot release and his explosive ability to pounce on loose pucks create scoring chances every game. Despite his average size at 5’9” and 152 pounds, there’s no doubt that Héroux’s grit makes up for where greatness cannot be measured: in his strength of character. With 21 goals and 29 assists in 41 games this season, he knows how to find the back of the net as well as he does his teammates.
- Jérémie Bergeron, CSR Scout
Deryk Lemaire – Forward – Magog Cantonniers
Deryk is a talented forward blessed with good size. He uses his imposing frame well in the offensive zone, notably to create space for himself and to position himself well to release his good shot. A skilled puck handler, Deryk also has good vision, which means he’s often used on the power play.
Lemaire has shown great progression throughout the season. This makes him a prospect to keep a close eye on, as he has all the tools to become a good player at the next level.
- Jean-Pierre Belzil, CSR Scout
Malik L’Italien – Defenseman – Stanstead College Varsity
Malik is a left-handed defenseman with good size and an exceptional skating stride. He has an undeniable offensive flair, good quick hands, a very good shot and natural poise when in possession of the puck. Constantly facing the play, he is able to move around and make decisions quickly. The only 15-year-old on his team, he is regularly used on the first pair of defensemen and on special teams.
Although he doesn’t necessarily play a physical game, Malik completes his checks when the situation lends itself to it. Like most young defensemen, he still needs to polish his game in the defensive zone, but he shows a capacity and ease of adaptation that will enable him to quickly improve this aspect of his game.
- Pierre Cholette, CSR Director
Émrick Nolette-Robidoux – Forward – St-Hyacinthe Gaulois
Émrick is part of a team full of talented first-year players. Despite this fact, he stood out from the pack thanks to his offensive skills and an interesting average of one point per game. His great patience with the puck enables him to excel at finding his teammates in open spaces.
Already 6 feet tall, Nolette-Robidoux’s has a good frame that he puts to good use in puck protection. In addition to his defensive game, he continues to work on improving his skating stride in order to become an even more complete player.
- Benoît Payment, CSR Scout
