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Anthony Lapointe hired by the NHL!

Raphaël Doucet — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:40:05 +0000

Anthony Lapointe recently signed an agreement with the National Hockey League (NHL) to serve as a full-time linesman beginning with the 2026-2027 season. The QMJHL would like to congratulate him on this outstanding achievement! Here is a summary of his career: Originally from Verdun, Quebec, Anthony Lapointe has been climbing the ranks of professional officiating for the past four years. Following his junior playing career, which concluded in 2021, Lapointe began his officiating journey with Hockey Québec. He quickly progressed through Hockey Canada’s Officiating Excellence Program, earning invitations to the NHL Officiating Exposure Combine in both 2022 and 2023. Throughout his development, he was selected to work at several of Hockey Canada’s most prestigious events, including the World Junior A Challenge in 2022, the Centennial Cup in 2023, the TELUS Cup in 2024 and the U SPORTS University Cup in 2026. On the international stage, he represented Hockey Canada at the 2023 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship Division II, Group A, in Dumfries, Scotland, before being selected to officiate at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. During that tournament, he was chosen to work the gold medal game. Before reaching the NHL, Lapointe officiated in the American Hockey League (AHL), the ECHL, the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). He was also selected to work the Calder Cup Finals for two consecutive seasons before earning a full-time position with the NHL. Alongside his professional career, he has remained actively involved in Hockey Québec’s officiating program, where he has officiated in Junior AAA, the college circuit and U SPORTS. He also serves as the head referee of the Mont-Royal Outremont Minor Hockey Association (MRO), where he oversees the recruitment, development and mentorship of officials. Off the ice, Lapointe earned a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from McGill University while balancing the demands of a professional officiating career. Lapointe would like to thank Alexandre Dandenault, Doug Hayward and Hugo Vincent, whose guidance and support played a key role in the early stages of his journey and his progression into professional hockey.

Our 20’s – Shawinigan Cataractes

Raphaël Doucet — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:33:53 +0000

Throughout the summer, we’ll be looking back at the QMJHL careers of our 20-year-old players, who will be moving on to new opportunities next season. Today, we feature the graduating players of the Shawinigan Cataractes. Vince Élie After being selected 36^th overall by the Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2021 QMJHL Draft, Élie returned for another season with the Laval-Montréal Rousseau-Royal U18 AAA program. He then recorded 27 points in 65 games as a rookie with the Sea Dogs before being traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes midway through the 2023-24 season. That year, he finished with 62 points, followed by 69 points in his first full season with the Cataractes. Élie also helped Shawinigan reach the 2025 QMJHL Semifinals, where the team fell to Rimouski. As a 20-year-old, the 5-foot-8, 198-pound centreman totaled 52 points, finishing his junior career with 210 points (83G-127A) in 247 QMJHL games. His performance earned him a professional contract with the Stuttgart Rebels of Germany's third division. Mathys Fernandez Fernandez took a winding path before establishing himself in Shawinigan beginning in January 2024. Originally selected 43^rd overall by the Québec Remparts in the 2021 QMJHL Draft, he never suited up for the club after being traded to Val-d'Or following a season with Collège Esther-Blondin's U18 AAA team. Then, in the summer of 2023, he was on the move again, this time to Chicoutimi, where he spent half a season before being dealt to Shawinigan. Fernandez found his groove with the Cataractes, posting a .910 save percentage during the 2024-25 regular season. He was even better in the playoffs, recording a .915 save percentage while helping Shawinigan advance to the QMJHL Semifinals. As a 20-year-old, he set a career high by appearing in 42 games and finished with a .906 save percentage. After playing 133 QMJHL games, Fernandez will continue his career at Concordia University next season. Drew Hockley Hockley's QMJHL journey began in 2022 when he attended the Acadie-Bathurst Titan's training camp, but he did not earn a roster spot. He returned for another season with the Mount Academy Saints before spending a season and a half in the BCHL with the Victoria Grizzlies. He then played one season at Quinnipiac University before choosing to join the Shawinigan Cataractes, with whom he finished the 2025-26 season with six points in 26 games. Hockley will play for the University of Alaska-Anchorage next season.

20 QMJHL-Drafted Players to Attend Hockey Canada U17 Development Camp

Raphaël Doucet — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:47:57 +0000

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to recognize the 80 players drafted by clubs in the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League who have been invited by Hockey Canada to its 2026 U17 World Hockey Challenge Development Camp, taking place July 17–21 in Oakville, ON, at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. The roster includes eight goaltenders, 24 defencemen, and 48 forwards, drawn from all three CHL member leagues: 29 players drafted by Western Hockey League teams, 31 selected by Ontario Hockey League clubs, and 20 drafted by Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League organizations. Among these selections are the 2026 first-overall draft picks in the Ontario Hockey League (Kane Cloutier – Oshawa Generals), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (Thomas Boisvert - Rouyn-Noranda Huskies), as well as the second overall pick from the 2025 Western Hockey League Prospects Draft (Holden Wouters – Edmonton Oil Kings). Hockey Canada Program of Excellence General Manager Alan Millar spoke to the group's talent ahead of camp: “This is a very talented and exciting group that will be surrounded by world-class coaching and support staffs, and we look forward to introducing them to our program, setting the expectations for the season and preparing for the U17 World Challenge later this year.” For a full list of players at the camp, click HERE. The U17 Development Camp gives players an opportunity to be introduced to Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence and to compete against other top players from across the country. The camp also serves as an evaluation ground for the U17 World Challenge, set to take place November 1–7 in Oakville, ON. At last year's event in Truro, NS, 44 players from across the WHL, the OHL, and the QMJHL took home a medal, with 22 players from Canada Red winning gold and 22 players from Canada White winning silver. This year's two teams will be selected by an all-CHL staff, led by Canada Red and White Directors of Hockey Operations Dave Drinkill (Saginaw Spirit, OHL) and Dylan Seca (Sarnia Sting, OHL), along with Red and White Head Coaches Dan DaSilva (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) and Dylan Smoskowitz (Barrie Colts, OHL), as well asHockey Canada's Program of Excellence staff. For more information on CHL players competing in international events, visit CHL.ca or follow us on social media @CHLHockey.

The Armada sold to John Moreland

Raphaël Doucet — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:15:12 +0000

The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada has been sold to businessman John Moreland, who intends to keep the franchise in Boisbriand. John Moreland is an American entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist from Irvine, California. A former police officer and K-9 handler, he founded Avetta, a global supplier management and compliance platform that he grew from a bootstrapped startup into a multi-billion-dollar company. In 2024, Avetta was acquired by EQT Private Equity for $3 billion, at a time when the company operated in more than 130 countries and served over 500 clients and 130,000 contractors. A passionate hockey fan, Moreland is also co-owner of 8 Sport, Finland's only Bauer specialty store, which he operates in partnership with Hockey Hall of Famer Teemu Selänne. "First and foremost, I would like to thank the Armada's outgoing ownership group, consisting of Pierre Gendron, Jean-François Trudeau, Québecor, Stéphane Brien, Jean-Sébastien Giguère, Joël Bouchard, Ian Laperrière, Jason Pominville, Daniel Brière, Knapper, and Benoit Villemaire," said QMJHL Commissioner Mario Cecchini. "The Armada made significant progress under their leadership in the highly competitive entertainment market of the Greater Montreal area. Mr. Gendron and Mr. Trudeau were always present and actively involved during the League's Assembly of the Members meetings, and they made a tremendous contribution to the growth of both the Armada and the QMJHL. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Joël Bouchard, who has always had the Armada's best interests at heart. "A new chapter begins today, and I would like to thank and welcome John Moreland, a true hockey enthusiast who will help raise the Armada's standards across the board." -- Since joining the QMJHL in 2011 following the relocation of the Montreal Junior, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada has quickly established itself as one of the League's most competitive organizations. Under the leadership of Joël Bouchard, the club built a culture of excellence, reaching the semifinals in 2013 and 2014, as well as the championship series in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, however, the team led by Pierre-Luc Dubois, Samuel Montembeault, and Alexandre Alain was swept in four games by the powerhouse Saint John Sea Dogs. The following year, the Armada enjoyed the best regular season in franchise history, recording 50 wins and 107 points to finish first overall in the standings. Led by QMJHL Most Valuable Player Alex Barré-Boulet, who recorded 116 points that season, the team once again advanced to the championship series before falling in six games to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Over the years, the Armada has developed a number of standout players, including Pierre-Luc Dubois, Drake Batherson, Samuel Montembeault, Alex Barré-Boulet, Cédric Paquette, Danick Martel, Xavier Ouellet, and, more recently, Jonathan Fauchon, Justin Carbonneau, Bill Zonnon, Spencer Gill, and Xavier Villeneuve. Although the organization has yet to capture its first Gilles-Courteau Trophy, it remains widely recognized for its consistency, player development, and ability to compete for the League championship almost every season, as evidenced by its seven 40-win seasons since 2011. -- John Moreland's Armada will open the 2026-27 season on September 18 in Boisbriand against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Our 20’s – Sherbrooke Phoenix

Raphaël Doucet — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 13:14:54 +0000

Throughout the summer, we’ll be looking back at the QMJHL careers of our 20-year-old players, who will be moving on to new opportunities next season. Today, we feature the graduating players of the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Éloi Bourdeau Bourdeau will not be remembered for his offensive production, but rather for his leadership and outstanding work ethic. A third-round pick of the Phoenix in the 2021 QMJHL Draft, he continued his development with Magog in the U18 AAA ranks and at Champlain-Lennoxville College before earning a full-time role with the Phoenix in 2023-24. Three full seasons later, he leaves the organization with 208 career games played, ranking 13^th in franchise history. While his 39 career points don't jump off the page, they hardly reflect the impact he had in helping establish the culture embraced by the Phoenix and head coach Gilles Bouchard. Olivier Dubois Dubois was selected by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the 11^th round, 190^th overall, of the 2021 QMJHL Draft. He returned to Lévis in the U18 AAA ranks for the 2021-22 season before appearing in 39 games with the Huskies and being traded to Sherbrooke during the summer of 2023. Dubois enjoyed a strong first season with the Phoenix, recording 47 points, before injuries limited him to a combined 62 games over his 19- and 20-year-old seasons. Named team captain in 2024-25, he completed his junior career with 117 points (54 goals, 63 assists) in 185 games. Jean-Félix Lapointe Like Bourdeau, Lapointe finished his junior career with 39 points, though he accumulated them over 191 games. Standing 6-foot-6, the defenceman was considered a long-term project when the Phoenix selected him in the 14^th round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft. And like many long-term projects, his development took time. Lapointe spent one season in U18 Division 1 with Séminaire St-François and another at the collegiate level with Champlain-Lennoxville before earning a full-time spot with the Phoenix in 2023-24. His point totals of 10, 11 and 18 over his three seasons with Sherbrooke reflected a player whose greatest value came in a defensive role, where he made excellent use of his imposing frame.

Our 20’s – Newfoundland Regiment

Raphaël Doucet — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:35:56 +0000

Throughout the summer, we’ll be looking back at the QMJHL careers of our 20-year-old players, who will be moving on to new opportunities next season. Today, we feature the graduating players of the Newfoundland Regiment. Justin Larose Larose chose to delay his arrival at the University of Michigan by one year in order to play his 20-year-old season in Newfoundland, and he has no reason to regret that decision. The winger set a career high with 88 points (32 goals, 56 assists), finishing fourth in QMJHL scoring. His 40 power-play points and 292 shots on goal both ranked second in the league. Larose helped the Regiment finish third in the Eastern Conference and reach the second round of the playoffs in the franchise's inaugural season. It was a fitting conclusion to his junior career, as he appeared in 321 QMJHL games, tied for 52^nd-most in league history. A second-round pick of the Tigres in 2021, Larose spent three and a half seasons in Victoriaville before being traded to Drummondville midway through the 2024-25 campaign. During his time with the Tigres, he scored a career-best 38 goals in 2023-24, when the club advanced to the league semifinals. Next stop for No. 9 is the University of Michigan. Émile Perron Reaching the 300-game milestone in the QMJHL is no small feat, and Perron accomplished it in 2025-26, finishing his junior career with 88 points in 313 games. The 6-foot, 175-pound defenceman broke into the league at just 16 years old after being selected eighth overall by the Cape Breton Eagles in the 2021 QMJHL Draft out of the Gatineau Intrépide U18 AAA program. After one season in Cape Breton, Perron moved to Bathurst, where he spent the next three seasons, posting a career-high 31 points (10 goals, 21 assists) in 2023-24. He then moved to Newfoundland, where he recorded 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists) during his 20-year-old season. His deepest playoff run came in 2026, when the Regiment reached the second round before being eliminated by the Armada. The Gatineau native will continue both his studies and hockey career close to home with the University of Ottawa in 2026-27. Blake Pilgrim-Edwards Pilgrim-Edwards was selected by the Cape Breton Eagles in the 12^th round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft but never suited up for the club, as he was acquired by the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the summer of 2022 after spending a second season with Subaru Steele U18 AAA. "BPE" developed steadily in Bathurst, posting seasons of 14, 20, and 31 points, before matching that career high with another 31-point campaign in 2025-26 following the franchise's move to Newfoundland. The 5-foot-11, 169-pound energy forward from Elmsdale, Nova Scotia, wrapped up his junior career with 98 points in 228 games. He will continue his career at Maryville University beginning in 2026-27.

Hlinka Gretzky Cup: Brad MacKenzie and Matthew Smith among the coaching staff

Raphaël Doucet — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:03:52 +0000

Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL) will serve as Team Canada’s head coach, while Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL), Brad MacKenzie (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) and Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL) will join him as assistant coaches

The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is pleased to congratulate several coaches and hockey operations staff members from the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) who have been named to Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which will be held Aug. 3-8 in Edmonton, Alberta. Ryan Oulahen (North Bay Battalion / OHL), who served as an assistant coach when Canada won gold at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton, will lead Team Canada as head coach as the country looks to capture its 26th summer U18 gold medal. Oulahen will be joined behind the bench by assistant coaches Ryan McDonald (Prince Albert Raiders / WHL), Brad MacKenzie (Halifax Mooseheads / QMJHL) and Kyle Chipchura (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL), along with goaltending coach Jeff Harvey (Saskatoon Blades / WHL) and video coach Matthew Smith (Newfoundland Regiment / QMJHL). “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan, Ryan, Brad and Kyle to the staff for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup,” said Alan Millar, general manager of the Program of Excellence. “Each brings a pedigree of coaching experience, particularly in short-term international competition, which will be a tremendous asset as we prepare for the tournament. We’re excited to continue the process of building a team and working with a group of players who will proudly represent Canada and showcase their talent to hockey fans in Edmonton in August.” Oulahen, from Newmarket, Ontario, recently completed his seventh season as head coach of the OHL’s North Bay Battalion and his second season as the club’s assistant general manager. Prior to returning to North Bay, he spent three seasons as head coach of the OHL’s Flint Firebirds and six seasons as an assistant coach with the Battalion. A former Battalion captain during his playing days, Oulahen spent three seasons as a forward with the franchise before being selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the fifth round of the 2003 NHL Draft and playing four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate. Internationally, Oulahen has won two gold medals as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, helping Canada capture gold at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2024 and 2018. He has also served behind the bench at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge on three occasions, including as an assistant coach with Canada Red in 2014 and Canada Black in 2015, and as head coach of Canada White in 2017. Additionally, Oulahen served as an assistant coach for Team CHL at the inaugural 2024 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, helping guide the CHL to a series victory over the U.S. National Under-18 Team. McDonald, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, completed his first full season as head coach of the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders in 2025-26, guiding the club to its first 50-win season since 2018-19 and an appearance in the WHL Championship Series. Prior to being named head coach, McDonald served as an assistant coach with the Raiders before being named interim head coach in March 2025. A former WHL forward, McDonald spent five seasons with the Regina Pats and Prince Albert Raiders from 2004-09, appearing in more than 300 regular-season games. Internationally, he won gold as an assistant coach alongside MacKenzie with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge and also captured silver as an assistant coach with Team Saskatchewan at the 2023 Canada Winter Games. MacKenzie, from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was promoted to head coach of the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads in July 2025 and guided the club to the playoffs in his first season behind the bench. He previously served as associate coach with the Mooseheads in 2024-25 after three seasons as an assistant coach with the club. Before joining Halifax, MacKenzie was head coach of the Grand Falls Rapids of the Maritime Hockey League, where he earned MHL Coach of the Year honours in 2020-21. He also won gold as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2024 U17 World Challenge. Chipchura, from Westlock, Alberta, recently completed his second season as an assistant coach with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings after previously serving as the club’s development coach in 2023-24. Prior to joining the Oil Kings’ coaching staff, Chipchura spent two seasons with the Northern Alberta Xtreme of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, including one season as head coach of the U17 Prep team. A former WHL forward, Chipchura spent four seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders and was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2004 NHL Draft. In his final season with the Raiders, he served as team captain and also captained Canada to gold at the 2006 IIHF World Junior Championship. He went on to play 15 seasons of professional hockey from 2006-20, including 482 regular-season games in the NHL. Internationally, Chipchura also served as an assistant coach with Canada White at the 2025 U17 World Challenge. The support staff for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will also include several representatives from across the CHL:

Head athletic therapist Colton Reiley (Cape Breton Eagles / QMJHL)
Athletic therapist Taylor Cochrane (Kamloops Blazers / WHL)
Team physician Dr. Danielle Kelton (London Knights / OHL)
Head equipment manager Andrew MacNeill (Charlottetown Islanders / QMJHL)
Equipment manager J.R. Grant (Windsor Spitfires / OHL)

The coaching staff was selected by Program of Excellence general manager Alan Millar, Yanick Lemay (Drummondville Voltigeurs / QMJHL), assistant general manager of Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, Scott Salmond, senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy, director of hockey operations. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will hold a training camp from July 27-30 at NAIT Arena in Edmonton, which will include practices and a game against Sweden on July 30. Canada will also face Czechia on Aug. 1 as part of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup pre-tournament schedule. Canada will open the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. MT against Switzerland before facing Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5 to close out the preliminary round. The tournament will conclude with the medal games on Aug. 8. The roster for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp will be announced at a later date. For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Our 20’s – Val-d’Or Foreurs

Raphaël Doucet — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:08:58 +0000

Throughout the summer, we’ll be looking back at the QMJHL careers of our 20-year-old players, who will be moving on to new opportunities next season. Today, we feature the graduating players of the Val-d’Or Foreurs. Maxime Coursol Coursol made history with the Rimouski Océanic before finishing his junior career in Val-d'Or, where he recorded a personal-best 69 points (25G-44A) in 2025-26. Prior to that, he had played 210 games in a Rimouski uniform, ranking 18^th all-time among the franchise's forwards. The 12^th overall pick in the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft, Coursol totaled 203 points (83G-120A) in 261 QMJHL games and helped the Océanic reach both the 2025 QMJHL Final and play in the Memorial Cup tournament. In Val-d'Or, his hockey sense and relentless work ethic made him an ideal complement to Philippe Veilleux and Nathan Brisson. He will study and play for the University of Ottawa in 2026-27. Xavier Daigle Daigle experienced a whirlwind 2025-26 season, moving from the Eagles to the Saguenéens before finishing the year with the Foreurs. His first three QMJHL seasons had been much more stable, producing 20, 24, and 28 points with the Eagles, who selected him 34^th overall in the 2021 QMJHL Draft out of the Lévis Chevaliers U18 AAA program. Daigle appeared in five games with Cape Breton as a 16-year-old rookie before earning a full-time role in 2022-23. His dependable two-way play earned him an opportunity with the University of New Brunswick following a junior career of 97 points in 257 games. Louis-Charles Plourde Like Coursol and Daigle, Plourde will continue his career in U Sports next season with the UQTR Patriotes. He was already 17 years old when the Drakkar selected him 72^nd overall in the 2022 QMJHL Draft. He began the following season in the QJHL with the Princeville Titan, where he excelled with 43 points in just 18 games, earning a recall to the Drakkar. The following year, he helped Baie-Comeau reach the QMJHL Final, where the team fell to Drummondville. His 19-year-old season was by far his best, as he scored 34 goals and 64 points. Then, after just eight games in 2025-26, he was traded to Val-d'Or, where he added valuable offensive depth with 27 points in 32 games. The former Trois-Rivières Estacades U18 AAA standout concludes his junior career with 144 points (72G-72A) in 219 games.

Our 20’s – Victoriaville Tigres

Raphaël Doucet — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 18:00:36 +0000

Throughout the summer, we’ll be looking back at the QMJHL careers of our 20-year-old players, who will be moving on to new opportunities next season. Today, we feature the graduating players of the Victoriaville Tigres. Alexis Bourque A native of Gatineau, Bourque was selected seventh overall by the Armada in the 2021 QMJHL Draft. At just 16 years old, he earned a spot with Blainville-Boisbriand, where he spent two and a half seasons before being traded to Victoriaville. With the Tigres, he reached the semifinals in 2024 and, this season, posted career highs with 21 goals and 42 points as an overager. Only Egor Shilov and Alexey Vlasov recorded more points for Victoriaville. Bourque concludes his junior career with 152 points in 286 games, and will play for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks in 2026–27. Simon-Pier Brunet A fifth-round pick of the Drummondville Voltigeurs in 2021, Brunet spent the 2021–22 season with Gatineau in the M18 AAA ranks, Las Vegas in the USPHL Premier, and Drummondville (five games) before becoming a full-time Voltigeur in 2022–23.The following season, he was part of an outstanding defensive corps that included Vsevolod Komarov, Mikaël Diotte and Maveric Lamoureux (who didn’t play in the playoffs), helping the Voltigeurs defeat Baie-Comeau to capture the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. A few weeks later, the Buffalo Sabres selected him 123^rd overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. Brunet was traded to Victoriaville in the summer of 2025, and the Tigres quickly named him team captain. After recording 77 points in 218 QMJHL games, the 6'2", 205-pound right-shot defenceman will attend Merrimack College next season. Thomas Paquet Paquet also began his junior career with the Armada before being traded to Victoriaville midway through the 2024–25 season. Unlike Bourque, however, he was a late 11^th-round selection by Blainville-Boisbriand in the 2021 QMJHL Draft. He played two games with the Armada in 2021–22 and 40 more in 2022–23, while continuing to develop his game with the Lévis Chevaliers in the M18 AAA ranks. This season, he also set a career high with 42 points, surpassing his previous best by 16 points. That performance allowed him to reach the 100-point milestone in the Q, in 226 games.

2028 Memorial Cup: it will be Moncton or Quebec City!

Raphaël Doucet — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 15:01:29 +0000

Moncton Wildcats & Québec Remparts named finalists to host the 2028 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is proud to announce that the Moncton Wildcats and Québec Remparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) have been selected as the two finalist clubs in the bid to host the 2028 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota. Moncton and Québec were selected by the 2028 Memorial Cup Site Selection Committee, an independent panel of five individuals with extensive experience across the sports landscape. As the first step in the process, the committee reviewed submissions from QMJHL clubs that declared their intent to bid before identifying the two finalist clubs that would advance. Both organizations will now be invited to submit formal written bids, before delivering bid presentations and hosting site visits. The committee will evaluate each bid across four categories: Business Operations; Local Atmosphere, Events & Community Engagement; Event Logistics; and Hockey Operations, before determining the host of the 2028 tournament. The 2028 host city is expected to be announced by the end of October. “The Memorial Cup holds a special place in our game because of the players, fans, volunteers, and communities who bring it to life each year,” said Dan MacKenzie, President of the CHL. “Moncton and Québec are two proud hockey markets with deep connections to this championship, passionate fan bases, strong organizational leadership, and a clear understanding of what it takes to host an event of this calibre. We are confident either city would provide an exceptional stage for the 2028 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, and we thank all of the QMJHL clubs that expressed interest in being part of this process.” “The Moncton Wildcats are thrilled to be named a finalist to host the 2028 Memorial Cup. We look forward to presenting our vision of this major event to the selection committee. We know we have the fans, sponsors, hockey organization, and community support both in the Greater Moncton area and the province to host another successful national championship,” shared R.J. Irving, President of the Moncton Wildcats. “We also have state-of-the-art facilities and an established standard of winning on the ice. With additional events planned in the community to complement the on-ice competition, Moncton will be the place everyone will want to be in May 2028.” “We are very pleased to have been selected as finalists and are very confident that the bid we submit will be strong and meet the expectations of the CHL’s Site Selection Committee,” stated Tommy Castonguay, Vice-President of Operations for the Québec Remparts. “For the past three years, we have expressed our interest in hosting this tournament, which will coincide with our team coming into its own. The work is only just beginning, and we will put everything in place to demonstrate that the Remparts and the beautiful city of Québec are recognized for hosting major events like the 2028 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota.” The Moncton Wildcats and Québec Remparts each boast meaningful connections to the Memorial Cup and a proven track record of hosting major hockey events. Moncton proudly hosted the tournament in 2006, when the Wildcats reached the championship game against the Remparts, and later returned to the Memorial Cup as QMJHL champion in 2010 and 2025. The city has also welcomed several major CHL events, including the 1994 CHL All-Star Challenge, Canada/Russia Series games in 2005, 2017 and 2019, and the 2024 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at the Avenir Centre. Québec, meanwhile, owns one of the richest Memorial Cup histories in the CHL. Across the original and current Remparts eras, the club has captured the Memorial Cup three times, winning in 1971, 2006 and most recently in 2023, when the Remparts capped a run of four straight Memorial Cup titles by QMJHL clubs — the longest championship streak by any CHL Member League since the tournament adopted its round-robin format in 1972. Québec City has also served as a frequent stage for the event, staging the 1971 championship and hosting the Memorial Cup tournament in 1991, 2003 and 2015, while welcoming major CHL showcases such as the 2007 and 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Games and Canada/Russia Series contests in 2004 and 2011. The Remparts are also set to serve as one of two host clubs for the 2026 CHL USA Prospects Challenge, with Game 2 scheduled for Dec. 2 at Vidéotron Centre. The most recent Memorial Cup was held this past May in Kelowna, B.C., where the Kitchener Rangers defeated the Everett Silvertips 6-2 in the final to capture the third Memorial Cup title in franchise history. With the victory, Kitchener joined the Cornwall Royals, Kamloops Blazers, Windsor Spitfires, and London Knights as the only clubs to win three Memorial Cup titles since the tournament adopted its round-robin format in 1972. The championship marked Kitchener’s first since 2003, capped a perfect 4-0 run at the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota, and extended the OHL’s Memorial Cup winning streak to three straight years following Saginaw in 2024 and London in 2025. Looking ahead, the 2027 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota will be hosted by the Guelph Storm of the OHL and staged in Guelph, Ontario, from Thursday, May 20, through Sunday, May 30, 2027. The 107th edition of the tournament will mark the Royal City’s third time hosting junior hockey’s premier championship and will coincide with Guelph’s bicentennial celebrations.