2015 Draft: Prospects #4 to #6
The 2015 QMJHL Draft will be held this weekend at the Palais des Sports Léopold-Drolet in Sherbrooke. In the coming days, we will be serving up looks at the top three prospects in this year’s draft according the QMJHL Scouting Central. Here is a look at No. 6 through No. 4.
4 – Antoine Crête-Belzile, Defenceman, Séminaire Saint-François
The top blue-liner on the board according to the QMJHL Scouting Central, Antoine Crete-Belzile has made his mark with his impressive mobility.
“His skating ability is superior to most defencemen his age. He can execute a quality first pass and makes the right decisions with the puck. I could see him one day becoming blue-line quarterback at this level,” explained league scouting director Carl Bouchard who likes what he’s seen from Crete-Belzile in his one-on-one battles.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder d-man wasn’t able to dodge the injury bug this season as he was twice on the shelf in 2014-15. That being the case, his development wasn’t affected in the least.
“It was a frustrating season. I aggravated an old elbow injury during the summer while training. Then when I got back I hurt my wrist then in the last game of the season, my knee began to bother me,” retold Crete-Belzile before confirming he is now fully recovered from those bumps and bruises.
The young rearguard agrees that his skating ability is his No. 1 asset, while also being full aware that he needs to work on the physical aspects of his game. He hasn’t made up his mind yet and could still opt to go the U.S. university route, but Crete-Belzile will nonetheless be at the draft on Saturday.
5 – Jocktan Chainey, Defenceman, Trois-Rivières
Jocktan Chainey is often described as a reliable defenceman who can take care of business on both ends of the ice. Always calm with the puck and intelligent in his decision-making he was in on 13 Estacades goals this season.
“He progressed really well over the last few months. He’s got a good shot and his first pass is already at a junior caliber. We found that Jocktan reacted well to pressure from opposing forechecks. He is also very good at controlling time and space out there,” said Bouchard.
6 – Louis-Filip Côté, Forward, Lévis
Author of 59 points in 70 games this past season, Louis-Filip Cote is a left winger with strong skating ability, a big body and great set of hands.
“He improved steadily over the course of the season, gaining in confidence and his numbers reflected that. Unfortunately for him, an injury he suffered in the first round of the playoffs cost him a chance to play in the Canada Games and he wasn’t able to regain his from following his return,” said Bouchard.
In order to deliver at the QMJHL level, he will have to work hard at being more consistent.
“I feel I also need to work on my physical game. I’m looking to add some bulk this summer. My challenge will be to accomplish that while not losing any of my speed,” said Cote who also admitted to feeling some nervousness in the days leading up to the draft.
Tomorrow we will feature the No. 3 prospect ahead the 2015 QMJHL Draft: forward Shane Bowers.
