https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/ Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:30:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/mooseheads-sign-goaltender-jack-fichthorn Thu, 30 Jul 2026 16:08:35 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/mooseheads-sign-goaltender-jack-fichthorn https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-halifax-mooseheads-3 Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:45:36 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-halifax-mooseheads-3 Connor MacPherson An Ontario native, MacPherson took a winding path before arriving in Halifax for the 2025-26 season. He spent two seasons with Leamington in the GOJHL, one with Penticton in the BCHL, and another at the University of New Hampshire in the NCAA before earning an invitation to the Mooseheads' training camp. He made the team and wrapped up his 20-year-old season with 26 points (12G, 14A) in 64 games. Samuel Rousseau Selected by the Huskies in the 12th round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft, 208th overall, Rousseau has every reason to be proud of his junior career, which comes to an end after 193 QMJHL games (80 points). Rousseau appeared in two games with the Huskies as a 16-year-old but truly made his mark with the St-Eustache Vikings in the QMAAA, where he dominated with 58 points in 39 games. He earned a full-time roster spot in Rouyn-Noranda in 2022-23 and remained there for three full seasons, helping the Huskies reach the playoff semifinals in 2025. The 6-foot, 198-pound winger was then traded to the rebuilding Mooseheads, where his leadership, work ethic, and production—28 points (12G, 16A) in just 34 games—made him a valuable addition. He will continue his career next season at Long Island University. * Unlike the other 17 QMJHL teams, the Mooseheads finished the 2025-26 season with only two 20-year-old players on their roster.]]> https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/austrian-imports-sintschnig-and-uschan-sign-with-halifax Wed, 29 Jul 2026 16:07:06 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/austrian-imports-sintschnig-and-uschan-sign-with-halifax https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-moncton-wildcats-3 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:48:29 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-moncton-wildcats-3 Rudy Guimond Guimond’s time in Moncton and the QMJHL lasted only two seasons, but what an impact he made. The Pointe-Claire native was playing for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL when he decided to join the Wildcats early in the 2024-25 season. He posted a perfect 16-0 regular-season record (1.73 GAA, .940 SV%), then won eight of his nine playoff starts—serving as Mathis Rousseau’s backup—to help the Wildcats capture the Gilles-Courteau Trophy. He was even better in 2025-26, finishing with a 40-7-3 record, a 2.27 goals-against average, and a .922 save percentage to earn the Patrick-Roy Trophy as the QMJHL’s Goaltender of the Year. Once again, the Wildcats advanced to the league final, this time falling to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Guimond’s 56 wins in just two seasons rank fifth in Wildcats history, while his .927 career save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average are franchise records. He will continue both his academic and hockey career at Harvard University next season. Preston Lounsbury A fourth-round selection by the Wildcats in 2021, Lounsbury spent his entire junior career in Moncton, appearing in 262 games. Only Alex Mercier, Devon MacAusland, Simon Laliberté, and Steve Bernier have played more games in franchise history. A Moncton area native, Lounsbury spent most of his 16-year-old season with the Moncton Flyers U18 AAA before earning a full-time role with the Wildcats. He followed that with seasons of 28, 57, 44, and 42 points, highlighted by winning the Frank-J.-Selke Trophy (now the David-Desharnais Trophy) as the QMJHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player in 2023-24. The following season, he played a key role in the Wildcats’ Gilles-Courteau Trophy championship, recording 14 points, including eight goals, in 19 playoff games. He also returned to the league final in 2026, where Moncton fell to Chicoutimi. Wearing No. 20, Lounsbury finished his Wildcats career ranked 20th in franchise scoring with 172 points (67 goals, 105 assists) in 262 games. He will attend College of the Holy Cross next season. Alex Mercier Mercier is another player who etched his name into Wildcats history, setting franchise records with 284 regular-season games and 59 playoff appearances. He was playing for Séminaire Saint-François U18 AAA when Moncton selected him in the second round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft. After returning to SSF for 19 more games, he made the jump to the Wildcats full-time. His offensive breakout began during his 18-year-old season, as he produced 44, 64, and 63 points over his final three campaigns. His 213 career points rank 12th in franchise history. Like Guimond and Lounsbury, Mercier played a vital role in the Wildcats’ 2025 championship run, contributing nine points in 19 playoff games while providing smart, hard-nosed play. He delivered another outstanding postseason in 2026, recording 11 points in 21 playoff contests as the Wildcats once again reached the league final. Mercier will continue his career at Merrimack College next season.]]> https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/10-qmjhl-players-to-watch-at-the-2026-world-junior-summer-showcase Sat, 25 Jul 2026 17:39:56 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/10-qmjhl-players-to-watch-at-the-2026-world-junior-summer-showcase By Martin Therriault Have a great 2026–2027 season, QMHL fans – already! Although the season doesn’t get underway until September 18, several current and former QMJHL players will be competing in a number of international tournaments over the coming weeks, including the 2026 World Junior Summer Showcase. Which players should you keep an eye on during this preparatory tournament for the World Junior Hockey Championship—featuring Canada, the United States, Finland, and Sweden—running from Sunday through Saturday, Aug. 1, in Windsor, Ontario? To mark the occasion, we’re offering 10 players to watch from each of the four teams. The 2027 World Junior Championship will take place from Dec. 26, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027, in Edmonton and Red Deer, AB. Canada 1- Caleb Desnoyers, forward, Moncton Wildcats The only player in this group to have competed in the 2026 World Junior Championship in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, Caleb Desnoyers helped Canada win the bronze medal with six assists in seven games. This time around, the Moncton Wildcats star will be one of the key offensive threats on a team that will feature eight players from last year’s roster. U-17 World Challenge, U-18 World Championship, Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Gilles-Courteau Trophy in 2024–25: Desnoyers knows how to win. He just had an incredible season in Moncton, where he racked up 78 points in just 45 games. With incredible skills, faceoffs, playmaking, and defensive play, Desnoyers is expected to be one of the most well-rounded players on the Canadian team. 2- Lucas Beckman, goaltender, Cape Breton Eagles Traded from the Chicoutimi Saguenéens to the Cape Breton Eagles over the summer, Lucas Beckman has the advantage of having helped Canada win the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup in 2024 alongside several members of this team. And he just had an incredible 2025–26 season, lifting the Gilles-Courteau Trophy with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Traded by the Baie-Comeau Drakkar after Christmas, his stats in Chicoutimi speak for themselves: a 13-1-0 record, a .940 save percentage, and a 1.52 goals-against average. Fans of the Canadian junior team will see a very composed goaltender with excellent reflexes and above-average anticipation. 3- William Lacelle, goaltender, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada In 2024, William Lacelle participated in the U-18 Summer National Selection Camp for the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup alongside Beckman. He remained under the microscope of Hockey Canada officials thanks to an excellent 2025–2026 season. After being traded from the Rimouski Océanic to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the trade deadline, the Gatineau native led the QMJHL in shutouts with seven. He also ranked in the top five in all major categories: second in save percentage (.917), fourth in goals-against average (2.49), and fifth in wins (27). Despite his smaller size, Lacelle more than makes up for it with his incredible explosiveness on his skates and a high level of intelligence. He’s also a fierce competitor, excelling particularly on the glove side. 4- Samuel Meloche, goaltender, Saint John Sea Dogs At 6'3'', Samuel Meloche will be the tallest goaltender on the Canadian team. This will be his first international experience with Hockey Canada. The new member of the Saint John Sea Dogs finished second in the QMJHL in wins during the 2025–26 season, with 33. Over the past three seasons, he helped his team—the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies—reach the league semifinals with the third-best GAA in the playoffs (2.52). Meloche is tall, but he also moves very well and can make several spectacular saves in front of the net. His competitive nature is also an asset for the Buffalo Sabres' prospect. 5- Philippe Veilleux, forward, Val-d'Or Foreurs Justice has been served for Philippe Veilleux. Although he went undrafted in the NHL draft for the past two years, he finished among the top five scorers in the QMJHL twice during his career: third in 2024–25 with 87 points, and second last year with 43 goals and 96 points in 64 games. Veilleux may only be 5 feet 10 inches tall, but he excels in every aspect of the game. He has an excellent shot and can deliver sensational passes to his teammates on the Val-d'Or Foreurs. The 19-year-old forward has also shown significant improvement on the defensive end. 6- Xavier Villeneuve, defenceman, Blainville-Boibriand Armada Well known to Hockey Canada coaching staff. Xavier Villeneuve played a key role in the team’s gold-medal victory at the 2025 World U-18 Championship, recording eight points in seven games. Struggling with injuries during the second half of the last season, he recorded only 38 points in 37 games, but he rebounded in the playoffs with 14 points in 17 games. He helped Blainville-Boisbriand to advance to the QMJHL semifinals. 7- Alex Huang, defenceman, Chicoutimi Saguenéens Alex Huang is another regular at Hockey Canada events, having won gold at the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and the 2025 World U-18 Championship. The Rosemère native had a near-perfect 2025–2026 season, notably helping the Saguenéens win the Gilles-Courteau Trophy for the first time since 1994. Statistically speaking, Huang finished second among QMJHL defensemen in scoring with 70 points in 62 games. He added to that total during the playoffs, recording 20 points in 19 games. The Nashville Predators prospect in the NHL stands out for his phenomenal intelligence on the ice. He consistently reads the game well to create scoring opportunities and join the rush, while making brilliant use of his excellent skating ability. Huang has also gained physical strength over the past year, which has further helped him in physical battles along the boards. United States 8- Tommy Bleyl, defenceman, Moncton Wildcats Unknown at this time last year, every QMJHL fan knows Tommy Bleyl now. The QMJHL’s leading scorer among defensemen—both during the regular season (81 points in 63 games) and in the playoffs (28 points in 21 games)— even broke Gaston Therrien’s 48-year-old record for points by a rookie defenseman. With 68 assists, he now holds the Wildcats’ record, which led to him being drafted in the first round (31st overall) of the last NHL Draft by the Predators. Bleyl has represented the United States once on the international stage, at the 2024 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. This time, he’ll be looking to impress his coaches for the 2027 World Junior Championship with his exceptional puck-carrying ability, creativity, and quick execution in moving the puck at the blue line. The New York State native has also greatly improved his ability to box out his opponents in front of his net. 9- Jamie Glance, forward, Saint John Sea Dogs Remember that name. A potential first-round prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft, Jamie Glance will join the Sea Dogs as the leading scorer in the U.S. U18 National Team Development Program, having tallied 56 points in 62 games. He will be one of only three players eligible for the NHL Draft for the first time to be on the United States roster. A 5-foot-11 winger, Glance is very skilled with the puck and can set up difficult plays for his teammates. He plays with a high level of effort and can drive to the net to create scoring opportunities. Sweden 10- Torkel Jennersjö, forward, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Torkel Jennersjö has been a regular member of the Swedish national team for several seasons, having played on the U-16, U-17, and U-18 teams. Notably, he was part of the team that won the silver medal at the 2025 U-18 World Championship. Jennersjö tallied 28 points, including 14 goals, in his first QMJHL season with the Armada. He had a particularly strong playoff run, recording 10 points in 17 games, during which he earned the trust of head coach Alexandre Jacques. Despite standing at 5'10'', the Swedish player brings a high level of intensity to the ice. He can throw his shoulders into the play and drive to the net to pick up rebounds, but he also knows how to stand out with his wrist shot.]]> https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/eight-qmjhl-players-invited-to-2026-world-junior-summer-showcase Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:31:30 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/eight-qmjhl-players-invited-to-2026-world-junior-summer-showcase https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-quebec-remparts-3 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:46:11 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-quebec-remparts-3 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 Québec Remparts. Antoine Dorion After a strong season with the Hawkesbury Hawks of the CCHL, Dorion was invited to the Québec Remparts’ training camp in 2023, where he ultimately spent three seasons. The Franco-Ontarian forward and son of Pierre Dorion, the former general manager of the Ottawa Senators, developed into a reliable energy player in Québec, even convincing the St. Louis Blues to select him in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft. After a junior career that produced 64 points in 165 games, Dorion will play for Maryville University next season. Mathias Loiselle After splitting the 2022–23 season between the Richelieu Patriotes in U18 AA and Polyvalente Marcel-Landry in U18 D1, Loiselle was invited to the Remparts’ training camp in 2023. He spent most of the 2023–24 season at the collegiate level with the St. Lawrence College Lions, while also appearing in 10 games with the Remparts. Then, following an 18-point season in 63 games with Québec, Loiselle began his 20-year-old season with Longueuil in the LHJAAAQ before finishing the year with the Remparts. He even took part in the Colorado Avalanche’s development camp a few weeks ago. The author of 43 points in 110 QMJHL games, Loiselle has committed to the University of Vermont. Cal Uens Uens, an Ontario native, spent four seasons in the OHL with Owen Sound and Kingston before being invited to the Remparts’ training camp in August 2025. The undersized defenceman of 5'9" and 158 pounds quickly became the Remparts’ quarterback on the blue line, recording 49 points (13 goals, 36 assists) this season. His total ranked seventh among QMJHL defencemen in scoring. Uens will return home next season to continue his career at Queen’s University.]]> https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/drummondville-voltigeurs-hire-mathieu-gravel-as-head-coach Thu, 23 Jul 2026 18:45:44 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/drummondville-voltigeurs-hire-mathieu-gravel-as-head-coach https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/6-qmjhl-players-invited-to-canadas-training-camp-ahead-of-2026-hlinka-gretzky-cup Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:05:13 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/6-qmjhl-players-invited-to-canadas-training-camp-ahead-of-2026-hlinka-gretzky-cup Alexis Joseph (Lachenaie, QC) of the Saint John Sea Dogs, and the second overall pick, Malik L'Italien (Montréal, QC) of the Halifax Mooseheads. The Newfoundland Regiment will also be well represented, with defenceman Quinn Norman (St John’s, NL) and forward Benjamin Veitch (St John’s, NL). There will also be two goalkeepers: Sam Berthiaume (Stellarton, N.S./Cape Breton Eagles) and Mathys Fortin (Lorraine, QC/Drummondville Voltigeurs). The initial roster, which includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 15 forwards, was selected by Program of Excellence (POE) general manager Alan Millar (Tottenham, ON), alongside POE head scout Byron Bonora (Brooks, AB) and U18 assistant general manager Yanick Lemay (Drummondville, QC/Drummondville, QMJHL), with input from Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Benoit Roy (Sudbury, ON), director of hockey operations. “We are excited to unveil the 27 players who will begin the road to the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup at training camp in Edmonton. This is a talented and well-rounded group of young players,” Millar said. “Our staff have worked tirelessly to identify a roster that we believe gives us the best chance to be successful on home ice. We look forward to gathering in Edmonton next week to continue our preparations for the tournament, and for the opportunity to get Canada back on top of the podium in front of Canadian fans in August.” Of the 27 players, 25 suited up for Canada Red or Canada White at the U17 World Challenge. Joseph notably represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship. Regarded by many as one of the top prospects for the 2027 NHL Draft, he tallied 60 points—including 24 goals—in 54 games during his first season in the QMJHL. He also recorded his first career hat trick on December 31. The Italian finished third in scoring among QMJHL rookies, but was the top 16-year-old with 24 points in 64 games. He was particularly impressive on the power play, with 10 points. One of the youngest players in the league in 2025–2026 and eligible for the 2028 NHL Draft, Norman recorded 13 points in 59 games for his home province’s team. He really came into his own during the second half of the season, racking up 10 points in 31 games after Christmas. Like Norman, Veitch is also a native of Newfoundland, and he won't be eligible for the NHL draft until 2028. He finished the season with 21 points in 58 games, but had a particularly strong playoff run. His seven points in 12 games tie him for the lead among 16-year-old players. Berthiaume spent the 2025–2026 season in the Maritime Junior Hockey League with the Truro Bearcats, where he led his team to the championship. He made his QMJHL debut for Cape Breton on January 25, making 32 saves in an overtime loss against the Charlottetown Islanders. After starting the season in the Ligue de développement du hockey M18AAA du Québec, with the Saint-Eustache Vikings, Fortin joined the Voltigeurs after Christmas. The 2025 QMJHL draft third-round pick posted an excellent record of seven wins and two losses in 10 games. Brad MacKenzie, from the Halifax Mooseheads, and Matthew Smith, from the Newfoundland Regiment, will be part of the coaching staff as assistant coach and video coach respectively. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team training camp, set for July 27-Aug. 1 at NAIT Arena and Rogers Place in Edmonton, will include practices and a game against Sweden on July 30. Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team will also take on Czechia on Aug. 1 as part of the Hlinka Gretzky Cup pre-tournament schedule before the roster is finalized ahead of the start of the tournament. Canada opens the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup against Switzerland on Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. MT. It will face Slovakia on Aug. 4 and Sweden on Aug. 5 to close out the preliminary round before the tournament concludes with the medal games on Aug. 8.]]> https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-rimouski-oceanic-3 Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:14:48 +0000 https://chl.ca/lhjmq/en/article/our-20s-rimouski-oceanic-3 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 Rimouski Océanic. Émile Duquet Duquet carved out a lengthy QMJHL career thanks not to his offensive production, but to his relentless work ethic and compete level. The former Lévis Chevaliers U18 AAA standout was selected by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the fifth round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft. At just 16 years old, he appeared in 14 games with Chicoutimi before spending three more full seasons with the club. He then moved to Rimouski in the summer of 2025. With the Océanic, he set a personal best with 25 points while playing for the league's second-last team. His career-high in goals came in 2023-24, when he scored 13. After finishing his junior career with 96 points in 263 games, Duquet is expected to join the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) next season. Jack Martin* A third-round pick of the Halifax Mooseheads in 2021, Martin experienced the disappointment of losing in the QMJHL Final twice. The first came in 2023 with the Mooseheads against Québec, and the second in 2025 with the Océanic against Moncton. At least in 2025, Martin had the opportunity to compete in the Memorial Cup, as Rimouski was the tournament host. A few months earlier, the Océanic had acquired him from Halifax along with Lou Lévesque in exchange for Quinn Kennedy and a 2026 second-round draft pick. Martin played an important role for the Océanic during the playoffs, particularly with top defenceman Spencer Gill sidelined by injury. Over just more than four QMJHL seasons, Martin recorded 54 points in 205 games, including a career-high 21 points in 2024-25. He is expected to play for Holy Cross College next season. Luke Patterson Despite a difficult season for the Océanic, Patterson posted a career-best campaign, finishing second in team scoring with 30 points (13-17) in 62 games. His previous career high was 28 points, a mark he reached twice with the Cape Breton Eagles, who selected him 59^th overall in the fourth round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft. The former Moncton Flyers U18 AAA captain spent three full seasons in Sydney before joining Rimouski. He wraps up his junior career with 108 points (49-59) in 255 games and will attend the University of New Brunswick in 2026-27. Olivier Théberge Théberge was selected by the Armada in the fifth round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft but was never able to establish himself with the club. During the 2021-22 season, he primarily played for Séminaire Saint-François in the U18 AAA ranks, followed by the 2022-23 season with Champlain-Lennoxville in the QJHL. He was then traded to Rimouski, where he appeared in just 25 games as an 18-year-old. The 2024-25 season, however, will remain one of the highlights of Théberge's career. Not only did he become a regular on the Océanic blue line (56 games), but injuries to teammates also thrust him into a key role during the 2025 playoffs, which ended with a loss to Moncton in the league final. He then had the opportunity to compete in the Memorial Cup, hosted in Rimouski. Unable to guarantee him one of its three 20-year-old roster spots, the Océanic allowed Théberge to join Miramichi of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League before bringing him back at the end of November 2025. His ice time increased significantly following Jack Martin's season-ending injury. Théberge concludes his junior career with 24 points in 126 games and will join the University of Moncton in 2026-27. *Exceptionally, we are including four 20-year-old players here instead of three, due to the shoulder injury that ended Jack Martin's season on December 29.]]>