The best time of the year is here again! The 55th running of the QMJHL playoffs began on Thursday night when the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada hosted the Sherbrooke Phoenix. Friday night sees things kick into high gear with a full slate of games featuring all 16 participants.
For now, we take a look at the first round series in the Eastern Conference.
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MONCTON WILDCATS (1) vs QUÉBEC REMPARTS (8)
Two teams with a long history of playoff encounters face off once again as the Wildcats take on the Remparts. Moncton is fresh off its most successful season ever, with new benchmarks for wins, points, win percentage and goals against. With seven 20-goal scorers, the club features the top QMJHL prospect for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in Caleb Desnoyers, St. Louis Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik and German power forward Julius Sumpf. Alex Mercier and Markus Vidicek, the latter a pick up from the Halifax Mooseheads, combined for 68 goals. The blue line has been nothing short of dominant, led by trade deadline pickup Dyllan Gill, Calgary Flames draftee Etienne Morin and Boston Bruins prospect Loke Johansson. Between the pipes, the duo of Mathis Rousseau, another Mooseheads acquisition, and Detroit Red Wings draftee Rudy Guimond has been lights out. Add it all up and it’s no wonder the Wildcats, winners of 15 straight entering the postseason, are firing on all cylinders.
The Remparts return to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. It’s been a balanced mix of veterans and relative newcomers that have led the way in Québec. Off-season acquisition Justin Côté, back in action after a month on the injured list, has been exactly as advertised, leading the club in scoring while wearing the ‘C’. Sophomore Nathan Quinn has been a consistent offensive threat while 20-year-old Thomas Darcy has been a valuable addition to the lineup after coming over from the Moncton Wildcats. Rookies Andreas Straka and Maddox Dagenais have made an impact when in the lineup. Alexandre Desmarais and Slovakian rookie Peter Valent have been part of a defense corps carrying the load in the absence of injured overager Benjamin Vigneault. In nets, Louis-Antoine Denault has performed admirably, stopping pucks with his 6’8” frame. Injuries to key players such as Côté, Vigneault, Dagenais and Quinn have been major hurdles this Remparts squad has overcome to punch its playoff ticket.
Moncton swept the season series against Quebec, 2-0. This will be the seventh playoff encounter between the two clubs. Historically, the Remparts hold a 4-2 series edge, including a sweep in the 2015 semi-finals. Moncton defeated Québec in 2006 to win its first league title.
RIMOUSKI OCEANIC (2) vs. CHARLOTTETOWN ISLANDERS (7)
The 2025 Memorial Cup hosts begin their road to a national championship against the Charlottetown Islanders. The Oceanic has methodically put together a powerful lineup through both the draft and trades, including the biggest splash made over the holiday period by acquiring league-leading scorer Jonathan Fauchon from the Armada. Homegrown talents Jacob Mathieu and Alexandre Blais were offensive drivers as well. The off-season acquisitions of 2023-24 QMJHL MVP Mathieu Cataford and 2021 league champion Pier-Olivier Roy also proved vital. Maël Lavigne and Eriks Mateiko, picked up from Victoriaville and Saint John respectively, have helped round out the top units of this lineup. Luke Coughlin, a 2023 draft pick of the Florida Panthers, has been a steady presence on defense, though the entire lineup has been hampered by the long-term loss of Spencer Gill to a lower body injury. Through it all, rookie netminder William Lacelle has been rock solid between the pipes.
The Islanders spent all season doing what they always do; squeeze points out of every available opportunity. Matthew Butler led the squad in scoring as a sophomore while Ross Campbell, though battling injury late in the season, brought his usual determined presence that’s made him a fan favorite on the Island. Nathan Leek proved to be a solid free agent pick up, leading the club in power play goals. On the backend, 2025 NHL Draft prospect Owen Conrad continues to refine his heavy brand of play, Marcus Kearsey has brought his two-way game back to the ice after battling injury and another free agent, overager Thomas Sirman, has played valuable minutes throughout the lineup all year long. In nets, 20-year-old Nicolas Ruccia and rookie Donald Hickey have proven both the present and future of Islanders goaltending looks good, with each player earning 15 wins.
The two teams split the two-game season series, each club winning at home. This will be just the second playoff encounter between the organizations. Back in 2016, the Islanders prevailed in a six-game, first-round encounter.
CHICOUTIMI SAGUENEENS (3) vs ACADIE-BATHURST TITAN (6)
The Saguenéens battled through a tough East Division to finish a respectable third in the conference. Offensively, a pair of veteran 30-goal scorers, Emmanuel Vermette and Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxim Massé, led the charge once again, while Thomas Desruisseaux, Nathan Lecompte and overager Félix Gagnon provided superior depth down the middle. Kassim Gaudet brought both production and the experience of two league titles and a Memorial Cup to this developing lineup. Loïc Usereau was among the league’s most versatile blueliners while Alex Huang continued to refine his game with the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on his horizon. In the crease, sophomore Raphaël Précourt methodically put together an impressive 29-win season, including a red-hot 7-1-0-1 record in February.
These are bittersweet times in Bathurst. While this represents the last of 21 postseason appearances for the franchise during its time in Northern New Brunswick, there’s still plenty to cheer about as the club tries to make this spring a memorable one. Colby Huggan paced the club offensively while Alexandre Lallier and Dawson Sharkey brought their gritty two-way play to the rink. Overall, the club boasted nine players who reached double digits in goals. Second-year player Noah Laberge and 2021 QMJHL first-rounder Emile Perron drew many of the more critical defensive assignments, while overager François-James Buteau, picked up from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, was a stabilizing presence. Joshua Fleming was his usual steady self between the pipes, posting 29 wins in his overage season.
Each team earned a home ice victory in the two games between the clubs in 2024-25. Since moving from Laval to Bathurst in 1998, the Titan has met the Saguenéens three times in postseason play, winning two of those series, including a first-round encounter in 2018, en route to the franchise’s eventual victory at that year’s Memorial Cup.
BAIE-COMEAU DRAKKAR (4) vs CAPE BRETON EAGLES (5)
It’s a rematch of last year’s semi-final matchup as the Drakkar and Eagles get ready to do battle. The Drakkar relied heavily on the remaining core of its regular season championship squad of a year ago. Topping the list was Matyas Melovsky, one of the best puck distributors in the league. Justin Poirier was his usual self around the cage, finding the back of the net 43 times while Louis-Charles Plourde emerged from a depth role the past two years to register a point per game. The club added to an already impressive arsenal with the acquisitions of Justin Gendron and Alexis Michaud from Victoriaville and Charlottetown, respectively, during the holiday trade period. On the blue line, veterans Alexis Bernier and Anthony Lavoie were aided by a pair of rookies in Oliver Samson and late season pick up Evan Bellamy. Goaltender Lucas Beckman was stellar between the pipes, posting a 31-win campaign as a rookie. The depth of the Drakkar will be put to the test, however, with both Poirier and Bernier out with injuries as the postseason dawns.
The Eagles, considered by some to be potential contenders at the start of the season, encountered an up and down campaign. It wasn’t without its bright spots, though, as New Jersey Devils draftee Cam Squires put together a career best offensive season. Jacob Newcombe earned the captaincy and provided his usual productive, not to mention inspirational, style of play. Joseph Henneberry recorded a point per game after being acquired by Victoriaville early in the season. The same steady defensive play that served the club well last year was back again, led by Utah Hockey Club draftee Tomas Lavoie. Xavier Daigle ate up numerous key minutes while Brayden Schmitt recovered from a pre-season car accident before adding his two-way veteran presence. In nets, Nashville Predators prospect Jakub Milota began the year as the clear-cut number one. However, the emergence of mid-season addition Alexis Cournoyer proved a revelation for the club.
The Drakkar won both regular season games between the two teams. This will be their third series clash. Prior to last year’s five-game Drakkar triumph, the Eagles took a five-game series of their own in the first round of the 2002 playoffs.
