It’s a statement that can be made almost every year; facing the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies is no easy feat. In fact, the dogs of the north are on their way to finishing above .500 for the third straight campaign and 17th time in the past 22 seasons. Helping keeping this record of consistency intact is a solid mix of players representing various age groups, providing support on both sides of the puck.
Up front, the club which scored 301 goals last campaign keeps finding the back of the net. Overager Antonin Verreault, the league’s defending scoring champion, finds himself in the top five of this year’s derby entering the final stretch of the regular season. He’s teamed up alongside the electrifying Bill Zonnon, who’s stayed with his veteran teammate every step of the way on the scoresheet in his all-important NHL Draft year. Lars Steiner made his way over from hockey-crazed Davos, Switzerland to make a statement in an impressive rookie season. This impressive group was further enhanced with the signing of Rémi Gélinas from the CCHL Hawkesbury Hawks. Through his first month and a half in Rouyn-Noranda, the 2026 Clarkson University commit has averaged more than one goal per game.
With a gameplan that tends to lean on the offensive, there has probably been more high-scoring affairs than Steve Hartley and his coaching staff would prefer. That said, puck moving blueliner Ty Higgins has proven that sometimes, the best defense is to simply keep advancing the puck into the attacking zone. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Alex Carr and sophomore Alexis Lemire have done a valiant effort of patrolling their own zone. In the crease, Samuel Meloche took over the reins to start his first full season of QMJHL action and hasn’t looked back. A trade period deal to bolster the situation in nets led to 6’4’’ goaltender Zach Pelletier making his way from the Gatineau Olympiques.
They’ve shown consistency, a dangerous attack and the ability to compete – and beat – their fellow contenders. Make no mistake; the Huskies are once again aiming to finish atop the pack this spring.
