THREE QUESTIONS ON THE ROUYN-NORANDA HUSKIES

• What to expect from an impressive list of veterans?

This is no longer the powerful Huskies club that featured a fierce offense and was expected to land towards the top of the standings. But even though the cycle of junior hockey has led to a number of graduations and transactions, the base of a competitive squad remains. Rookie All-Star Lars Steiner will be back with his dynamic offensive flair. Thomas Verdon, a consistent 20-goal threat, returns for a fifth campaign with the organization, as does winger Benjamin Brunelle. Center Samuel Beauchemin will see more minutes in all situations after tripling his previous career high in points last season, while Axel Dufresne and Alexis Lemire will be leaders on a blue line that features four rookies.

• Will the Huskies’ season be decided on net gains?

The veteran that will receive perhaps the most attention in Rouyn-Noranda this year is goaltender Samuel Meloche. After being pressed into the starters role to start his rookie campaign last fall, the 18-year-old quickly adapted to the pace of the league, posting 30 wins, leading the squad to the league Semi-Finals and capping things off by being selected in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. This year, the assignment has changed somewhat for the guy who will remain a Huskie following his days in the ‘Q’ thanks to a commitment to Northeastern University. Meloche will be relied upon to keep this club in games night in and night out while likely facing a higher degree of quality chances for a club with less offensive pop. He’ll also be working alongside a new freshman in the crease as Alexandre Raymond joins the squad. It’ll be a tall order for a puck stopper who, to this point, has passed all tests with flying colors.

• Who’s new to the pack?

Including goaltender Raymond, 11 first-year players are embarking on their QMJHL careers with the Huskies this season. Niko El-Khouri, acquired from Moncton last season, has thrilled crowds throughout the U-18 ranks in Quebec over the past couple of seasons with his high-scoring ways. The same can be said of Samuel Rheault, a former Blainville-Boisbriand prospect and an All-Star with the Trois-Rivieres Estacades last year. 2025 Import Draft selection Vladislav Murzov has been a proven goal scorer in the Russian junior ranks. Another Moncton pickup, 6’7” Tristan Langlois brings size and physicality to the blue line. The defensive corps will also be augmented with 18-year-old first-year Import Guus Van der Kaaij, a Dutch-born defender who has starred for U-18 squads in his current home of St-Moritz, Switzerland.

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2024-2025 Stats: