Tommy Bleyl’s outstanding season with the Moncton Wildcats was once again recognized today as the QMJHL awarded him the Émile-Bouchard Trophy as Defenseman of the Year and the Sidney-Crosby Trophy as Rookie of the Year.
Bleyl is only the second player in QMJHL history to earn both honours in the same season, joining Dmitry Kulikov, who accomplished the feat in 2008-2009 with the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Bleyl is the first Wildcats member to be named Rookie of the Year since Jordan Spence in 2018-2019. Spence also went on to win Defenceman of the Year the following season.
Bleyl finished second among all league rookies with 81 points in 63 games, setting a new QMJHL record for a rookie defender. The previous mark of 77 points had been held by Gaston Therrien since 1978.
His 68 assists led the entire league, finishing nine ahead of Thomas Verdon (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) and Alex Huang (Chicoutimi Saguenéens).
Among all defensemen, Bleyl ranked first in points (81), power play points (42), and shots on goal (195). He finished 11 points ahead of his closest rival, Alex Huang.
Bleyl, who helped the Wildcats win their second consecutive regular season championship, ends his season with three trophies, having also won the Raymond-Lagacé Trophy for Defensive Rookie of the Year a few days ago.
He is ranked 17th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final list ahead of the upcoming NHL Draft.
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Sidney-Crosby Trophy Finalists (Rookie of the Year)
Alexis Joseph, Saint John Sea Dogs
Joseph finished sixth in rookie scoring with 60 points (24 goals, 36 assists) in 54 games. Notably, he was the only 16-year-old player in the top six. In addition to 18 power-play points, he led all rookies with four shorthanded goals. The Sea Dogs’ second-leading scorer, Joseph will not be eligible for the NHL Draft until 2027.
Egor Shilov, Victoriaville Tigres
Shilov led all rookies and finished seventh in overall league scoring with 82 points in 63 games. Among first-year players, he ranked second in goals (32) and third in power-play points (31), while maintaining a 54.8% faceoff percentage. Shilov is ranked 19th among North American skaters on NHL Central Scouting’s final list for the upcoming draft.
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Émile-Bouchard Trophy Finalists (Defenseman of the Year)
Alex Huang, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
In his third season with the Saguenéens, Huang shattered his previous personal best, jumping from 40 to 70 points to rank second among all QMJHL defencemen. His 11 goals and 59 assists were also career highs. Huang finished second among blueliners with a +58 rating and 32 power play points. The Nashville Predators prospect was the defensive anchor for a Sags team that finished second in the overall standings.
Tomas Lavoie, Cape Breton Eagles/Chicoutimi Saguenéens
The first overall pick by Cape Breton in 2022, Lavoie was traded to Chicoutimi mid-season and continued his strong play, recording 26 points and a +31 rating in 32 games with the Sags. He finished the season eighth among QMJHL defensemen with 47 points (10G, 37A) in 56 games and a +34 rating. At 6’4″ and 230 lbs, Lavoie brings more than just offense; he is a physical, reliable, and stabilizing defensive presence. A 2024 third-round pick of the Utah Mammoth, he is expected to move up to the AHL next season.
