During each month of the regular season, QMJHL scouts provide us with reports on some of the top prospects for the upcoming QMJHL Entry Draft presented by Fenplast.
Here is their analysis of the prospects for the month of February.
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Thomas Boisvert – Forward – Mount St-Charles Academy 15U AAA
After playing in the RSEQ in recent years, Thomas is playing in the United States this season, in Rhode Island. A dynamic and electrifying left-handed center, he can also play on the wings. Boisvert demonstrates a very high compete level and wants to make a difference every time he steps onto the ice.
Playing on the first line, the top power play and the top penalty killing unit, he has the full confidence of his coaches. He plays with passion and determination. A fast player with excellent vision, he is an excellent passer who’s creative with the puck, as evidenced by his average of more than two points per game.
- Pierre Cholette, CSR Director
Gabriel Coache-Luqman – Defenseman – Collège Charles-Lemoyne Riverains
Gabriel is a tall left-handed defender who commands respect with his physical presence. Despite his stature, he moves with fluidity, allowing him to quickly shut down passing lanes and contain opposing attackers. Always well positioned in his zone, he anticipates the play well, cutting off angles and forcing his opponents to make hasty decisions. Robust, he is a feared player in battles along the boards and in front of the net.
His stick becomes an extension of himself: he uses it skillfully to intercept passes, clear the puck, and disrupt opposing carriers. In addition to his defensive qualities, he excels in breakouts thanks to accurate and quick first passes. This combination of physical strength, mobility, and vision will make him a valuable asset to any team looking to solidify its defensive corps while maintaining smooth transitions on offense.
- Jean-Pierre Belzil, CSR Scout
Justin Gagnon – Forward – Collège Notre-Dame Albatros
Justin Gagnon is a large-framed forward standing at 6’3″. However, he doesn’t rely solely on his physical advantage against his opponents; he is also a strong skater with good vision. He is often at the heart of the Albatros’ offensive plays.
Justin is known for his intensity on the ice and his ability to influence the pace of the game. His determination every time he steps over the boards allows him to stand out in key moments. Despite his great talent, he needs to continue developing his offensive skills and show more consistency in his defensive play.
- Frédéric Lévesque, CSR Scout
Carter Giberson – Defenseman – Fredericton Caps
Giberson is a left shot defenseman that brings intensity and hard work every time he steps on the ice. Defensively, Giberson brings a lot of physicality and gives opposing players very little time with the puck. He’s a dynamic skater with good edges, which allows him to close the gap quickly with his opponents, while also maintaining good balance. He plays the body well to separate the player from the puck during battles, while also closing passing lanes with his stick.
He also uses his skating abilities well in transition to skate the puck out of his zone with ease. When pressured, he can dish out accurate passes to his teammates. He often kickstarts the offense from his own zone by creating space for his teammates. In the offensive zone, Giberson is most dangerous from the point where he can deliver strong shots on net.
- David Landry, New Brunswick CSR Scout
Nash Gorman – Defenseman – Rothesay Netherwood School U18
Nash is a left-handed defenseman who plays a strong two-way game, showcasing his hockey sense and vision to make plays and keep his game simple and effective. He is a solid skater who moves the puck efficiently in transition and when exiting his zone. He regularly holds a tight gap and uses his stick effectively, making him difficult to play against.
Nash uses his awareness and instincts to avoid pressure in the offensive zone, consistently knowing when to get pucks to the net or make a smart pass for an offensive opportunity. He will continue to mature, but he already has many of the tools needed to become a dependable defenseman at the next level.
- Marcus Power, Newfoundland and Labrador CSR Scout
Émile Guévin – Forward – Trois-Rivières Estacades
Émile Guévin is a smaller player who is both very gritty and very dynamic. He has above-average offensive flair and always seems to be one play ahead of the others. He is fearless and brilliant when it comes to winning one-on-one battles.
Guévin is very good at adapting to his opponent’s game because he has a very good sense of anticipation. His versatility means he can be used in all critical game situations. Every coach loves this type of player.
- Daniel Noonan, CSR Scout
Damien Leduc – Forward – Châteauguay Grenadiers
The more the season progresses, the more Damien Leduc stands out. He has many strengths in his game: great vision, solid skating with powerful strides, and he carries the play into the offensive zone with ease. He holds onto the puck to allow his teammates to break free and get to the open spaces. Leduc can also play physically, while remaining reliable and disciplined.
His mobility allows him to play at the point during power plays. Sometimes he even helps his coaches out by playing defense when his team’s blueliners are injured or penalized. Leduc is therefore an attractive prospect for all QMJHL teams.
- Benoît Payment, CSR Scout
George-Nektarios Panagakos – Goaltender – South Kent School 15U AAA
A native of Laval, Quebec, George-Nektarios has been playing in the United States for the past two season. Standing 6’2’’ at 15 years old, he is a netminder who has good size. He is considered a positional goalie, who tries to make himself as big as possible in his crease in order to get hit by pucks. He makes a lot of saves thanks to his strong positioning and his above-average puck tracking.
To truly reach his potential, he will need to continue working on the explosiveness of his legs, on the quickness of his hands and become more active around his crease. He is seemingly always calm in his net and has all the basics covered to become a solid netminder at the next level.
- Maxime Ouellet, CSR Goaltending Specialist
Mikael Perreault – Defenseman – Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix
Mikael is a strong skating defenseman who is effective at moving the puck quickly. These are the two characteristics that stand out most when analyzing his game. He is a reliable player who has shown great consistency since the start of the season. What’s more, his good mobility allows him to excel in the offensive zone, particularly by breaking free to find good passing lanes.
The development of the offensive side of his game will definitely be an asset to any team he plays for in the future. It will be interesting to see how far he can take his game to the next level.
- Jérémie Bergeron, CSR Scout
Maveric Thisdelle – Forward – Woodbridge Wolfpack 15U AAA
Originally from Quebec’s Outaouais region, Maveric has been playing outside the country for several years now. A talented right winger with good size and skating ability, he has a knack for finding open space in the offensive zone and firing quality shots on goal. He also has excellent change of direction skills, which destabilizes his opponents and allows him to execute his plays at high speed.
In the short term, he needs to work on his overall commitment and his play without the puck, rather than simply waiting for the puck to come to him. If he matures and manages to correct these aspects of his game, he will have all the tools needed to become a Top 6 player at the next level.
- Pierre Cholette, CSR Director
Lawrence Williams – Defenseman – Weeks Major Midgets
Williams is a big-bodied defenseman with excellent skating ability. He has great jump in his stride and consistently uses it to his advantage, allowing him to be very active offensively and join the rush whenever opportunities arise. While he can be overaggressive at times, his skating enables him to recover quickly and limit mistakes.
In addition to his mobility, Williams displays strong skill and moves the puck efficiently. These attributes helped him record 38 points in 32 games as a rookie defenseman in the NSU18MHL. His offensive upside makes him an intriguing prospect for the upcoming draft.
- Taylor P. Burke, Nova Scotia CSR Scout
