QMJHL Feature: 2011 Draft Outlook – Quebec Midget AAA League
TSR Features | 23 Nov 2010The Quebec Midget AAA League
The Midget AAA league in Quebec features players ranging in age from 15-17 years old. Occasionally a player is able to make the jump to the league at 14 years old, but this is a very rare occurrence. As a developmental league, it does not limit the amount of 15 and 16 year old skaters a team can carry, but caps the number of 17 year olds at 5 per team. Generally the QMJHL clubs are focused on the 15 and 16 year olds as prospective Major Junior hockey players. The midget Espoir is another source of talent for teams of The Circuit Couteau, however. Once a player is drafted or too old to play in Midget AAA, players filter into either the QMJHL or LHJAAAQ or other lower tiered leagues in the province.
Rookie forwards to watch:
This year, there is an intriguing pool of prospects for the 2011 QMJHL Draft. Up front, Anthony Duclair of the Lions of Lac St-Louis is a player who is distancing itself from the others thus far in my opinion. He is physically mature, a quick skater, and possesses very good hands in addition being responsible defensively. At the moment, he’s among the top scorers in the league.
His teammate Jonathan Drouin is a center with magic hands and with very creative offensive skills, but he seems to be more of a perimeter player when the game becomes more physical and gritty. He needs to work on his play away from the puck and bringing a consistent effort to every shift.
Jérémy Grégoire of Cantonnier de Magog is a strong foward with a key touch of natural scorer. He has been inconsistent this season, but is still an intriguing player to keep an eye on this season.
Anthony Deluca for his part is very dangerous around the opposite net in spite of his small size. He shoots often which explains his high number of goals since the beginning of the season. One thing he needs to improve on, however, is his attitude and demeanour on the ice.
Vincent Dunn Cholette de l’ Intrépide de Gatineau represents an interesting player for QMJHL clubs to keep an eye on. He is a very physical player, and he has the ability to disturb opponents with big body checks and on ice chirping. Possessing very good hands in tight spaces, he contributes offensively, as he also has a very heavy shot. The calibre of the QJMHL represents the kind of challenge which will force him to elevate his game. He will however have to work his attitude which can put him occasionally in tough situations
Philippe Venne is a player who has the talent to be a contributor, but he hasn’t lived up to some of the expectations he had going into the season. Instead of being a riser, he looks like he’s falling behind the pack at this point and will need a strong second half of the season to rebound.
Maxim Pitre, Guillaume Gauthier and Laurent Dauphin are three other 15 year old players to also keep a close eye on in the coming months.
Young talented defenseman:
Justin Vanier-Guénette of the Vikings de St-Eustache is going to be a defenseman to keep a close eye on this season. He’s got very good poise and offensive instincts, but his defensive game still needs to round out a bit. He’s had some academic issues which have caused him to miss a few games which are something to note as well.
Maxime Gravel of the Collège Esther-Blondin is considered by some as the best available defenseman this season. At 6 feet and 169 pounds, it is a complete defenseman who also is a capable contributor offensively. He will need to continue to improve his foot speed however to find a high level of success in the QMJHL.
Élie Bérubé of College Notre-Dame is a complete defenseman. Reliable defensively, he also contributes in offensive evolving on the powerplay. He also doesn’t shy away from the physical game despite being a 15 year old which is a positive aspect of his game as well.
Jonathan Deschamps of the Estacades de Trois-Rivières, who is old only 14 years old, is not eligible this season, but will be closely monitored for 2012. He is very impressive this season in spite of his young age. He has strong offensive skills and could evolve into a strong powerplay QB.
Nikolas Brouillard of Magog and Samuel Morin of Levis are two other defensemen which I have not personally seen at this point, but players I’ve heard good things about. They’ve been touted as some of the top 15 year old defenders in the league this season.
Impressive Keepers:
Philippe Desrosiers of the Gaulois du Collège Antoine-Girouard is my early favourite thus far. He’s a big guy who is quick with his reflexes and also moves well around the crease. He has good net presence and seems to handle traffic well as well.
Philippe Cadorette is the teammate of Desrosiers and they represent the best duo of 15-year-old goalies of the league. Cadorette is a small keeper who has steadily accumulated a slew of victories this season as his speed in goal serves him extremely well. Alexandre Bélanger is a goalie who got a lot of attention this season and will be playing in the 15 year old All-Star Game. He plays goal for the Cantonniers de Magog who are one of the top teams in the league this year.
Zachary Fucale, William Corbeil, Alexandre Michaud, and Julien Larouche are the other goalies who will be worth monitoring this season.
I end with the goalie that impresses me the most this year. Although he is 16 years old, François Brassard dominates all the keepers of the league this season. Having seen him released from Gatineau, he was drafted by the Lions du Lac St-Louis and since this time, he has been tremendous in net.
Tags: 2011 QMJHL Draft, 2011 QMJHL Draft Prospects, Quebec Midget AAA League
have you heard anything about Chris Mallard from NL? he’s playing midget AAA in st.johns for the leafs. I was impressed with him at the monctonian. Fast, powerful, two way player , good shot and very hard working
These players are only from Quebec. What about players from New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia? Everyone knows there is some great skill in NS and NB -and PEI and NL got some players who definetly got some skill who haven’t even been noticed.
Chris, Frank,
There’s no doubt there are some highly talented kids playing in the Maritimes. Patrick is located in Gatineau so his viewings are restricted to the Quebec Midget AAA league which was the basis for this article. Unfortunately we don’t have anyone that can provide any reports on the draft eligible kids from the other Midget leagues, however! Thanks for the comments, though, much appreciated.
As Scott said, i’m located in Gatineau so i’m not able to see NS or NB games but i will follow the Midget Kiwanis in Gatineau at the begining of january. Normally, there’s alot of teams from the maritimes and it will be my pleasure to provide a report.
Totally Understandable. But i really think Chris Mallard has a good chance to be drafted this year to the Q. I saw him at the challenge cup in Moncton the last two years, but this year in the U16 division especially. Personally I think he has one of the best players on the team. His team is attending the tournament in Gatineau during January so you possibly could get a look at him there. Again, keep an eye out for him, strong power foreward with lots of speed and two way player, good around the net. It also says on hockey scene, he has made the Canada Games team for team NL in Halifax in Febuary. Keep an eye out. In my opinion a definate 2011 QMJHL draft pick
Chris Mallard is a good hard working player, but has terrible vision. Doesn’t see the ice well at all is definetly not a definite draft pick this year. Maybe next year as a second year.
some forwards from NS- Ryan Falkenham, Nathan MacKinnon, Kelly Bent, Bronson Beaton, Cole Murphy, Mikey Lyle.
NB- Shane Dallaire, Scott Fenwick, Noah Zilbert, Zach Whitlock
I still need to get a report from NL and PEI and I will get back with them.
PEI- Thomas Stavert, Benji Gaudet, Willie Gaudet, Blaize Bridges, Dalton MacDonald
NL- Kris Hodge, Matthew Kennedy, Peter Kavanagh, Cody Drover and Jordan Kennedy
any chance we might see someone from midget espoir drafted this year? – thx.
Frank Jones??? Nice try Phil…
Yeah like every there will ne some kids from the espoir being drafted. From what I ear, it’s not a great year but a couple of players should be drafted between rounds 2 and 5. Joly who’s the scoring leader has alot of potential but his size and his work ethic could be an issue.
MacKinnon..Cole Harbor…..he will go very high
Did anyone see Chris Mallard on NL play this weekend? I thought he was one of the best players on his team along with hodge and Kennedy. Fast good with the puck and great on the PK
Phil?? I am not Phil.. and Mallard was hardly on the ice from where I seen the NL games and didnt stand out when he was on
Lucas batt from central NL is a prospect to keep an eye on.96 birthdate,played major midget with the central Icepak this year.size,speed,vision,and a heavy shot with a quick release.with the right coaching this kid will develop into a great player at the major junior level.
I have also watched Lucas Batt play, great player, did absolutely nothing this year in Major Midget, he is good around the net, but has no vision does not use his teammates.
The way I see the draft going this year is…. A lot of quebec born players will go in round 1 as usual and throughtout the draft… Drouin, Duclair, De Luca, Gregoire etc. although I heard a few of them may be going NCAA…/// Players to keep an eye on…. NS- MacKinnon, Bronson Beaton, Zack Taylor, Mikey Lyle… NB- Matt Murphy, Scott Fenwick, Shane Dallaire, Oliver Cooper, Zach Whitlock…. PEI- Stavert… NL- I pay close attention to Newfoundlanders… the way I see the draft going for them is Kris Hodge will go around Andrew Ryan’s placing last year possible 1st rounder but may go early second. Jordan Kennedynext guy picked could be early 3rd, and two other guys who will have some upside will be Peter Kavanagh and Josh Crane (D), possible late 3rd, or in the 4th-5th round… 4 Newfounlanders with the most upside
In my view Newfoundland Players to look out for in the Draft that played Major Midget 2010-2011 Season
Cody Drover 6′ 160lbs Forward GP 39 P 59
Patrick Churchill 5’11″ 170 Defense GP 35 P 20
Marcus Cuomo 5’9″ 185 Forward GP 26 P 20
Peter Kavanagh Forward GP 25 P 22
Alexander Snow 6′ 165lbs Forward GP 35 P 51
evan morrison from PEI is an exceptional player, strong hard hitting and hard working player, keep an eye on him in he futre
Lucas Batt is off to a hot start at Notre Dame. Watch for him to make his way onto the QMJHL rankings. And he will climb the rankings fast.
Who are some 95 born players to keep an eye on in this coming QMJHL draft that weren’t drafted last season?
Alexandre Munger # 27 Intrepid de Gatineau
Monster kid, 6`5“ 190 pounds, very fast, solid, great hands, awesome wrist shot.
His is only 15 years old, wow. He is exactly what the “new“ NHL his expecting in the future.
Go and see him play, you won`t regret it