The QMJHL is the last stop of the 2015 Canada-Russia series with Rouyn-Noranda hosting Tuesday night’s game at 7 p.m. ET on Sportsnet. It will be the first time the Huskies have hosted the series since 2006.
Thursday’s game will take place at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, another city familiar with hosting big events.
It will be a tight turnaround for Team Russia, who’s travelling from Windsor to Rouyn-Noranda Tuesday morning before taking to the ice later in the evening. The team had a short breather over the weekend, with no games scheduled Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Russia should benefit from the likes of Evgeny Svechnikov (DET, 19th, 2015) of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Yakov Trenin (NSH, 55th, 2015) of the Gatineau Olympiques, Sergei Boikov (COL, 161st, 2015) of the Drummondville Voltigeurs and undrafted playmaker Maxim Lazarev (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles). At least two of the four should make Russia’s final roster for the 2016 world junior championship.
The QMJHL had a banner year in the 2013 NHL Draft with 31 players selected, representing the highest number since 2003 when 38 Q players were taken. That number dipped to just 17 in 2014 (1996 age group), and returned to prominence again in 2015 when 30 QMJHL players were selected. Having said that, the Q’s biggest impact on the 2016 world junior team will likely be as a result of the 1997 age group. Look for Anthony Beauvillier (NYI, 28th, 2015) of the Shawinigan Cataractes, Thomas Chabot (OTT, 18th, 2015) of the Saint John Sea Dogs and Jeremy Roy (SJ, 31st, 2015) of the Sherbrooke Phoenix to push for December camp invites.
The QMJHL boasts two legit contenders for one of two goalie spots on Team Canada. Charlottetown Islanders’ Mason MacDonald (CAL, 34th, 2014) and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s Samuel Montembault (FLA, 77th, 2015) were both invited to the summer development camp. However, their regular season numbers are not particularly impressive, making these two games extremely important to gain separation from the rest of the country’s goaltenders.
QMJHL record since series inception: 13-18-3
WJC returnees: None
WJC non-returnees most likely to earn an invite to camp
1. Mason McDonald (CAL 34th, 2014) of the Charlottetown Islanders was big-time for Canada at the 2013 U-18’s, so he is a known commodity.
2. Anthony Beauvillier (NYI, 28th, 2015) of the Shawinigan Cataractes has been a Hockey Canada favourite at every level and in every tournament.
3. Nicolas Aube-Kubel (PHI, 48th, 2014) of the Val d’Or Foreurs used the 2014 Mastercard Memorial Cup as a springboard and hasn’t looked back since.
QMJHL highest-drafted players
1. Thomas Chabot (OTT, 18th, 2015) of the Saint John SeaDogs
2. Anthony Beauvillier (NYI, 28th, 2015) of the Shawinigan Cataractes
3. Jeremy Roy (SJ, 31st, 2015) of the Sherbrooke Phoenix
What to watch for
1. Similar to Owen Sound, the Iamgold Arena should be rocking. It’s an old barn where the people are right on top of you. Unlike Owen Sound, Iamgold Arena is 10 feet shorter than a regulation-sized rink.
2. The Q’s young guns making an impact. Julien Gauthier, Thomas Chabot, Anthony Beauvillier and Jeremy Roy all have a shot.
3. Remember the name Gilles Bouchard. He’s the GM and head coach of the Huskies who’s made a good impression on Hockey Canada, not to mention, his Huskies are the No. 3 ranked team in the BMO Top 10.
Under the radar
1. Julien Gauthier (Val d’Or Foreurs, 2016 Eligible) has the best chance of any of the draft eligibles across the country. Did nothing to hurt his chances in August and his size with speed is rare combination.
2. Thomas Chabot (OTT, 18th, 2015) of the Saint John SeaDogs has size, skates extremely well and has been used as a shutdown guy with Saint John this season.
3. Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes, 2016 Eligible) is not likely to make it this year, but Girard is a fearless, slick, puck-moving defenceman who won gold with Canada in the summer at the Ivan Hlinka.
Interesting storylines
1. Rouyn-Noranda: it’s been 10 years since the Huskies have hosted a big-time CHL event. The building is old, but underwent renovations recently and should show well on TV.
2. The tight turnaround for the Russians in Rouyn-Noranda against a mostly rested Team QMJHL.
3. The Q is likely a year away from having solid representation on Canada’s WJC team as the 1996-born age group isn’t as highly skilled as the 1995’s or 1997’s.