With the Canadian Hockey League heading into the final six weeks of the regular season, let’s take a look at some of the key players from each team from across the CHL.
Some of these names aren’t shocking by any stretch of the imagination, while others might have flown under the radar a bit for one reason or another.
The big names in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League have all produced as expected while some others have stepped up and taken on bigger roles as well.
Here’s a team-by-team look at some of the key players across the league.
Acadie-Bathurst Titan: With a plethora of new faces following a Memorial Cup title last winter, the Titan have looked to former Chicoutimi forward Jesse Sutton to lead the rebuilding team offensively.
Baie-Comeau Drakkar: A pair of goaltenders with NHL ties in Alex D’Orio (Pittsburgh) and Dereck Baribeau (Minnesota), have been the keys to success for the east-leading Drakkar this season.
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada: Carolina prospect Luke Henman is the leader on a young Armada team this year.
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles: Goaltender Kevin Mandolese, an Ottawa Senators prospect, has a career-high 22 wins and a solid 2.76 goals-against average.
Charlottetown Islanders: In the midst of a solid season, the Islanders are led by a pair of NHL prospects on the blue line in Hunter Drew (Anaheim) and Xavier Bernard (New Jersey).
Chicoutimi Sagueneens: Russian forward Vladislav Kotkov, a prospect of the San Jose Sharks, has already eclipsed his goal total from his first season in the league, and is on his way to setting a career high for points this season as well.
Drummondville Voltigeurs: Between Joseph Veleno (Detroit) and Max Comtois (Anaheim) up front, offence shouldn’t be an issue, while Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Arizona) is a key piece on the Drummondville blue line.
Gatineau Olympiques: Overage forward Gabriel Bilodeau has 36 points this season, a career high. Of those, 17 points have come on the power play.
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Halifax Mooseheads: Benoit-Olivier Groulx leads the pack on a Halifax team that will host the 2019 Memorial Cup with eight players with NHL ties in the lineup and another, Raphael Lavoie, who will likely have his name called early on in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Moncton Wildcats: Russian forward Alexander Khovanov, a Minnesota Wild prospect in his second full season in Moncton, has 21 goals in 47 games this season.
Quebec Remparts: Chicago Blackhawks prospect Philipp Kurashev, a product of Switzerland, has been outstanding once again in his third season with the Remparts.
Rimouski Oceanic: Between 2020 draft prospect Alexis Lafreniere and overage forward Jimmy Huntington, the offence in Rimouski is in good hands.
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies: The addition of New York Islanders prospect Noah Dobson gives the Huskies a solid defenceman as the team prepares for a playoff run. Dobson was solid during Acadie-Bathurst’s run to a QMJHL title, and Memorial Cup, last year.
Saint John Sea Dogs: Forward Maxim Cajkovic, eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, made a smooth adjustment to North America after joining the Sea Dogs from Slovakia this season.
Shawinigan Cataractes: Slovenian forward Jan Drozg, a Pittsburgh Penguins pick, has quietly put up a point-per-game this season.
Sherbrooke Phoenix: Winger Samuel Poulin, who has 22 goals and 56 points through 50 games, has put himself in a good position to be selection in the opening two rounds of the NHL Draft in the summer.
Val-d’Or Foreurs: Eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, defenceman Maxence Guenette has quietly put up respectable numbers in his second full season in the QMJHL.
Victoriaville Tigres: Russian-born forward Mikhail Abramov, who could find himself selected in the top three rounds of the NHL draft, has 38 points in 46 games with the Tigres.
