The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies enter the playoffs as the team to beat (a 25-game winning streak will do that), but teams like the Drummondville Voltigeurs and Halifax Mooseheads, among others, are also in the mix as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs kick off this week.
Western Conference
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. Shawinigan Cataractes
Head-to-head: Rouyn-Noranda 4-0-0-0
Last meeting: Rouyn-Noranda beat Shawinigan 8-3 on March 6
Rouyn-Noranda Player to Watch: Overage goaltender Samuel Harvey has lost just one start in 2019. That included a stretch where he won 15 games as part of the Huskies’ 25-game winning streak in the new year.
Shawinigan Player to Watch: Slovenian forward Jan Drzog, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, topped an impressive rookie season in Shawinigan a year ago with career highs in most offensive categories in 2018-19.
Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Gatineau Olympiques
Head-to-head: Drummondville 4-1-1-0
Last game played: Drummondville beat Gatineau 7-0 on March 10
Drummondville Player to Watch: Anaheim Ducks prospect Maxime Comtois was held without a goal in just two of his final 13 games. He scored 22 times in that stretch.
Gatineau Player to Watch: Remi Poirier saw a bulk of the starts in March for the Olympiques. He and goaltending partner Creed Jones will need to be sharp against the Voltigeurs.
Sherbrooke Phoenix vs. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Head-to-head: Sherbrooke 5-2-0-0
Last game played: Sherbrooke beat Blainville 8-4 on Feb. 19
Sherbrooke Player to Watch: Undrafted overage defenceman Ryan DaSilva, brought in last summer, proceeded to have a breakout year offensively with nine goals and 44 points in 66 games.
Blainville-Boisbriand Player to Watch: With Emile Samson, who was solid for the Armada in its 2018 playoff run, out for the second half of the season due to injury, overage goaltender Brendan Cregan has played a bulk of the games.
Victoriaville Tigres vs. Val-d’Or Foreurs
Head-to-head: Val-d’Or 4-1-0-0
Last game played: Val-d’Or beat Victoriaville 4-3 in overtime on Feb. 7
Victoriaville Player to Watch: Rookie forward Mikhail Abramov made the adjustment to North America while finishing third in team scoring.
Val-d’Or Player to Watch: Draft eligible goaltender Jonathan Lemieux posted a 9-3 record over his last 12 starts.
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Eastern Conference
Halifax Mooseheads vs. Quebec Remparts
Head-to-head: Quebec 2-0-0-0
Last meeting: Quebec beat Halifax 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 5
Halifax Player to Watch: Overage forward Samuel Asselin not only brings a wealth of experience to the Memorial Cup hosts after a title with Acadie-Bathurst last season, Asselin set a career high with 48 goals this season. His previous high was 17.
Quebec Player to Watch: Swiss forward Philipp Kurashev (Chicago Blackhawks) paced the Remparts in goals (29), assists (36), points (65), as well as power-play goals (9).
Baie-Comeau Drakkar vs. Moncton Wildcats
Head-to-head: 1-1-0-0
Last game played: Baie-Comeau beat Moncton 4-3 on Jan. 27
Baie-Comeau Player to Watch: San Jose Sharks prospect Ivan Chekhovich led the Drakkar with 105 points. The Russian forward scored 43 goals, including eight game-winners and 11 on the power play.
Moncton Player to Watch: Undrafted forward Jeremy McKenna led the QMJHL with 18 power-play goals.
Rimouski Oceanic vs. Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Head-to-head: Rimouski 4-2-0-0
Last game played: Chicoutimi beat Rimouski 4-1 on March 5
Rimouski Player to Watch: 2020 draft prospect Alexis Lafreniere has shown why he’s an early favourite to be the top pick in the draft. After turning heads with an outstanding rookie season a year ago, Lafreniere carried it over to this season in a bigger role with the Oceanic.
Chicoutimi Player to Watch: San Jose prospect Vladislav Kotkov has been a leader for the Sagueneens all season and will be the key to playoff success for Chicoutimi.
Charlottetown Islanders vs. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Head-to-head: Charlottetown 5-3-0-1
Last game played: Charlottetown beat Cape Breton 3-1 on March 9
Charlottetown Player to Watch: Goaltender Matthew Welsh continued to thrive under a heavy workload this season. The undrafted Halifax, NS product suited up in 56 games for the Islanders and posted his second consecutive 30-win season.
Cape Breton Player to Watch: Overage forward Mitchell Balmas joined the Screaming Eagles prior to the season and proceeded to have an immediate impact.
