2004-05 QMJHL West Division Preview

Drummondville Voltiguers:

2003-04: It was an uneventful year for Drummondville on and off the ice, with many of their top stars missing considerable time with injuries. The Volts were still able to muster a respectable season with a 27-30-10-3 record, placing 11th overall in the league. They put up a fight in the first round of the playoffs, but came up short in seven games to Shawinigan.

Key Losses: Yannick Reindeau, Jamie McCabe and Pierre Morvan finished

their junior careers and Euro import Ervins Mustukovs was not invited back.

Returning Core: A good chunk of veterans are back, including Louis-Philippe Martin, Alexandre Demers, disturber Thomas Bellemare and the hard-luck Kevin Mailhiot. Mailhiot, who was considering retirement after serious injuries nearly derailed his young career, is looking to get back on track and only a year ago was regarded as a serious prospect. 2005 draft-eligible stud Guillaume Latendresse will probably be the team’s most exciting player. On defense, Andre Joanisse, Frederic St-Denis, Jules Melanson and Juraj Liska will lead a solid blueline, while experienced goalie Sylvain Michaud will start most of the games between the pipes.

Young Guns: The marquee rookie for Drummondville will be the 2004

QMJHL sixth overall pick Henrik Lavoie, while on the blueline Maxime Frechette will look to dominate with his large frame to make a name for himself for the 2006 NHL Draft.

NHL Selections: Louis-Philippe Martin (Buffalo 2003), Thomas Bellemare (Calgary 2003) and Sylvain Michaud (N.Y. Islanders 2004)

Outlook: Some great young talent is already in place for the Voltiguers to be an impact team in 2004-2005. There is a solid crop of exciting players here, so expect a dangerous club this season.

Projected Division Finish: 2nd Overall

Gatineau Olympiques:

2003-04: The back-to-back QMJHL champions skated to a league-best 50-13-7-0 record and easily handled competition in the playoffs on their way to Memorial Cup competition. The most impressive stretch for the team had to be their performance in the league final against the Moncton Wildcats who instead looked like kitty cats against the powerful Gatineau club. The Olympiques thrashed Moncton 4-1 in the series, often in blow out fashion.

Key Losses: The first sign of why the glory may have come to an end: the top three leading scorers in Maxime Talbot, Jean-Michel Daoust and Guillaume Fournier are on their way to the pros. Defense will not look the same either as experienced rearguards Doug O’Brien, Dominic D’Amour and Martin Vagner have moved on. Dealt were goalie Gabriel Bouthillette and Philippe Dupuis.

Returning Core: Having to step up will be Bruno Champagne, Nick Fugere, Guillaume Labrecque, Petr Pohl, Francis Wathier and Olivier Labelle. The greatest concern, however, appears to be on defense as the key returnees are Sam Roberts, Martin Robert and Nicolas Ranger – not an elite bunch. The club feels confident about the recently drafted goalie David Tremblay who appears to be ready to play regularly.

Young Guns: Providing some offensive spark will be Czech import David Krejci – a Boston Bruins’ second round pick this past June. 2004 Midget pick Pier-Alexandre Poulin will be given enough room to impress.

NHL Selections: David Tremblay (Philadelphia 2003), Francis Wathier (Dallas 2003), Petr Pohl (Columbus 2004), Nick Fugere (Nashville 2004) and David Krejci (Boston 2004)

Outlook: This young lineup will boast plenty of skill and enthusiasm, but will that translate into top-notch results? The team’s depth is definitely thinner, so look for a solid, above-average finish, but probably not more than that.

Projected Division Finish: 3rd Overall

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies:

2003-04: Finally the Huskies were able to post a respectable record (30-27-9-4) after years of mediocrity, and a quarter final loss to Gatineau was nothing to be ashamed of. Without a doubt, last year served as a building block for what promises to be big season.

Key Losses: Giulio Scandella, Michael Couch and Petr Preucil wrapped

up their junior careers, while defenseman Eric Tetreault was forced

into retirement due to shoulder injuries.

Returning Core: Six of the top seven scoring forwards have returned. Leading the way are Yannick Tifu, Dominic Deblois, Brent Aubin, Alexandre Bolduc, Eric Beaudoin and Guillaume Desbiens. The blueline is deep with Louis-Philippe Allaire, Philippe Seguin, Olivier Magnon and Jean-Claude Milot as the leaders. Stud J.P. Levasseur (eligible for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft) is being groomed to take over between the pipes, but Philippe Roberge will stay with the team, until the coaching staff is satisfied that Levasseur is ready.

Young Guns: Levasseur may be the top rookie in the CHL this season and is considered by McKeen’s to be the leading goalie for the upcoming NHL draft. 2004 Midget pick Yannick Reindeau will produce offensively and Euro import Pavel Badyl shores up the blueline.

NHL Selections: Alexandre Bolduc (St. Louis 2003), Guillaume Desbiens (Atlanta 2003) and Philippe Dupuis (Columbus 2003)

Outlook: This club is stacked at every position, so, barring injuries and slumps, the Huskies should roll to a first place finish in the West. Levasseur may be this year’s Marc-Andre Fleury.

Projected Division Finish: 1st Overall

Shawinigan Cataractes:

2003-04: The Cataractes had a veteran-laden team last year and finished with a 39-21-4-6 record, for a sixth overall finish. However, Shawinigan struggled in the playoffs, nearly losing in round one (prevailing in seven games), but collapsed completely against the sneaky Rimouski Oceanic in the quarters (in four straight).

Key Losses: Veterans Pascal Pelletier, Jimmy Cuddihy, Charles Gauthier, Jonathan Jolette and Marek Hascak will be moving on. Mathieu Gravel was traded to Baie-Comeau in the off-season.

Returning Core: Once again, Benoit Mondou will lead the team offensively, along with Jonathan Boutin, Simon-Pierre Sauvé, Sebastien Gauthier and Thiery Poudrier. Second year standout J.P. Paquet could break out into one of the league’s best and will be aided by Eric Begin. Pierre-Marc Guilbault and Justin Vienneau are expected to steadily improve. Julien Ellis-Plante is a solid netminder who was picked up in last year’s draft.

Young Guns: 12th overall midget draft pick Guillaume Durand is the club’s most interesting rookie, while 2003 pick Francis Pare is finally set to make his debut with the team.

NHL Selections: Benoit Mondou (Boston 2003), Julien Ellis-Plante (Vancouver 2004), Justin Vienneau (Columbus 2004) and Jonathan Boutin (St. Louis 2004)

Outlook: The club’s young forwards need to develop quickly and all of the veterans have to play up to their potential in order for Shawinigan to mirror last year’s regular season success. Ellis-Plante has yet to prove that he can carry a club.

Projected Division Finish: 4th overall

Val d'Or Foreurs:

2003-04: It was a mediocre season for Val d’Or (29-29-10-2), a team on the downswing after an excellent season in 02-03. The Foreurs bowed out in seven games to Chicoutimi in the first round of the playoffs.

Key Losses: Top goalie Maxime Daigneault and Shawn Collymore are moving on to the pros; also gone are leading scorers Francois Gagnon and Mathieu Dumas. European Artem Kozitsyn is not returning.

Returning Core: Pickings for marquee players on Val d'Or will be slim this year. Expected to step up will be Olivier Latendresse, Patrick Bordeleau, Vladimir Kutny and Mark Hurtubise. The blueline is thin with Luc Bourdon as the most notable returnee, but expect Sebastien Bisaillon and Benoit Lessard to be counted on the most to lead the back troops. The goaltending duties are wide open with Francois Thuot currently the man with the dibs on the job.

Young Guns: Two talented scoring rookies are musts to watch in Peter-James Corsi (7th overall pick in 2004 Midget draft and Dany Masse (2nd rounder). Defenseman Kristopher Letang (2003 pick) will be given considerable minutes on the blueline as a rookie.

NHL Selections: Patrick Bordeleau (Minnesota 2004) and Vladimir Kutny (Detroit 2003)

Outlook: Grim. There is little to no depth in the organization. Val d’Or appears to be the early favorite to pick first overall in the 2005 QMJHL Midget draft.

Projected Division Finish: 6th Overall

Victoriaville Tigres:

2003-04: The Tigres’ claws scared no one last season, as the hapless Victoriaville finished with a dismal 20-43-5-2 record, missing out on the playoffs.

Key Losses: Top scorer Simon St. Pierre is moving on and so are Euro imports Martin Kasik and Josef Fojtik.

Returning Core: Skilled, but small Benoit Doucet probably has the best hands on this club. Mike Ramsey, Francis Guerette-Charland, Renaud Des Alliers and Alexandre Imbreault will also lead the way. Mari Scalzo is the club’s number one rearguard and will be aided by Tommy Lafontaine, Ryan Jenner and Oliver Plouffe. Josh Tordjman was a revelation last year in goal and could carry the Tigres to some upset wins.

Young Guns: Jason Legault, the 2004 third overall midget pick, will be the only rookie of note in the Victoriaville lineup this season.

NHL Selections: None

Outlook: This team will improve as the likes of Doucet, Tordjman and Scalzo get older. Do not be surprised to see Doucet wind up as a top-10 scorer in the league, but that won’t stop the Tigres from finishing in the bottom half of the league.

Projected Division Finish: 5th Overall