Every year, young hockey players make a name for themselves and capture people's imagination at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
The 64th edition of the event will be no exception. With the help of the event's general director, Patrick Dom, here is a list of seven players (in order or out of order) who are likely to impress you and who you need to keep an eye on.
Christophe Chabot No. 18
Photo provided by the Espoirs du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- attacker
- Team: Chicoutimi Saguenéens (AA-Elites)
- First tournament game: February 9th at 7:15 p.m. against the Carolina Hurricanes
The young Saguenéan forward from the Espoirs du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean – who will represent the Saguenéens in the pee-wee tournament – dominates the Quebec Hockey League of Excellence (LHEQ) points column at the M13-AAA level ( ( formerly pee-wee) with a total of 26 goals and 16 assists for 42 points in 23 games, 21 points more than his second-place teammate Pierre-Alexandre Privé.
Cédric Déry No. 22
Cédric Déry Photo provided by the Aces of Quebec
- defender
- Team: Quebec Remparts (AAA)
- First game of the tournament: February 10th at 1 p.m. against Team Illinois
Young Déry is having a phenomenal offensive season for a defender. With an impressive 19 goals and 9 assists in just 20 games, he ranks tenth in the Quebec League of Excellence (LHEQ) points standings. He is one of the reasons that explains the success of the Quebec Aces, who will represent the Remparts in the Pee-Wee tournament this season.
Peter Lyden (No. 12), Jack Cross (No. 4) and Charles Severo (No. 19)
- Attackers (Lyden and Cross) and defenders (Severo)
- Team: Mid Fairfield Rangers (AAA)
- First game of the tournament: February 10th at 6 p.m. against the St-Louis Blues
The Mid Fairfield Rangers enter the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament as the top-ranked team in the United States. The Connecticut team is 52-4-4 this season and our spies tell us Lyden, Cross and Severo are largely responsible for that. We also have to watch out for another Rangers striker, Charles Fox.
Carter Watson #61
Carter Watson Photo provided by the Boston Jr Terriers
- attacker
- Team: Boston Junior Terriers
- First game of the tournament: February 8th at 2:15 p.m. against the Semiahmoo Ravers
When we talk a lot about the Mid Fairfield Rangers, and for good reason, we shouldn't forget the Boston Terriers, who are just behind them in the rankings of the best U13 teams in the United States. The Boston team has maintained a record of 46-4-3 so far and Carter Watson is said to be the player to keep an eye on on their side.
Preston Hebert #19
Preston Hebert Photo provided by Sudbury Wolves
- attacker
- Team: Sudbury Wolves (AAA)
- First game at the tournament: February 9th at 8 a.m. against Talent from Hungary
“Quite a player,” general manager Patrick Dom told us. The younger Hebert is the leader of the Wolves, who are ranked sixth among Ontario's best teams with a record of 29-12-3. Additionally – a sign that we are in 2024 – it is possible to see highlights of young Hebert on the Wolves TikTok account at @u13aaasudburyjrwolves.
* Ontario and Americas rankings are from the MyHockeyRankings.com website. Note that it was impossible for us to know the individual statistics of players from Ontario and the United States as they are no longer officially counted.