The Quebec Remparts’ historic season and their conquest of the triple crown (Jean-Rougeau Trophy, Gilles-Courteau Trophy and Memorial Cup) is now a thing of the past. The 2023-2024 QMJHL season begins tonight with betting on who will succeed the Red Devils as circuit champions. If there is still a lot of water flowing under the bridge, let’s try our favorite game, prediction!
1. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
The Huskies already showed their colors at the last draft: They intend to be a serious contender for the throne this season. The team’s general manager, Yannick Gaucher, made important transactions, bringing Antonin Verreault, defenseman Jérémy Langlois and goalkeeper William Rousseau on board. Langlois and Rousseau won the Memorial Cup with the Remparts last season and their experience will be invaluable.
Antonin Verreault DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
2. Halifax moose heads
The Mooseheads reached the final last year but lost several big players, including Alexandre Doucet, Josh Lawrence, Zachary L’Heureux and Attilio Biasca. However, several standout players will be back, including striker Jordan Dumais, who should once again be the spark plug for the Jim Midgley-led team. However, Halifax only has two 20-year-old players: Brody Fournier and David Moravec. Given the importance that Doucet and Lawrence had last year, Halifax needs to get their hands on an impact veteran by the trade deadline.
Jordan Dumais DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
3. Victoriaville Tigers
The Tigers have been methodically built so well by general manager Kevin Cloutier that they should do some damage this season. Noah Warren was added to their defensive brigade, which was one of the best in the business last year, over the summer. The team will once again count on arguably the best goaltending duo in the league, with last year’s Most Valuable Player Nathan Darveau and young prodigy Gabriel D’Aigle. Can the Tigers repeat their 2021 performance and lift the big trophy?
Nathan Darveau DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
4. Drummondville Voltigeurs
Winds of change are blowing in Drummondville as the staff has been almost completely replaced. The team’s new general manager, Yanick Lemay, appointed Sylvain Favreau to lead the team, but most importantly hired forward Ethan Gauthier from the Sherbrooke Phoenix. He joins Tristan Roy, Drew Elliott, Luke Woodworth, Justin Côté, Tyler Peddle and Peter Repcik up front, while Mavrick Lamoureux will be the team’s mainstay at the back.
Ethan Gauthier was newly drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning and will continue his junior internship with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Getty Images via AFP
5. Oceanic de Rimouski
The Océanic is thinking big over the next two seasons and has clearly stated its intention to host the Memorial Cup tournament in 2025. The organization is therefore convinced that they can put together a team that can win it all next season, but this year they will already have important pieces. The acquisition of defender Charle Truchon from the Quebec Remparts is of great importance for the Bas-Saint-Laurent team, which also begins a new era, as Joël Perrault will succeed Serge Beausoleil on the bench, while Danny Dupont will replace him the bench will replace floor.
Charles Truchon Richard Boutin
6. Baie-Comeau Drakkar
7. Moncton Wildcats
8. Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
9. Chicoutimi Saguenéens
10. Cape Breton Eagles
11. Shawinigan cataract
12. Quebec City Walls
13. Val d’Or Drillers
14. Seals of Saint John
15. Charlottetown Islanders
16th Gatineau Olympics
17. Acadie Bathurst Titan
18. Sherbrooke Phoenix
Michel Brière Trophy (Most Valuable Player): William Rousseau (Rouyn-Noranda)
After helping the Remparts win top honors last year, William Rousseau will look to do the same with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Photo Didier Debusschere
The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies goalkeeper will be on a mission in 2023-2024: not only will he want to win top honors again, but he will also aim for a professional contract and put the odds in his favor.
Jean-Béliveau Trophy (best points collector on the circuit): Jordan Dumais (Halifax)
Jordan Dumais PHOTO DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS
We don’t have to worry about this for long: Dumais finished third in the points standings in 2022 with 109 points and dominated the points standings last season with 140 points.
Émile Bouchard Trophy (best defender on the circuit): Tristan Luneau (Gatineau)
Tristan Luneau DIDIER DEBUS SCISSORS/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
No offense to Simon Gagné of the Quebec Remparts, it is not Vsevolod Komarov who will receive the trophy as the QMJHL’s best defenseman in 2023-2024. Not that he doesn’t deserve it, but Luneau should put up more impressive offensive numbers than Komarov, which will tip the balance in his favor.
Jacques Plante Trophy (best goalkeeper on the circuit): William Rousseau (Rouyn-Noranda)
We have no choice but to bring Rousseau here. If he is the most useful player, then logically he should also be the best goalkeeper in the world. However, watch out for Nathan Darveau of the Victoriaville Tigers, who doesn’t want to give up his throne so easily.
Ron-Lapointe Trophy (Head Coach of the Year): Carl Mallette (Victoriaville)
While many consider Halifax and Rouyn-Noranda to be the two undisputed powers in the QMJHL at the start of the season, let’s not underestimate the Victoriaville Tigres, who won’t be far behind Rouyn and Halifax. Carl Mallette’s work will not go unnoticed.
Maurice-Filion Trophy (General Manager of the Year): Yannick Gaucher (Rouyn-Noranda)
Gaucher has already made several large transactions this past summer and won’t stop there when the time comes for holiday shopping. The Huskies have the Cape Breton Eagles’ first pick in the next draft, which could be an interesting opportunity to secure a big name.