Notebook: New playoff format coming

Vincent Ethier / QMJHL

QUEBEC CITY - Prior to Friday's first round, the QMJHL announced an adjustment to its playoff format.

Beginning this season, teams will be reseeded based on the overall standings from the second round onward rather than the third round.

From the league:

The first round will continue to be played intra-association (East and West), but from the second round onwards, series will be determined by overall standings.

Previously, the first two elimination rounds were played within the association.

The QMJHL has also decided to abolish its four divisions (West, Central, East and Maritimes), retaining only an association ranking and an overall ranking.

The QMJHL also announced Friday that its streaming will move to FloSports.

IN THE HOUSE

Former Sea Dogs in attendance at this year's draft included William Dufour, Jeremie Poirier, William Villeneuve, Thomas Couture, Nikolas Hurtubise, Marshall Lessard, Brady Burns and Charlie DesRoches.

Along with those former Sea Dogs, current players Dylan Rozzi, William Yared, Olivier Groulx and Cameron Chartrand were in attendance.

PHENIX LEGACY

According to Stephane Leroux, Alexis Joseph became the fourth player from Collège Esther-Blondin to be selected first overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft.

Alexis Joseph deviendra le 4e joueur du #Phenix d'Esther-Blondin a être choisi premier au total après Olivier Archambault en 2009, Daniel Audette en 2012 et Tomas Lavoie en 2022

— Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) June 6, 2025

HALIFAX BOUND?

No official announcement has been made, but Mikael Lalancette reports that it's looking like Halifax will be the host city of the 2026 QMJHL Entry Draft.

Ce n’est pas encore officiel, mais tout indique que le repêchage de l’an prochain #LHJMQ aura lieu à Halifax.

Il est encore tôt, mais l’un des beaux espoirs de la cuvée 2026 est Zaac Charbonneau, le neveu de Daniel Brière.

— Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) June 5, 2025 

PEDDLE'S RIGHTS TRADED

Brady Peddle, the younger brother Sea Dogs forward Tyler Peddle, had his QMJHL rights traded from the Gatineau Olympiques to the Charlottetown Islanders on Saturday.

Peddle spent this past season with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks where he registered three goals and seven assists in 62 regular season games. He really stepped up his production in the playoffs, posting a goal and nine assists in 15 contests, helping Waterloo reach the USHL final.

The 18-year-old forward is committed to Michigan State for the 2026-27 season.

MILLER'S MHL RIGHTS TRADED

In non-draft news, former Sea Dogs forward Coen Miller had his Maritime Hockey League rights traded from the Valley Wildcats to the Summerside Western Capitals.

Miller had an eventful 2024-25 season, playing 23 games with the Sea Dogs, two games with Valley, three games with the BCHL's Powell River Kings and another two games with the BCHL's Vernon Vipers.

Of note, the 2025 MHL Draft takes place this coming weekend in Grand Falls.

NEW HOME FOR LAWRENCE

Former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence is on the move, signing with the KHL's Lada Togliatti.

Signing Alert 📰

Fredericton, New Brunswick's Josh Lawrence, has signed with Lada Togliatti in the KHL🇷🇺.

An elite point producer, Lawrence had a combined 57 points (60GP) between Finland and Swiss leagues last season.#KHL #NewBrunswick #HockeyX #Fredericton pic.twitter.com/EG4fXMb5p7

— Maritime Hockey (@HockeyMaritime) June 7, 2025

The 23-year-old spent last season in Switzerland and Finland.

OTHER THINGS

• More and more folks from around the QMJHL – including Gardiner MacDougall – are calling on the CHL to redraw its American territory map, reports le Soleil. Currently, QMJHL teams can only draft players from six states: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• Global News has a story on the Sea Dogs playing three regular season "home" games at the Aitken Centre this coming season.
• Maxwell Branton became the third Newfoundlander to be picked when the Rimouski Oceanic selected him with the 20th overall pick. Branton spent this past season in Ontario with the Toronto Marlboros.
• Moncton Flyers forward Marc MacPhee was the first New Brunswicker taken, going 24th overall to his hometown Moncton Wildcats.
• Jase MacPherson, who the Sea Dogs selected with the 29th overall pick, becomes the highest goaltender Saint John has drafted since the 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft when they picked Olivier Brideau 27th overall.
• The Quebec Remparts selected forward Sam Pandalfo in the fourth round, who is the son of former NHLer and Boston University head coach Jay Pandalfo.

  Teammate and linemate of Carter Meyer https://t.co/i79lt8AvLF

  — Austin Robson (@ARobScouting) June 7, 2025

• With the 100th overall pick, the Newfoundland Regiment selected Felix-Sylvain Haché from the Bathurst-based Northern Moose.
• Sea Dogs draft pick Elliot Tozer was the lone member of the Saint John Vito's to be picked in this year's draft. Jesse Dunlap, also a Sea Dogs pick, was lone player from Rothesay Netherwood picked. 
• The shortest player picked: 5'1" defensemen Mathieu Lemieux, who went 198th overall to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. Elite Prospects has him listed at 5'3".
• The tallest player picked: 6'5.5" defenseman Jacob Veilleux, who went 46th overall to the Newfoundland Regiment.  Saint John's Alexis Joseph, at 6'4", was the third tallest player picked.