Sea Dogs pick Olivier Mathieu 11th overall

The Saint John Sea Dogs used the 11th overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft to select Olivier Mathieu.

Mathieu, listed as a left winger, recorded 23 goals and 27 assists in 46 games with the Quebec Midget AAA Hockey League’s Magog Cantonniers last season. He added seven goals and seven assists in 18 playoff games.

Mathieu was ranked 14^th by Central Scouting and 15^th by HockeyProspect.com.

1/11 Saint-John Olivier Mathieu . small but feisty scoring winger. good hockey sense & speed. We had him ranked 15.

— Jérôme Bérubé (@Jerome_Berube) June 4, 2016

Sea Dogs select Olivier Mathieu 11th overall. Speedy high scoring forward. Sharp suit too. Metallic green.

— Halifax Mooseheads (@HFXMooseheads) June 4, 2016

“He’s not a flashy player on the ice, but is always a threat to get on the scoreboard,” writes HockeyProspect.com. “He’s got high-end hockey sense to find the open spot in the offensive zone, as well as to make the right plays with the puck. His release is quick and accurate, and he uses the defenseman well to fire screen shots, which makes it pretty tough for the goaltender. He’s got really good hands in tight, and was used a lot as the net screen presence on the man-advantage because of that.”

The 16-year-old Mathieu is listed at just 5’8” and 154 lbs by the league.

One pick prior to the Sea Dogs selecting, the Sherbrooke Phoenix took Saint John Vito’s forward Anderson MacDonald.

Photo: Vincent Ethier/QMJHL Media