The 2018 QMJHL Entry Draft took place last weekend, so let's give a brief summary of each of the picks chosen by the Saint John Sea Dogs.
The reviews are based off the scouting reports provided by HockeyPropect.com in their annual QMJHL Draft Guide and are only a small portion of what they have to offer.
Round 1 - No. 2 overall: William Villeneuve
RD - 6’1” and 154lbs
With their top pick in the draft the Sea Dogs went with William Villeneuve of the Magog Cantonniers. Villeneuve is a right handed shooting defenceman and is considered to be very intelligent, offensive defenceman that is very reliable in all three zones. His passing is considered to be excellent both on the power play and breaking out of his own zone. Villeneuve also likes to carry the puck up ice and does so very efficiently. He also kills penalties and is often trusted by his coaches in difficult situations playing against top level players in all situations. Villeneuve’s potential sees him as a first pairing defender and a power play quarterback.
Round 1 - No. 8 overall: Jeremie Poirier
LD - 6’0” and 177lbs
With their second selection in the opening round, the Sea Dogs went with another defender in Jeremie Poirier. Poirier can read the play very well and makes a strong first pass. Much like Villeneuve, this defender is also a quarterback on the power play - with the difference being that he shoots left handed. He has high-end puck skills and has a hard, accurate shot. Poirier, like many young defenders, will look to get stronger and continue to improve his defensive play in his own zone.
Round 1 - No. 15 overall: Joshua Lawrence
C - 5’ 9” and 163lbs
With the 15th overall selection, the Sea Dogs rolled the dice a little bit by selecting centre Joshua Lawrence, who spent last season with the Selects Hockey Academy U-16 program. Lawrence had verbally committed to Boston University for 2020-21. Lawrence has very quick hands and can score goals using his quick release and above average puck skills. Lawrence showed that he is ready to play against older players as he did this past season - which did not hamper his offensive production.
Round 2 - No. 29 overall: Brady Burns
C/LW - 5’8” and 139lbs
Brady Burns is an intelligent player with a very high compete level. Unfortunately for Burns, his season was cut short by injury, only getting in 26 games - but he was still able to pick up 39 points. Burns has very good edges and an outstanding work ethic that fans will enjoy. Burns projects to be more of a playmaking forward and will need to get a little bit stronger in the off-season as he does have a slender frame. Burns is the son of Acadia Axemen head coach Darren Burns.
Round 2 - No. 32 overall: Charlie DesRoches
RD - 5’9” and 149lbs
The Sea Dogs added a third defender to their young stable with the addition of Charlie DesRoches (after they traded a third and fourth round pick in this draft to move into this slot). DesRoches is a smooth skating defender. He is considered an offensive defenseman with plenty of upside. He, like the two defenders chosen prior, should be another weapon on the power play as the Sea Dogs continue to build a strong young group on the backend. DesRoches will use his footwork and a good active stick to keep forwards at bay. DesRoches had committed to Northeastern University but has since decommitted and signed with the Sea Dogs - a very welcome addition to the club.
Round 4 - No. 62 overall: Mathias Savoie
G - 6’0” and 149lbs
The Sea Dogs selected their first goaltender in the fourth round, going with New Brunswicker Mathias Savoie, who has been playing with the Ontario Hockey Academy U-17 squad. Savoie has good movement and good rebound control. He reads the play well and can find pucks through traffic. According to HockeyProspect.com, Savoie is one of the top goaltenders in the Atlantic Canada region.
Round 5 - No. 82 overall: Alexandre O’Neill
C/LW - 5’10” and 172lbs
O’Neill spent last season Lac St. Louis Tigres (Espoir) and showed he can be a dangerous player offensively for his club thanks to excellent vision. With 26 goals in 30 games, O’Neill is a shooter and he can find the back of the net. He is a complete player often called upon to play in key defensive situations.
Round 6 - No. 108 overall: Charles-Antoine Dumont
C - 5’8” and 155lbs
Dumont had a good season in the Midget Espoir league, picking up 40 points in 29 games. The biggest attribute for Dumont would be his keen hockey sense. Dumont played eight games in the Quebec midget AAA league as well, picking up two points. He played on both ends of the special teams units and was effective in both areas. He has good speed and intensity. He'll likely spend next season playing AAA - which will only help his development.
Round 7 - No. 109 overall: Dawson Stairs
C - 5’10” and 180lbs
Stairs spent last season with Rothesay Netherwood and is a Fredericton native. Stairs is a playmaking centre with good skating abilities and is strong on his edges, allowing him to protect the puck very well from the opposition. It will be interesting to see whether he decides to take the QMJHL route or NCAA - although at this point he has not committed to any NCAA schools.
Round 8 - No. 127 overall: Nicolas Kakouras
RD - 5’7” and 154lbs
Kakouras is a smaller defender with some offensive abilities. He's another defender taken by the Sea Dogs that is used as a power play quarterback for his club in midget AAA. He likes to carry the puck and set up the offensive zone for his team.
Round 8 - No. 133 overall: Kale McCallum
RD - 5’9” and 142lbs
McCallum is a local product who spent last season with the Saint John Vito’s of the NB/PEI Major Midget AAA Hockey League. McCallum tallied seven goals and 22 assists in 33 games for the Vito’s. McCallum is considered to be an offensive defenceman and is very good at getting pucks on goal.
Round 10 - No. 163 overall: Connor Richard
LW - 5’10” and 150lbs
Richard was teammates with McCallum last season, picking up 13 goals and nine assists with the Vito’s. Richard has good speed and competes hard every shift. He’s a creative playmaking winger who possesses a good, hard release.
Round 10 - No. 165 overall: Connor Bradford
G - 6’1 and 190lbs
Bradford was the first American player taken off the board by the Sea Dogs. We don’t have much information on Bradford - although he has good size for a goaltender that’s only 15 years old. Bradford played with the Boston Advantage 15s last season, putting up some impressive numbers. He played 14 games in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League (U15), finishing with a GAA of 1.48 and a .921 SV%. In nine games in the East Coast Elite League (U16) he held a 1.65 GAA while maintaining a .924 SV%.
Round 10 - No. 178 overall: Anthony Provost
C - 5’6” and 142lbs
Provost split last season between Espoir and midget AAA leagues. Provost is considered to be a versatile forward who can be an effective penalty killer for his club. He works hard and he’s good at anticipating the play.
Round 12 - No. 199 overall: Riley Bezeau
RW - 5’10” and 155lbs
If the name sounds familiar that's because it probably is: Riley is the son of Andy Bezeau. Riley Bezeau spent parts of last season with the South Shore Kings and the St. Malachy’s Memorial High School teams. Unfortunately, we don’t have much information on the younger of the Bezeau’s - but it should be interesting to see if he plays with the same intensity as his father displayed.
Round 13 - No. 217 overall: Simon Trottier
LD - 5’11” and 172lbs
Trottier spent last season with the Lac St. Louis Lions in the QMAAA league. We don’t have much information on Trottier - although he did have five assists and appeared in 40 games for the Lions.
Round 14 - No. 235 overall: William Gagnon
C - 5’6” and 137lbs
Gagnon is another player we don’t have much information on. We do know he played last season in the Espoir league, where he picked up 14 goals and 22 assists in 31 games played.
2018 American QMJHL Entry Draft
Round 1 - No. 1 overall: Jack Williams
LW - 5’10” and 146lbs
With the first overall pick in the inaugural American QMJHL Entry Draft, the Sea Dogs selected LW Jack Williams - who is originally from Biddeford, Maine. Williams tallied an impressive 79 points in just 49 games with the Selects Hockey Academy (U15) and was teammates with Sea Dogs draft pick Charlie DesRoches last season. Williams loves to shoot the puck as evidence by his 37 goals last year. He’s very good at finding open spaces and shows good patience before releasing his shot. Williams is very effective on the power play and likes to set up shop where he can release his one time shot. He is considered a sniper with very good vision and can find the open man effectively. Currently, Williams is committed to Northeastern University for 2020-21 - so stay tuned to see what happens here.
Round 2 - No. 19 overall: Cade DeStefani
C - 6’2” and 170lbs
With their second pick, the Sea Dogs selected Cade DeStefani, who spent most of last season with the Northern Cyclones (U16) team. DeStefani put up some solid numbers, compiling 22 goals and 29 assists over 27 games with the Cyclones. DeStefani is a 2001-born player, meaning he can make the roster without using one of the limited 2002 born spots available to the Sea Dogs.
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