First round of QMJHL Entry Draft completed

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

MONCTON – As expected, the Quebec Remparts acquired the first overall pick and, as expected, selected forward Maddox Dagenais with the selection in the opening round of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Entry Draft on Friday.

Dagenais, ranked first by QMJHL Central Scouting, is the son of Pierre Dagenais, who was picked first overall by the Moncton Alpines in 1995. They become the first father/son combo to be taken first overall.

Here's how the rest of the first round shook down.

		Player	P	H	W	Team (Prov)
1	QUE	Maddox Dagenais	C	6'3	180	Quinte (QC)
2	VDO	Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte	RD	6'0	165	Trois-Rivieres (QC)
3	SHA	Chad Lygitsakos	C	5'7	157	Trois-Rivieres (QC)
4	CAP	Romain Litalien	C	6'0	175	Saint-Francois Seminaire (QC)
5	SNB	William Yared	C	6'1	191	Lac St-Louis (QC)
6	CHI	Jayden Plouffe	LW	5'9	168	Collège Esther-Blondin (QC)
7	VIC	Enzo Lottin	C	5'6	160	Trois-Rivieres (QC)
8	SNB	Dylan Rozzi	LW	5'11	152	Lac St-Louis (QC)
9	BAT	Biagio Jr Daniele	LD	5'10	160	Laval-Montreal (QC)
10	CHI	Tynan Lawrence	F	6'0	168	Shattuck St. Mary's (NB)
11	HAL	Daniel Walters	C	5'11	182	Halifax (NS)
12	GAT	Maxim Dube	C	5'11	163	Long Island (QC)
13	SHE	Thomas Rousseau	RW	5'9	154	St-Eustache (QC)
14	GAT	Simon-Xavier Cyr	C	6'1	185	Magog (QC)
15	SHA	Louis-Felix Gagnon	LD	5'11	172	Saint-Francois Seminaire (QC)
16	VDO	Jacob Gouchie	RD	6'0	202	Moncton (NB)
17	VDO	Benjamin Olivier	C	5'8	156	Collège Charles-Lemoyne (QC)
18	BAT	Liam Arsenault	LW	5'7	160	Kensington (PE)
19	SNB	Cameron Chartrand	RD	6'0	191	Bishop Kearney (QC)
20	GAT	Noah Florent	RW	5'6	139	Saint-Francois Seminaire (QC)

Some other news and notes from Friday night:

• Before the draft, Chicoutimi Sagueneens head coach Yanick Jean was honoured for setting the QMJHL wins record this past season. As usual, a highlight video from the past year was shown and the scholastic player of the year, Alexis Morin of the Sags, gave a speech. Mathieu Cataford of the Halifax Mooseheads/Rimouski Oceanic was also presented with the league's MVP trophy.
• Back-to-back players from the Trois-Rivieres Estacades were picked at No. 2 and No. 3: Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte went to Val-d'Or and Chad Lygitsakos went third to Shawinigan. Three players from the squad went in the first round.
• There were no draft floor trades following Cape Breton/Quebec at No. 1 until pick No. 11 when, in an expected deal, the Halifax Mooseheads acquired the selection from the Rimouski Oceanic in exchange for Cataford.
• There were some cheers when former Moncton Wildcats general manager Ritchie Thibeau's name was announced with the Sagueneens' attendees. Thibeau also announced Chicoutimi's pick at sixth overall.
• Fredericton native Tynan Lawrence, the younger brother of former Sea Dogs forward Josh Lawrence, went 10th overall to the Sagueneens. Lawrence, who some believe is the best player in this year's draft class, has signed a tender agreement to play in the USHL next season. By using a first on Lawrence, the Sags have the option of relinquishing his rights next year and receiving a compensation pick in return.

  Congratulations Tynan! Felicitations!
  Round 1 , Pick 10. pic.twitter.com/F4JWwqnkds

  — Hockey NB (@HockeyNB) June 8, 2024

• The first "off the board" pick came at No. 11 when the Mooseheads selected local Daniel Walters from the Halifax McDonald's. He was ranked 47th overall by QMJHL Central Scouting.
• There was a loud cheer when the Val-d'Or Foreurs selected Moncton Flyers defenseman Jacob Gouchie with the 16th overall pick.
• Saint John made some noise near the end of the first round, pulling off a trade to grab the 19th overall pick and select defenseman Cameron Chartrand. The Saint-Lazare, QC native spent last season playing US prep school hockey with the Bishop Kearney Selects and was a second round pick in this year's USHL Futures Draft. He was not in attendance Friday and appears to be heading the college hockey route – but we'll see. Chartrand played under Sea Dogs head coach Travis Crickard at the Youth Olympic Games this year.