A look at Saint John's 2026 draft class

Vincent Ethier/QMJHL

HALIFAX - With the 2026 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Entry Draft now completed, let's take a closer look at the Saint John Sea Dogs' class.

Saint John selected 10 players this weekend at Scotiabank Centre: five forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders.

Here's a closer look at each.

Round 1, 14th overall - D Lawrence Williams (6'1"m 165 lbs)

Lawrence spent last season with the Weeks Major Midgets where he recorded 10 goals and 28 assists in 32 games. He added another goal and six helpers in 14 playoff games.

The Pictou native was ranked ninth overall by QMJHL Central Scouting – the highest ranked Atlantic Canadian player. Elite Prospects had him ranked 20th and called him "a future QMJHL shutdown defenseman" – which is something Saint John could certainly use.

With the 14th overall selection (finally) @SJSeaDogs select defenseman Lawrence Williams from @WeeksU18

The reigning U18 Nova Scotia rookie defender of the year had 38 points in 32 games. pic.twitter.com/OerZpySnTW

— Puck Preps Eastern Canada (@PuckPrepsEastCa) June 6, 2026

"This kid is a natural transitional 'new era' D, with tons of offensive skill coupled with nasty gritty side to his game," writes Craig Eagles. "His skating is exceptional and only going to get better with maturity, he processes the game so well, always willing to jump into the play, but perhaps his strongest attribute is the ability to pick and chose when to jump in and he also has the innate ability to know when to start driving offensive transition, which a lot of young D don’t understand or ever really figure that out."

Its Lawrence Williams out of Pictou.

His buddies LOVE it pic.twitter.com/rZGnnE5EkK

— Aidan Robertson (@EastlinkAidan) June 6, 2026

Round 2, 31st overall - RW Nathan Riendeau (5'7", 155 lbs)

Riendeau spent last season with the Collège Charles-Lemoyne Riverains where he posted 18 goals and 23 assists in 42 games. He added two goals and three assists in eight playoff games.

Riendeau was ranked 57th overall by QMJHL Central Scouting and 52nd by Elite Prospects. Despite his size, reports say Riendeau makes up for it with high hockey sense.

"Time and time again in our viewings, he turned disadvantageous situations into offensive opportunities through his determination and anticipation," writes Elite Prospects. "In that sense, what makes Riendeau more than just a high-motor forward is his hockey sense. He is often several steps ahead, has great vision, and connects high-complexity passes. Riendeau simply understands how to create and leverage advantages, and can alternate between high-paced hockey and slower, patient play-driving."

"At 5’7 it would appear that some might say he’s too small to play through the middle at the junior level and that might very well be the case," writes Craig Eagles. "But the way he skates and engages, he could find himself in the middle later on in his Jr career, but for now will definitely find a home on the wing, does everything at top speed and isn’t scared to engage."

Round 6, 91st overall - C Carter Odell (5'9", 140 lbs)

In 32 games with the Halifax Macs last season, Odell recorded 10 goals and 13 assists. He added two goals and two assists in nine playoff games.

Odell was projected to be a fourth-round pick by QMJHL Central Scouting and was ranked 95th by Elite Prospects.

"Odell’s habits fit the key demographic of undersized forwards who win trust and opportunities with their all-around willingness and two-way upside," writes Elite Prospects. "In the right environment, he could be a draft steal in the making."

"Feisty winger, skates well, will have to get stronger upper body wise to make sure he wins and competes in puck battles at the next level," writes Craig Eagles.

Round 7, 113th overall - G Will Torres (5'10", 148 lbs)

There's not a lot of statistical info available on Torres out there. A Farmingham, MA native, Torres played last season at The Rivers School and with the Minuteman Flames U15 team. He had a .913 save percentage in 26 games at his US prep school.

It was a day of goaltending at 15O Natty’s QF’s in Wisco

MM Flames Will Torres absolutely stole the show in an OT Thriller vs BK. Despite losing, his 59 saves were all anyone could talk about.

Buf Jr Sabs Connor Reed said hold my 🍺 as he made 63 saves in a 1-0 win over LC

WOW

— CLANKO MEDIA (@ClankoMedia) March 27, 2026

Torres was ranked 93rd by Elite Prospects and was given a 'B' rating by QMJHL Central Scouting.

"What will be integral to getting Torres to the level of a starting goaltender is improving his reads by leveraging his scans more, and perhaps scanning as two-on-ones break into the zone, allowing him to better anticipate passing options rather than challenging shooters every time," writes Elite Prospects. "Torres looks like a possible tandem-calibre goaltender."

Round 7 - 116th overall - D Brodie Anderson (5'7", 133 lbs)

Anderson, Wayland, MA native, was a teammate of Torres with the Minuteman Flames U15 where he posted 12 goals and 18 assists in 32 games. He also recorded three goals and nine helpers in 31 games at Cushing Academy.

Anderson was given a 'C' rating by QMJHL Central Scouting.

Round 9, 149th overall - G Philippe Harvey (6'0", 137 lbs)

Harvey, who won't turn 16 until October, spent last season with Sag-Lac Espoirs M17 AAA where he went 5-9-0 with a 2.56 goals against average and had two shutouts. He also went 0-2 in the playoffs with a 3.50 GAA. Harvey was projected to be a sixth-to-eighth-round pick by Central Scouting.

Philippe Harvey with @SJSeaDogs at 149.

He attacks plays confidently and consistently uses his body to get in front of
puck. I ranked him 23rd pic.twitter.com/lASPnR82Ch

— Jean-François Rioux (@RickyJF) June 6, 2026

Round 9, 150th overall - RW Brock Lyons (6'1", 180 lbs)

Lyons, 17, wasn't selected in last year's draft. He spent most of last season with the Saint John Vito's, posting 25 goals and 28 assists in 36 games. He also appeared in three games with the Maritime Junior Hockey League's Amherst Ramblers.

Lyons is the younger brother of Kiefer Lyons, who played one playoff game with the Sea Dogs in 2023-24.

Round 11, 185th overall - LD Justin Hamel (5'10", 165 lbs)

The brother of Rouyn-Noranda Huskies defenseman Jacob Hamel, the younger Hamel recorded 13 assists in 41 games with the Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois last season. He added one assist in 13 playoff games. 

QMJHL Central Scouting had him ranked as a fifth-round pick, so the Sea Dogs may have gotten a steal here.

"Very good skater, agile and explosive, solid gap control and an active stick, picks and chooses his spots when it comes to jumping up in the play," writes Craig Eagles. "Obviously like many young offensively minded defenders, will have to find that balance when it comes to trying to drive offense, while taking care of his own zone."

Round 12, 203rd overall - C Zack Labelle (6'0", 132 lbs)

The son of former QMJHLer Éric Labelle, Zack Labelle recorded 11 goals and 16 assists in 22 games with the Outaouais Intrépide M17 AAA last season. 

Round 12, 210th overall - C Thomas Bond (5'9", 150 lbs)

A Sept-Îles, QC native, Bond recorded two goals and three assists in 39 games with Jonquière Élites under-18 team last season. He also had a goal in four playoff games.