Sea Dogs picks, players drafted into QJHL

Jacob Hamel was taken first overall by the St-Jérôme Panthers in this year's QJHL Draft, which was held on Saturday.

Hamel, who spent last season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, is the older of brother of Justin Hamel, who the Sea Dogs selected in the 11th-round of this year's QMJHL Entry Draft. The younger Hamel was taken in the third-round, 37th overall by the Panthers.

As mentioned, Justin Hamel could be a player to watch over the next couple years. While he was picked in the 11th-round by Saint John, QMJHL Central Scouting had him projected to be a fifth-round selection.

A few other players with Sea Dogs connections were picked during Saturday's 10-round draft:

• Overage forward Maxime Lafond, who will attended Sea Dogs training camp on a loan from the Drummondville Voltigeurs, was selected in the fourth-round, 43rd overall by the Longueuil Collège Français.
• Forward Madison Bouchard, who was a 10th-round pick of Saint John in the 2025 draft, was taken in the fifth-round, 53rd overall by the Gatineau Nomad.
• 19-year-old forward Alexis Gauthier, who spent all of last season with the Sea Dogs, was picked in the fifth-round, 60th overall by the Terrebonne Cobras.
• 19-year-old defenseman Vincent Croteau, who also spent all of last season with the Sea Dogs, was drafted in the 10th-round, 120th overall by the Cobras.
• Forward Thomas Bond, a 12th-round pick of Saint John in this year's draft, was taken in the 10th-round, 127th overall by the Granby Indigo.

This year's Maritime Junior Hockey League Draft will take place next weekend in Campbellton.