We've looked at the '06s who might have eyes on them in the QMJHL Draft. Then, we monitored the '07s. It was all about '08s who should get some QMJHL attention on Wednesday.
But the majority of attention will likely be given to '09s in the QMJHL Draft, which begins Friday and continues on Saturday from the Vidéotron Center in Quebec City.
The CHL (consisting of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League) didn't used to be a big option for New England talent, given that a player couldn't play in the league and be eligible for Division 1 NCAA hockey.
Since the CHL ruling last November, that has changed. New Englanders, who the QMJHL has regional rights to, can play in the league and play Division 1 college hockey someday.
We don't know exactly how the QMJHL Draft will pan out. But of the 197 New Englanders on the official QMJHL Draft list, 100 are '09s. From what I've heard, they will be the most sought-after players.
I've whittled down those 100 to 17 forwards, 10 defensemen and two goalies who, in my opinion, are in the best position to be picked by a QMJHL team. Obviously, that doesn't mean they will all be selected.
This story will focus on forwards (including one on the Quebec and Atlantic Canada list), while a separate one will look at the defensemen and goalies.
Let's dive in.
Tyler Beaudoin
Mid Fairfield, 3/30/2009, F, right shot, 5-4/126
Hometown: Berlin, Conn.Â
Beaudoin made Select 16 Camp for the New England District after being one of the better players at Select 15 Camp last summer, notching two goals and five points in four games. He was one of Mid Fairfield's top players this past season, scoring 29 goals and setting up 55 more in 64 games. While undersized, his offensive upside is high.
Joseph Covelluzzi
Cushing, 1/15/2009, F, right shot, 5-8/160
Hometown: Wakefield, Mass.Â
Covelluzzi burst onto the scene in prep this season, ranking second on Cushing in goals (18) and points (31). While he has no issue finding the back of the net, I've always found him to be an underrated playmaker. He made Select 16 Camp after scoring two goals and notching four points at Select 15s last year. The Dubuque Fighting Saints picked him in the fourth round (51st overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Isaac Davis
Northstar Christian Academy 16U, 1/27/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/161
Hometown: Rockland, Mass.Â
Davis has an exciting blend of speed and skill, and can use it effortlessly to score. He was a force for Northstar Christian Academy this past winter, scoring 21 goals and posting 57 points in 46 games after starring for the Boston Advantage's 14U team the season prior. He's headed to Select 16 Camp and was picked in the third round (41st overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft by the Sioux Falls Stampede.
2025 QMJHL DRAFT: Which ’07s could be picked?Â
Ryan Elrick
Canton High, 5/31/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/160
Hometown: Canton, Mass.Â
Elrick is a bit of an off-the-board pick. He didn't make Select 16 Camp out of the Mass. Hockey Festival and wasn't picked in the USHL Draft. Still, he's shown he can produce against older players with Canton High in the MIAA, and I like his ability to get to high-danger areas.
Ethan Gingeleskie
Avon Old Farms, 6/2/2009, F, right shot, 5-10/150
Hometown: West Hartford, Conn.Â
Gingeleskie had a nice first season in prep, posting five goals and 12 points in 26 games for Avon Old Farms. Before that, he was a standout for Mid Fairfield at the 13U and 14U levels. He was at Select 15 Camp last summer and will be at Select 16s again this year. The Cedar Rapids RoughRiders picked him in the 10th round (150th overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft in May.
Paulo Gualberto Jr.
Mount St. Charles, 4/9/2009, F, left shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Barnstable, Mass.Â
Gualberto was a bit of a snub from the U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp. He had 106 points in 64 games for the Mount 14Us last season, and 107 in 61 games for the Mount 15Os this past season, winning national championships both times. He's a play-driving, tough center who was picked in the fifth round (68th overall) by the Sioux City Musketeers in May's USHL Phase 1 Draft. He will also be at Select 16 Camp.
Liam Guilderson
Belmont High, 3/30/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/160
Hometown: Belmont, Mass.Â
Guilderson is another somewhat off-the-board pick given that he wasn't picked in the USHL Phase 1 Draft and wasn't selected to move on to Select 16 Camp out of the Mass. Hockey Festival. But he was outstanding for Belmont High in the MIAA this winter, scoring 25 goals and posting 51 points. He has outstanding skill and is a shifty, smooth skater.
READ MORE: 24 among the '08s to watch for the QMJHL Draft
Troy Hamelin
Pope Francis, 6/8/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/163
Hometown: Springfield, Mass.Â
I was shocked Hamelin didn't make Select 16 Camp out of the Mass. Hockey Festival. He showed himself as a play-driving, skilled center in the MIAA this winter. At the festival, he showcased a great two-way game and an ability to create offensive plays with anyone on his left and right. He was a 13th-round pick (188th overall) by the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Owen Kailher
Mount St. Charles 15O, 4/7/2009, F, right shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Plymouth, Mass.Â
Kailher's numbers don't jump off the page — eight goals and 23 points in 57 games for Mount's 15O team this past season. But his hands, ability to create plays in tight and drive play make him someone I have as a breakout prospect at the 16U level next season. He was at Select 15 Camp last summer and will be at 16s this year. Does he get drafted into the QMJHL? Maybe not. But he's worth taking a flyer on.
Danny Patch
Pingree, 6/2/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/181
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.Â
Patch broke out in prep this past winter, scoring 12 goals and notching 31 points in 28 games as a sophomore at Pingree. While he wasn't at Select 15 Camp last season and didn't make Select 16s this season, he was a 12th-round pick (166th overall) by the Omaha Lancers in this year's USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Caiden Pellegrino
St. Mark's, 2/10/2009, F, left shot, 5-8/146
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.Â
Pellegrino is a player QMJHL teams should be after. The small center is a master puck-mover with elite vision and an ability to make those around him better. That showed this winter when he scored 11 times and dished out 30 assists in 30 games for St. Mark's. He had two goals and five points at Select 15 Camp last summer and will be back for Select 16s this year. Sioux Falls picked him in the seventh round (102nd overall) in this year's USHL Phase 1 Draft.
IMPACT OF CHL RULING: How it will impact preps and academies | How it will impact Division 1, Division 3 and junior hockey
Stephen Pinette
Hillside School, 6/15/2009, F, left shot, 6-2/172
Hometown: Dracut, Mass.Â
Pinette wasn't on my radar until the Mass. Hockey Festival. He had a fantastic Final 40, showing patience with the puck and an ability to get to high-danger areas. He scored 16 goals and finished with 50 points in 30 games at Hillside School this winter and made Select 16 Camp. While he wasn't picked in the USHL Phase 1 Draft, he's a player QMJHL teams should at least consider this weekend.
Grady Rowley
Mount St. Charles, 7/21/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/168
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.Â
Rowley was at Select 15 Camp last summer and will be back in Buffalo again this season for 16s. He was a depth piece for the Mount 15s this season, scoring 12 goals and tallying 31 points in 61 games. But, like Kailher, Rowley should be due to break out given his skill and the amount of talent that the Mount '09 group will lose this offseason.
Chase Warsofsky
Cushing, 6/19/2009, F, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Northboro, Mass.Â
Warsofsky had a strong first season with Cushing, scoring five goals and tallying 11 points in 20 games. His most important contribution was driving play on the Penguins' second line. He's a speedy center, who can easily control the play and get to high-danger ice. Omaha snagged him in the eighth round (117th overall) of this year's USHL Phase 1 Draft. He would make a lot of sense as a QMJHL Draft pick.
Brayden White
Williston Northampton, 2/16/2009, F, left shot, 5-11/154
Hometown: Cumberland, R.I.Â
White had a terrific first season in prep, scoring seven goals and tallying 19 points in 27 games for Williston Northampton. While he wasn't at Select 15 Camp last summer and went undrafted in the USHL Phase 1 selections this year, he will be headed to Select 16 Camp out of the New England District this summer.
READ MORE:Â Go inside what life is really like in the QMJHL
Declan Wotton
Seacoast Performance Academy, 5/16/2009, F, left shot, 6-1/201
Hometown: Windsor, MaineÂ
Wotton is someone QMJHL teams should be on. The Maine native had 109 points in 67 games for the SPA's 14U team in 2023-24. He followed it up with 46 goals and 86 points in 55 games at the 15O level this past season. He was at Select 15s last season and will be at Select 16s this summer. The Fargo Force recently picked him in the ninth round (134th overall) in the USHL Phase 1 Draft.
Prospect who plays in the region on the Quebec and Atlantic Canada list
Luca Desjardins
Salisbury, 8/29/2009, F, left shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Mascouche, QuebecÂ
Desjardins has been a top producer for Seacoast Performance Academy the last two seasons. He exploded for 150 points at the 14U level in 2023-24 and then had eight goals and 54 points in 38 games this past fall. He scored two goals and four points in 21 games for Salisbury and should be a breakout player for the Crimson Knights next season.
