24 among the ’08s who could be picked in 2025 QMJHL Draft

Undoubtedly, the top 2008-born players from New England will be paying close attention to the QMJHL Draft.

The draft is 12 rounds on June 6 and 7 from the Vidéotron Center in Quebec City.

In early May, the QMJHL released its two lists of players eligible to be drafted. The QMJHL has regional rights to Quebec and Atlantic Canada, as well as New England. Prior to the CHL ruling, few New Englanders went north of the border to play junior hockey in the CHL, which includes the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League.

Since the CHL ruling, however, the QMJHL has become a legitimate, attractive option.

There are '06s and '07s from New England on the QMJHL Draft list. But, from what I've heard, the draft will primarily focus on '09s and then '08s — and that's not much of a surprise. Of the 197 names from New England, there are 70 from the '08s.

Another thing to remember: It's only a 12-round draft, and there are 18 teams. Along with the 197 players from New England, another 381 are in the running to be drafted from the Quebec and Atlantic Canada list provided by the QMJHL.

Only the best of the best will likely be picked.

So, I went through the 70 New England '08s to determine which players have the best chance at getting picked. This is solely my opinion and doesn't mean all of these players will be picked — quite the opposite will likely happen.

Let's dive in.

David Bosco

Belmont Hill, 2/8/2008, F, right shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Winchester, Mass. 

Bosco was a high pick (third round, 32nd overall) in last year's USHL Phase 1 Draft to the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. His stock was high then, and it's still high now. He led Belmont Hill in goals (18) and points (47) this past season and has a sky-high offensive ceiling. Per a source, he's still keeping his options open for next season, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that he plays next season in the Q.

Cooper Campbell

Lovell Academy 16U, 9/20/2008, D, right shot, 6-3/190
Hometown: Cohasset, Mass. 

Campbell's stock was boosted quite a bit recently with a strong showing at the Mass. Hockey Festival and making USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp. Along with having good size for a right-shot defenseman, he also has an offensive upside. He scored 11 goals and notched 69 points in 57 games at the 16U level this past season.

Kaiden Donia

Groton, 1/16/2008, D, right shot, 6-5/190
Hometown: Townsend, Mass. 

While Donia's five goals and 12 points in 28 games don't jump off the page, his size and potential certainly do. He likes to drive offense and has a good stick.  Donia was at U.S. National Team Development Program Evaluation Camp last year and was picked in the second round (19th overall) of the USHL Phase 1 Draft by the Lincoln Stars.

Oskar Drabczynski

Avon Old Farms, 2/13/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Easton, Conn.
NCAA: Harvard 

Drabczynski is a stable, reliable puck-mover who is also responsible in his own end. In his first season of prep, the Harvard commit scored four goals and tallied 21 points in 27 games. He was a fifth-round pick (63rd overall) by the Des Moines Buccaneers in last year's USHL Phase 1 Draft.

Vincenzo D'Urso

Tabor, 3/7/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/190
Hometown: Andover, Mass. 

This season, former Taft star Rudy Guimond stepped in for the Moncton Wildcats and was sensational, leading the Wildcats to win the QMJHL title. As a junior, Guimond faced over 1,000 shots and posted phenomenal numbers. By no means am I comparing them, but D'Urso faced 887 shots this winter as a sophomore and boasted a fantastic .929 save percentage.

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Nolan Duskocy

BK Selects 16U, 1/26/2008, F, right ahot, 6-2/174
Hometown: Ellington, Conn.
NCAA: Massachusetts 

Duskocy has been a force for BK Selects from 14U to 16U, most recently scoring 36 goals and tallying 71 points in 58 games at the 16U level. The Tri-City Storm picked him in the ninth round (132nd overall) of last year's USHL Phase 1 Draft. He scored four goals and tallied eight points in five games at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp. With his offensive abilities and size, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a QMJHL team pick Duskocy.

Zai Ferraro

Mount St. Charles 16U, 3/4/2008, G, catches right, 6-3/196
Hometown: New Canaan, Conn. 

It's always tough to judge goalies under 18 years old, but Ferraro has one thing that usually attracts eyes at higher levels: size. He also had a nice season for Mount's 16U team, posting a 2.35 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in 28 games.

Matt Hines

Dexter Southfield, 6/10/2008, D, left shot, 5-10/170
Hometown: Hingham, Mass. 

Hines just seems to be hitting his stride. He had a strong Mass. Hockey Festival and made Select 17 Camp. He was a factor in Dexter Southfield's offense this past season, scoring five times and adding 19 points in 27 games. His offensive abilities and breakouts make up for not being over 6 feet.

Ty Hymovitz

Thayer, 2/13/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Needham, Mass. 

Hymovitz had a nice season for Thayer, scoring 12 goals and tallying 24 points in 29 games. But Hymovitz's size and two-way abilities differentiate him from a lot of his age group. He's an anywhere-in-the-lineup type center who can play in any situation. It's a fairly safe projection for a Q team looking for an all-around player.

Will Manchuso

St. Mark's, 1/8/2008, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Concord, Mass. 

Manchuso's stock is high and projects to get higher. He posted a strong first season in prep with 12 goals and 37 points in 30 games, but also recently made Select 17 Camp after being (in my opinion) the top '08 forward at the Mass. Hockey Festival. He can fly and has an underrated, heavy shot.

Owen McHale

Dexter Southfield, 2/17/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/190
Hometown: Charlestown, Mass. 

Like Manchuso, McHale seems to just be scratching the surface of what he can be, which is a tenacious power forward. After posting 19 points with Dexter this past season, he was one of the better '08s at the Mass. Hockey Festival and made Select 17 Camp. He has the toughness and physicality to make an impact in the QMJHL.

Carson Mertz

Mount St. Charles 16U, 2/19/2008, G, catches left, 6-1/174
Hometown: Coventry, R.I. 

It's hard projecting goalies at this age, but Mertz has long been one of the top '08 goalies from the New England District. He had another nice season for Mount St. Charles, posting a 2.81 GAA and a .914 save percentage in 34 games. He's athletic and always seems to be in the right spot to take away angles for shooters.

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Ryan Poirier

Kent, 9/19/2008, D, left shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Salem, N.H.
NCAA: Harvard

Poirier is just shy of the coveted 6-foot mark for a defenseman, but he's physical and can be a tough defender. His biggest asset, however, is his skating. That helps him be elusive on breakouts and in the offensive zone. He tallied five goals and 19 points in 26 games this past season.

Tyler Roccas

Hotchkiss, 8/7/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/181
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn. 

Roccas missed all of this past season due to injury, but he was someone Division 1 programs have been interested in. He has great size, which is always something junior teams look for in defensemen. He was at Select 16 Camp last season.

Tommy Saulnier

St. Sebastian's, 2/15/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/165
Hometown: Medfield, Mass. 

As a sophomore, Saulnier played behind one of the youngest teams in prep and posted strong numbers with a 2.94 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He's extremely athletic and recently made Select 17 Camp out of the Mass. Hockey Festival. What I said about D'Urso applies to Saulnier, too — he stopped a lot of pucks this year and should over the next two seasons in prep.

Brady Sloper

Belmont Hill, 5/21/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/198
Hometown: North Andover, Mass. 

Sloper is a right-shot defenseman with size who will likely be a shutdown defender at higher levels. He has a good stick, and his skating has improved. He can be physical as well. He will likely play in an elevated role this coming winter for Belmont Hill.

Mason St. Louis

Brunswick, 1/16/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/155
Hometown: Old Greenwich, Conn.
NCAA: Dartmouth 

St. Louis had a fantastic first season in prep, scoring 20 goals and posting 53 points in 33 games. He mostly played the middle and has the kind of vision that makes linemates better. He is also a good, two-way presence and will likely be one of the top players in prep next season.

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Danick St. Pierre

Seacoast Performance Academy 16U, 5/13/2008, F, left shot, 6-2/176
Hometown: North Hampton, N.H.
NCAA: Yale 

St. Pierre has long been a top player with Seacoast Performance Academy, putting up 25 goals and 65 points in 55 games this past season at the 16U level. St. Pierre has nice hands and had two goals and three points in five games at Select 16 Camp last summer.

Noah Survilas

Dexter Southfield, 12/27/2008, F, right shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Winthrop, Mass. 

Survilas should be a likely candidate to be picked. The Dexter right wing had a terrific freshman year and followed it up by being even better, scoring 18 goals and 40 points in 28 games this past winter. He can drive play, has a wicked shot and fantastic skill. His high-end offensive ceiling is something QMJHL teams should be on the lookout for.

Garrit Turcotte

Seacoast Performance Academy 16U, 2/3/2008, F, right shot, 5-10/150
Hometown: South Berwick, Maine 

Turcotte has long been a top producer for the '08s at Seacoast Performance Academy. He was dominant this past season, tallying 34 goals and 81 points in 55 games at the 16U level. He's a great skater who is still uncommitted but was taken in the USHL's Phase 2 Draft in May, selected in the sixth round (108th overall) by the Sioux City Musketeers.

Hampus Vandenberg

Brunswick, 4/24/2008, D, right shot, 6-2/180
Hometown: Riverside, Conn.
NCAA: Princeton 

Vandenberg had a very nice junior season for Brunswick, scoring four times and adding 17 helpers in 35 games. Vandenberg has good size for a right-shot defenseman and is a reliable two-way force who should be one of the top blue-liners in prep this coming season.

Tommy Wilkinson

Thayer, 9/8/2008, F, right shot, 6-1/165
Hometown: Duxbury, Mass. 

Wilkinson is one of those prospects who seems to be hitting their stride at the perfect time. He broke out this winter for Thayer, posting 12 goals and 26 points in 29 games. He had a very strong Mass. Hockey Festival, and rightfully made Select 17 Camp. He has a great shot and knows how to get to scoring areas in the offensive zone. In my view, he's due for another big jump in production next winter for Thayer.

Prep players on the Quebec and Atlantic Canada list

Kaidan Sahajpal

Winchendon, 9/11/2008, F, left shot, 5-9/161
Hometown: Mount Pearl, Newfoundland 

As a junior, Sahajpal had a nice first season in prep, scoring five goals and tallying 22 points in 30 games. After playing in Canada, his first New England season was in 2023-24 with the New Hampshire Mountain Kings' 15O team, where he posted 50 goals and 130 points in 57 games.

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Ryan Vohra

St. Paul's, 6/27/2008, F, left shot, 6-1/179
Hometown: Valley, Nova Scotia 

In Vohra's first season of prep, he notched five goals and 11 points in 27 games. It was his first season in the United States, after playing for Weeks Major Midgets U18 in Canada last season with eight goals and 30 points in 38 games.

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