This will be the first season where New England will closely track the QMJHL Draft.
Ever since the Canadian Hockey League ruling last November, prospects who play in that league can still be eligible to play NCAA Division 1 hockey. The CHL (made up of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League) is all about regional rights. The QMJHL has regional rights to players in Quebec, Atlantic Canada and New England.
The QMJHL will host its 12-round draft at the Vidéotron Center in Quebec City on June 6 and 7.
In early May, the QMJHL posted lists of eligible players from Quebec and Atlantic Canada, as well as New England. The list also includes 42 players that QMJHL teams specifically requested to be considered for the draft. You can't be drafted if you're not on the list.
Players born in 2006 will be eligible for the draft. The big question: Will QMJHL teams draft '06s?
While this is the first draft with all of these New Englanders now fair game to be picked and potentially come, QMJHL teams will likely consider mainly '09s and then '08s early in the draft. Those players have the best chance of playing for multiple seasons in the league.
For '06s and '07s, the high-end ones may be picked in the back half of the draft. But most will likely either sign with a team right after the draft or just attend a team's camp later in the summer.
Again, this is the first time the draft will play out in this format. But from what I hear, that's the most likely way this will go.
Only 15 players born in 2006 are on the New England list, so we'll look at each player's stock heading into the draft.
Let's dive in.
Blake Baksay
Northfield Mount Hermon, 1/17/2006, F, right shot, 5-8/150
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.Â
Baksay is fresh off a terrific senior year for Northfield Mount Hermon, scoring 22 goals and tallying 40 points in 31 games. As a junior the year before, he had 27 points in 32 games for NMH. As a smaller forward, he has outstanding hands and nice vision to set up teammates for scoring chances. He's able to sift through defenses into high-danger ice.
Blake Burke
Westminster, 5/18/2006, F, left shot, 6-0/185
Hometown: Trumbull, Conn.Â
Burke was a high producer as a sophomore in 2022-23 with 30 points in 26 games, but missed part of his junior year and notched 21 points in 17 games. He broke out this past winter with 22 goals and 42 points in 28 games for Westminster. Two summers ago, he was one of the best players from the New England District at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp, notching four goals and seven points in six games. Fun fact: He was a second-round pick (24th overall) by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the 2022 QMJHL American Draft.
FULL MAGAZINE:Â Check out the May/June edition of the New England Hockey Journal magazine
Ben Dias
Bridgewater Jr. Bandits (EHL), 3/8/2006, F, right shot, 5-11/159
Hometown: Attleboro, Mass.Â
Dias has spent the last three seasons in the Bridgewater Jr. Bandits organization, and playing in the EHL for the last two. Most recently, he posted 25 goals and 43 points in 46 games for the Jr. Bandits.
Max Dineen
Cushing, 7/5/2006, F, left shot, 5-10/155
Hometown: Brentwood, N.H.
NCAA: Sacred HeartÂ
Dineen would be an intriguing pick-up for a QMJHL looking for an older player who just seems to be scratching the surface of their potential. The Sacred Heart commit was a force for Cushing this winter with 26 goals and 58 points in 32 games. That point total ranked sixth in prep. Dineen's an offensive winger who can get to high-danger areas and has an underrated shot.
Jacob Duval
Holderness, 1/19/2006, F, right shot, 5-11/170
Hometown: Andover, Mass.Â
Throughout Duval's time at Holderness, he was always a steady, consistent producer. That continued this season when he scored 21 goals and posted 37 points in 30 games. Duval has a nice shot and showcases patience and vision in the offensive zone.
Jack Galanek
Muskegon Lumberjacks, 6/4/2006, F, left shot, 6-0/176
Hometown: Hopkinton, Mass.
NCAA: UMassÂ
In Galanek's second season in the USHL, he ranked second on the Lumberjacks in goals (22) and points (50). Galanek also had 14 points in 14 games to help Muskegon win the Clark Cup earlier this month. He would undoubtedly be a player QMJHL teams would want, but...he's slated to begin at UMass this fall.
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Will Hatten
Rivers, 7/14/2006, F, left shot, 6-0/173
Hometown: Wayland, Mass.Â
Attention was given to a lot of other things going on with Rivers this winter, but Hatten quietly had a phenomenal senior year, scoring 20 goals and notching 43 points in 28 games. At his size and age, Hatten would likely be able to hold his own in the QMJHL.
Caeden Herrington
Lincoln Stars, 1/26/2006, D, right shot, 6-1/185
Hometown: Manchester, Vt.
NCAA: VermontÂ
Herrington just wrapped up a terrific first season in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars, scoring 16 goals and finishing with 34 points in 56 games. He also showcased himself as a responsible defender, and could hear his name called in June's NHL Draft. As for the QMJHL Draft, well, Herrington is slated to begin at Vermont this fall.
Ronnie Hill
Wisconsin Windigo (NAHL), 10/3/2006, F, right shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Saco, MaineÂ
I was a fan of Hill's game when he was on Mount St. Charles' 18U team in 2023-24. This past season, he scored 12 times and added 21 assists in 51 games for the NAHL's Wisconsin Windigo. He's a small, shifty forward who can get to scoring areas and produce off the cycle. He would make sense as a player a QMJHL team would take a flier on for camp.
Ryan Lucarelli
Canterbury, 7/10/2006, F, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Westport, Conn.
NCAA: Sacred HeartÂ
Lucarelli spent two seasons as a premier player in prep, notching 43 points to help Canterbury win the 2024 Small School title and then increasing his total to 46 this past season. Lucarelli is a playmaker, using his outstanding vision to make those around him better. He registered a game in the NAHL with the Maryland Black Bears this past season. Back in 2022, he was drafted in the second round (22nd overall) by the Val-d'Or Foreurs in the QMJHL American Draft.
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Kyle O'Leary
Nobles, 6/25/2006, F, right shot, 6-2/185
Hometown: Medfield, Mass.
NCAA: YaleÂ
I know QMJHL teams are likely to focus on '08s and '09s with their draft picks, but I would be fine with taking a chance in the draft on O'Leary — he was that good this season. O'Leary had his way in prep as a power forward this past season, ranking fifth in the region in points with 59. There were games he dominated and took over, using his frame and power to get to high-danger areas. He also skates well for someone at his size. Earlier this month, the Youngstown Phantoms took him 188th in the USHL Phase 2 Draft.
Ryan Shea
Jersey Hitmen, 8/30/2006, F, left shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.Â
In Shea's first season of junior hockey, the Milton Academy product had 13 goals and 34 points in 53 NCDC games. His best season at Milton was when he was a senior and had 10 goals and 23 points in 28 games.
Ryder Shea
Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL), 5/4/2006, G, catches left, 6-2/194
Hometown: Framingham, Mass.
NCAA: MaineÂ
Shea has long been a top '06 goalie from Massachusetts. He spent this past season with Alberni Valley, posting a 3.15 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 17 BCHL games. Shea has good size for a netminder and is always composed and in position.
Kolin Sisson
Chicago Steel, 9/30/2006, F, right shot, 5-10/179
Hometown: Lincoln, R.I.
NCAA: Providence CollegeÂ
Sisson broke out in the summer of 2023 after a phenomenal Select 17 showing with six goals and nine points in six games. He decided to challenge himself with the USHL and stuck with the Chicago Steel. The shifty, speedy winger had 18 goals and 27 points in 47 games for Chicago this past season. He's difficult to contain and is undoubtedly seasoned after 99 USHL games.
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Niko Tournas
Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL), 2/17/2006, F, right shot, 6-3/203
Hometown: Redding, Conn.
NCAA: New HampshireÂ
Tournas struggled with the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in 2023-24, potting two goals and five points in 41 games. His response? He went to the NAHL's Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks and finished fourth in the league in points with 74 in 56 games. He has terrific size and is always able to make an impact in the offensive zone. His stock is high, which is why he was picked 12th overall by the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL Phase 2 Draft earlier this month.
