For the first time, New England has to take the QMJHL Draft seriously. The QMJHL Draft was met with chuckles around here prior to last year's Canadian Hockey League ruling. The chances of a local opting to play in the QMJHL and the CHL (made up of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League) over the chance at Division 1 college hockey were slim.
That changed last November.
The QMJHL Draft is set for June 6-7 at the Vidéotron Center in Quebec City. Over 12 rounds, players from Quebec, Atlantic Canada and New England will be selected by the 18 teams in the league.
In early May, the QMJHL released its lists from Quebec and Atlantic Canada, as well as New England. The New England list also includes 42 players that QMJHL teams specifically requested to be considered for the draft. If you're not on the list, you can't be drafted.
One interesting development has been that the Moncton Wildcats announced on Monday that Dexter Southfield forward and Boston University commit Rian Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) will play there next season. He is a late '07 and a legitimate 2026 NHL Draft prospect.
Another thing to consider: As I said with the '06s, from what I've heard, QMJHL teams will likely mainly draft '09s and then '08s. They want these players for longer. They may not use draft picks on as many '06s and '07s, and instead invite those players to camp or sign them right after the draft.
Only 12 players born in 2007 are on the New England list, so, like with the '06s, we can go player by player and evaluate their stock entering the draft. I also included a player on the Quebec and Atlantic Canada list who local prep hockey fans should know well.
Let's dive in.
Everett Baldwin
St. George's, 1/15/2007, D, right shot, 6-0/174
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
NCAA: Providence CollegeÂ
Baldwin is a slam dunk to be drafted. Along with putting up 20 points in 22 games for St. George's, he also played some games for the USHL's Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the U.S. National Team Development Program's U18 team. He also looks like someone who will be picked in the NHL Draft at the end of June. The QMJHL would be the perfect stepping stone for him before heading to Providence College.
Tommy Coccaro
Westminster, 4/10/2007, F, right shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
NCAA: ColgateÂ
As a junior this past winter, Coccaro notched six goals and 20 points in 18 games, missing some time due to injury. He's a shifty, skilled forward who was terrific at USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp last summer with two goals and five points in six games. Is he guaranteed to be drafted? No, but his offensive upside should be intriguing to QMJHL teams.
Oliver Czaja
Brunswick, 9/19/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/185
Hometown: Darien, Conn.Â
Czaja quietly had a phenomenal season with Brunswick, scoring 18 goals and totaling 42 points in 35 games. He has grown into a two-way center who can be relied upon to shut down the opposition's top players. He was a senior last season and a first-round pick (5th overall) by the Connecticut Junior Rangers in the 2024 NCDC Futures Draft.
Max Donatelli
St. George's, 6/15/2007, F, left shot, 5-9/160
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.Â
Donatelli is fresh off his second-straight 40-point season at St. George's as a reliable winger with a high hockey IQ. He had a strong showing at last summer's Select 17 Camp with two goals and four points in six games. He was a junior this past season and was a third-round pick (40th overall) by the Boston Junior Bruins in the NCDC Entry Draft in 2023. He's produced enough in prep to warrant going to a team's camp, if not more.
READ MORE: Could any '06s be picked in the QMJHL Draft?Â
Jack Fichthorn
Westminster, 5/10/2007, G, catches left, 6-1/181
Hometown: Darien, Conn.Â
Fichthorn was one of the best goalies in prep this winter with a .928 save percentage, which ranked third among goalies who registered at least 1,000 minutes. He led Westminster to the Large School championship game. Fichthorn has the size and athleticism to be an intriguing option in net for a QMJHL team. He certainly faced enough pucks at Westminster last season to warrant attention.
Justin Graf
Rivers, 7/10/2007, F, left shot, 6-0/170
Hometown: Lincoln, Mass.
NCAA: MerrimackÂ
Graf had 13 goals and a whopping 43 assists last season for 56 points in 28 games. He's likely not back at Rivers next season, which makes sense: 56 points in 28 games as a junior is a statline good enough to move on. The big question: Is Graf ready for the USHL or should he try for the QMJHL instead? He was picked in the third round (35th overall) by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL Phase 2 Draft in May.
Evan Jones
Belmont Hill, 2/9/2007, D, left shot, 5-11/178
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
NCAA: DartmouthÂ
In his first season of prep, Jones led all defensemen in points with 42 and was third in goals (12). The Dartmouth commit does almost everything well, providing a lethal offensive presence in the opposing end, while playing a smart, responsible game in his own zone. He's also outstanding on breakouts. Last month, he was picked in the 14th round (218th overall) by the Omaha Lancers in the USHL Phase 2 Draft.
Matthew Lacombe
Berkshire, 1/4/2007, F, right shot, 5-11/161
Hometown: Marlboro, Mass.Â
Lacombe was a force for Berkshire this past season, scoring 20 goals and finishing with 42 points in 33 games as a junior. He was picked in the 17th round (274th) overall by the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL Phase 2 Draft last month. Ironically enough, he was the eighth overall pick in the old QMJHL American Draft in 2023.
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George Lovell
Lovell Academy 18U, 7/7/2007, F, right shot, 5-6/130
Hometown: Hingham, Mass.
NCAA: Arizona StateÂ
While he's undersized, Lovell is a fantastic skater. He spent some time with the BCHL's Penticton Vees last season, but was primarily with Lovell Academy's 18U team, where he scored 14 goals and finished with 45 points in 29 games. In May, he was picked in the seventh round (125th overall) by the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL Phase 2 Draft.
Van Martin
Lovell Academy 18U, 10/3/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/161
Hometown: Derry, N.H.
NCAA: St. LawrenceÂ
Martin was a force for Lovell Academy's 18U team this winter, scoring 30 goals and tallying 74 points in just 40 games. He was also at Select 17 Camp last summer, where he notched two assists in six games. Like Lacombe, he was a first-round pick in the 2023 QMJHL American Draft, going seventh overall to the Shawinigan Cataractes. Jumping to juniors after his first year of 18U hockey would make sense.
Evan Nee
St. Mark's, 8/12/2007, F, left shot, 5-8/160
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.Â
Nee took a huge step this past winter, going from putting up 24 points as a sophomore to posting 23 goals and 51 points in 30 games as a junior. He led the Lions, who finished No. 2 in the Elite 8, in both goals and points. While he's a bit undersized, he has proven to be a play-driver and someone who can clearly produce. He might not get taken in these 12 rounds, but he will certainly generate interest.
Anthony Palmer
Avon Old Farms, 10/28/2007, G, catches left, 5-10/160
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.Â
Palmer has long been one of the better '07 goalies in Massachusetts. While he's not quite 6 feet, he still has no issue getting the job done. His .926 save percentage in prep ranked fourth among goalies with at least 1,000 minutes played, while his 2.20 goals-against average ranked fifth. He was recently picked in the 20th round (289th overall) of the NCDC Draft by the Boston Dogs.
READ MORE:Â Go inside what life is really like in the QMJHL
Grayden Robertson-Palmer
Phillips Andover, 8/29/2007, F, left shot, 5-10/181
Hometown: Kanata, OntarioÂ
Robertson-Palmer is on the Quebec and Atlantic Canada list, but played the last three seasons at Andover. He was dominant in prep this past season, scoring 16 goals and finishing with 39 points in 30 games as a senior, helping Andover win the Large School championship. He's a two-way center who skates with power and has a pro shot. He's a legitimate NHL Draft prospect, too.
