Five Wildcats Are Golden Puck Finalists
Published on April 15, 2026 under Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Moncton Wildcats News Release
The QMJHL is proud to announce today the finalists for eight individual trophies for the 2025-26 regular season. The Moncton Wildcats have finalists in 6 of the categories. The winners of these Golden Pucks will be announced tomorrow.
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David-Desharnais Trophy | Most sportsmanlike player combined with effectiveness
Samuel Beauchemin, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
In his third QMJHL season, Beauchemin posted career highs with 16 goals, 50 assists and 66 points in 64 games, finishing second in scoring for the Western Conference champion Huskies. He was heavily relied upon by head coach Steve Hartley and spent just two minutes in the penalty box.
Alex Huang, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
In his third QMJHL season, all with the Saguenéens, Huang shattered his previous personal best of 40 points by finishing with 70, ranking second among defensemen. His 11 goals and 59 assists were also career highs. Huang finished second among his peers with a +58 rating and 32 power-play points. Used in all situations, the Nashville Predators prospect logged just 14 penalty minutes this season.
Philippe Veilleux, Val-d'Or Foreurs
Veilleux spent much of the season atop the QMJHL scoring race before being edged at the finish line by Maxim Massé. He recorded 96 points, including 43 goals, while serving just 10 penalty minutes. Clearly more comfortable outside the penalty box, he registered 31 power-play points (9th in the QMJHL).
Guy-Carbonneau Trophy | Top defensive forward
Thomas Desruisseaux, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Desruisseaux enjoyed a career-best season with 76 points (24-52), ranking second on the Saguenéens behind Maxim Massé. Demonstrating his even-strength efficiency, only 17 of his points came on the power play, while adding two shorthanded goals. He was the team's most effective centreman in the faceoff circle with a 57.1% success rate.
Gabe Smith, Moncton Wildcats
Smith broke out this season, improving from 39 to 77 points, good for third on the powerful Wildcats. Of his 34 goals, 18 came on the power play, a league-high. Frequently matched against top opposition, he used his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame to disrupt opponents. He added two shorthanded goals and was Moncton's most-used centreman in the faceoff circle (1,170 draws), posting a 58.9% efficiency rate.
Thomas Verdon, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Verdon's 95 points ranked third in the QMJHL, while his 59 assists placed him second. He recorded 36 power-play points (3rd) and led the league with 10 game-winning goals, helping the Huskies capture the Western Conference title. The 20-year-old veteran also excelled in the faceoff circle (58.8%) and scored three shorthanded goals.
Kevin-Lowe Trophy | Top defensive defenseman
Peteris Bulans, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Alongside Huang, Tourigny, Lavoie and Bernier, Bulans may not get all the recognition he deserves. Not flashy, but highly effective, as shown by his 40 points and +42 rating. Just two points shy of his career high, the Latvian was a trusted option for Yanick Jean against top opposing lines, late in games and on the penalty kill.
Adam Fortier-Gendron, Moncton Wildcats
When thinking of the Wildcats, names like Desnoyers, Smith, Bleyl and Guimond come to mind. In the shadows, Fortier-Gendron did tremendous work, leading the QMJHL with a +64 rating. He also collected 38 points, including 35 at even strength. In key defensive situations, coach MacDougall consistently sent him onto the ice.
Félix Plamondon, Shawinigan Cataractes
Plamondon has steadily developed over four years into a reliable defensive presence. His point totals rose from 15 to 21 to 32 over three seasons. Of his 32 points this year, 29 came at even strength. He also posted a +46 rating, far ahead of any teammate. Without flash, he became Daniel Renaud's go-to defenseman to shut down top opponents.
Maurice-Filion Trophy | General Manager of the Year
Gordie Dwyer, Newfoundland Regiment
Dwyer worked hard to help the Regiment finish sixth overall in its inaugural season. Key offseason moves included acquiring Justin Larose and selecting Marek Danicek in the CHL Import Draft-both combining for 160 points. Veteran Dominic Pilote was another strong addition. During the season, Dwyer added Alexis Michaud, Alexis Mathieu, Ryan Dwyer and goaltender Louis-Antoine Denault, stabilizing the crease and helping the team finish top three in the East.
Yanick Jean, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
Jean and the Saguenéens had high expectations in 2025-2026, built through the 2022 and 2023 drafts. He made a key move selecting Maxim Schäfer in the CHL Import Draft, then added Tomas Lavoie, Alexis Bernier, Jordan Tourigny, Lucas Beckman, Liam Lefebvre and Mavrick Lachance during the season. Chicoutimi surged in the second half, finishing just one point behind Moncton for first overall.
Taylor MacDougall, Moncton Wildcats
Junior hockey is said to be cyclical-but not for the Wildcats. After winning the Gilles-Courteau Trophy in 2025, Moncton became just the ninth team in QMJHL history to win back-to-back regular season titles. While core players remained, MacDougall strengthened the roster with additions like Tommy Bleyl, Niko Tournas, Teddy Mutryn, Kuzma Voronin and Rian Chudzinski, plus key in-season pickups like Evan Dépatie, Sam Vilen and Gavin Cornforth. A winning culture is clearly being built in Moncton with the MacDougalls.
Michael-Bossy Trophy | Top professional prospect
Tommy Bleyl, Moncton Wildcats
Bleyl finished second among rookies with 81 points in 63 games, a QMJHL rookie defenseman record. His 68 assists led the league. Among defensemen, he outpaced Alex Huang by 11 points. Eligible for the NHL Draft this June, many project him as a first-round pick.
Maddox Dagenais, Québec Remparts
After missing 21 games as a rookie, Dagenais broke out with 62 points in 62 games, ranking 34th in the QMJHL. He led his team with 10 power-play goals and 25 power-play points, while his 273 shots ranked fourth in the league. He is ranked 18th in North America by NHL Central Scouting.
Egor Shilov, Victoriaville Tigres
Shilov led all rookies and finished seventh in league scoring with 82 points in 63 games. He ranked second among rookies with 32 goals and third with 31 power-play points, while winning 54.8% of his faceoffs. He is projected as a potential first-round NHL pick.
Michel-Bergeron Trophy | Offensive Rookie of the Year
Alexis Joseph, Saint John Sea Dogs
Joseph ranked sixth among rookies with 60 points (24-36) in 54 games, and was the only 16-year-old in the top six. He added 18 power-play points and a rookie-leading four shorthanded goals. He will be eligible for the NHL Draft only in 2027.
Egor Shilov, Victoriaville Tigres
Shilov led all rookies and finished seventh in league scoring with 82 points in 63 games. He ranked second among rookies with 32 goals and third with 31 power-play points, while winning 54.8% of his faceoffs. He is projected as a potential first-round NHL pick.
Alexey Vlasov, Victoriaville Tigres
Vlasov ranked 10th in the QMJHL with 80 points in 64 games. His 44 goals ranked fourth overall and first among rookies. He also ranked third with 16 power-play goals and fifth with 33 power-play points. He is ranked 108th in North America by NHL Central Scouting.
Paul-Dumont Trophy | Personality of the Year
Caleb Desnoyers, Moncton Wildcats
Had he not missed 19 games due to a wrist injury, Desnoyers could very well have contended for the scoring title this season, as evidenced by his 1.73 points-per-game average (78 in 45). Beyond the numbers, Desnoyers has been an outstanding ambassador for the Wildcats and the QMJHL, taking part in numerous interviews, community engagements, and social media appearances. No one has been more in demand in the media than the Utah Mammoth's fourth overall pick in 2025.
Alexis Joseph, Saint John Sea Dogs
Slowly but surely, Joseph is getting used to all the attention that comes with being the first overall pick in the QMJHL in 2025 and a potential top selection at the 2027 NHL Draft. Brilliant on the ice at just 16 years old, with 60 points in 54 games, Joseph has been just as impressive in the classroom, being named the Sea Dogs' Student-Athlete of the Year and earning a spot among the 18 nominees for the Marcel-Robert Trophy, awarded to the QMJHL's top student-athlete. A role model, on and off the ice.
Glenn Stanford, Newfoundland Regiment
If the Regiment's inaugural season was a success, it is in part thanks to its president, Glenn Stanford. Very familiar with the St. John's market and the game of hockey-having worked in the AHL and ECHL, among others-Stanford and his team led the Regiment to a record-setting inaugural season in QMJHL history with an average of 5,233 spectators per game. On the ice, the Regiment finished third in the Eastern Conference and sixth overall. There is a genuine QMJHL buzz in St. John's, and Glenn Stanford is right at the heart of it.
Raymond-Lagacé Trophy | Defensive Rookie of the Year
Tommy Bleyl, Moncton Wildcats
Bleyl finished second among rookies with 81 points in 63 games, a QMJHL rookie defenseman record. His 68 assists led the league. Among defensemen, he outpaced Alex Huang by 11 points. Eligible for the NHL Draft this June, many project him as a first-round pick.
Jan Larys, Drummondville Voltigeurs
The third-most-used rookie goaltender, Larys led all rookie netminders with 26 wins (26-10-1-1). He ranked second among rookies with three shutouts and a .908 save percentage, and third with a 2.86 GAA. He played a key role in Drummondville's strong season and ranks fourth among North American goaltenders by NHL Central Scouting.
Malik L'Italien, Halifax Mooseheads
Selected third overall in 2025, L'Italien was the third-most productive rookie defenseman, behind Bleyl and Everett Baldwin. Unlike them, he is just 16 years old. Among Mooseheads defensemen, only veteran Owen Phillips scored more points. Despite his age, he contributed on both the power play and penalty kill.
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from April 15, 2026
- Five Wildcats Are Golden Puck Finalists - Moncton Wildcats
- QMJHL Announces Finalists for Eight Trophies - QMJHL
- Campbell & Butler Combine for the Local's Play of the Year - Charlottetown Islanders
- Smith Roars for 4 as Cats Take Commanding 3-0 Lead - Moncton Wildcats
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