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Moncton Wildcats

Wildcats choose Riopel in first round of QMJHL draft

June 4, 2005 - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
Moncton Wildcats News Release


Chicoutimi, PQ ----

1st Round – (14th Overall) – Nicola Riopel (89-02-20) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Nicola Riopel in the first round, 14th overall. Riopel played last season for Antoine-Girouard of the Quebec MAAA. He had a 2.37 average with a 9.14 save percentage. Moncton Wildcats’ Chief Quebec Scout, J.F. Cote commented “He is very much a similar style to Corey Crawford. In fact, Crawford is his idle. He has tremendous lateral movement. We feel that he is the goaltender of the future, that we will be able to build our team around, following this season. He stands 5’ 11”, weighs 163 lbs.

2nd Round – The Wildcats completed a transaction with Baie Comeau. Moncton sends their second round selection, 32nd overall, along with Carl Lauzon (87-03-06) in exchange for defenseman Maxime Belanger (86-03-03) and a fifth round pick in the 2006 Midget Entry Draft. Moncton’s Head Scout Peter Nevin, described Belanger as “a physical defenseman, who enjoys the rough going. He is a 19 year old with a lot of experience and we feel he will help us on the blue line. Coming to Moncton will give him a new opportunity, after a having a fairly tough year, plague by injuries, in Baie Comeau. He is a former first-round selection, 10th overall, who we expect to be one of our top five defenseman.”

3rd Round – none

4th Round – (68th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Pierre-Marc Lessard (89-06-15) in the fourth round, 68th overall. Lessard played last season with Rive Sud in the Quebec Espoirs Prospect league. Moncton’s Director of scouting in Quebec, J F Cote, describes Lessard “as a great offensive prospect for the Wildcats. He stands 6’ 1” and weighs 176 lbs. and has a huge upside in the future. This season, in just 20 games, he scored 33 goals and added 17 assists for 50 points. He is a very skilled forward, with a great shot and once he fills out, he should be a strong power forward for the Wildcats in the near future.” Lessard is the younger brother of former Wildcat Louis-Philippe Lessard.

4th Round – (71st Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Marc André Labelle (89-05-01) in the fourth round as well, 71st overall. Labelle played last season with Amos MAAA. Cote commented that Labelle was a top scorer throughout his minor hockey career in the Montreal area. “He will be a big winger for the Wildcats and definitely one of the top scorers in the League in the future. Along with his offensive skills, he brings character to the team, as well as leadership skills.”

5th Round - none

6th Round - none

7th Round – (122nd Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Simon Danis-Pepin (88-04-11) in the seventh round, 122nd overall. Danis-Pepin played last season with MAAA in Gatineau, Que. This defenseman stands 6’ 6” and weighs 199 lbs. Moncton’s Director of Scouting, Peter Nevin described Danis-Pepin as a highly skilled defenseman and a gifted skater, considering his enormous size. “ He is a right-hand defenseman with great offensive skills, who is destined to quarterback our powerplay,” commented Nevin. “This season, he actually had more points than Mathieu Biron , at the same age.”

8th Round – (140th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Zach Sill (88-05-24) who played last season with Cole Harbour (MAAA). He stands 6’ and weighs 180 lbs.

9th Round – (158th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Matt Eagles (88-01-18) who played last season with St. Paul Prep School in United States. This 5’8”. 186 lbs. forward is the son of former NHL’er and current St. Thomas University Head Coach Mike Eagles.

10th Round – (176th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Mathieu Limoges (88-10-25) who played last season for the Tigres of the Espoirs, Que. This forward stands 6’ and weighs 170 lbs.

11th Round – (194th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Jason Lepage (88-10-12) in the 11th round, 194th overall. He played for the Conquerants of the Espoirs, Que. This forward stand 5’ 10 ½” and weighs 165 lbs.

12th Round – (212th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Brian Strait (88-01-04) in the 12th round, 212th overall. He played last year for the U.S. National Under – 18 Team. This defenseman stands 6’ and weighs 183 lbs.

12th Round – (213th Overall – (from Quebec) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Chad MacQuaid (88-02-23) in the 12th round, 213th overall. He played last season with Cornwall, PEI MAAA. This forward stands 5’, 11” and weighs 155 lbs.

13th Round – (230th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Matthew Lobban (88-09-18) in the 13th round, 230th overall. He played last year for the Miramichi MAAA. This defenseman stands 6’ and weighs 192 lbs.

14th Round – (248th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Brad Smith (88-04-14) in the 14th round, 230th overall. He played for Charlottetown, PEI MAAA last season. He stands 6’ 2” and weighs 235 lbs.

15th Round – (266th Overall) – The Moncton Wildcats have selected Paul Snell (88-04-04) in the 15th round, 266th overall. He played for the New England Huskies last season. This center stands 5;, 11” and weighs 170 lbs.

Check out the Moncton Wildcats Statistics

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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Stories from June 4, 2005


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