The Hockey News: On The 'Q'

On this week's edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- Gatineau Olympiques star center Zach Dean joins us to discuss his club's 21-game winning streak, striking gold at the world juniors in Halifax, Nova Scotia and the push for the QMJHL playoffs.

- The QMJHL intends to ban fighting starting next season. As the details are being worked out, Will and Jamie discuss how - or how much - this will actually affect play in the league.

- It's the final week of the regular season, and two playoff spots are available for three teams. Who among the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Saint John Sea Dogs and Val-d'Or Foreurs will punch their ticket? Who will be left on the outside?

- Sherbrooke Phoenix defenseman David Spacek is the lone Minnesota Wild draftee in the QMJHL, but the parent club makes up for this with the presence of future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury.

- 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week Marc-Olivier Beaudry made the most of extra opportunities when injuries saddled the Drummondville Voltigeurs blueline. Based on the current rankings, some scouts have taken notice.

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On this week's edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- The QMJHL has appointed a new commissioner. Mario Cecchini assumes the role on May 8 after fulfilling his duties as president of the CFL Montreal Alouettes. How might Cecchini use his combination of executive experience in both sports and media to mold the league's future?

- Stephen Quirk, the QMJHL player named as a plaintiff in the recent attempted class-action lawsuit against the CHL, has spoken to the media for the first time. Will his bravery and comments compel others to tell their stories? Will this story gain further traction, particularly in the English media?

- With six games remaining for each of the top four clubs in the 'Q,' first place in each conference - and first place overall - has yet to be decided. Will the Jean Rougeau Trophy land in Quebec, Halifax, Gatineau or Sherbrooke this year?

- Banners may fly forever, but are all banners created equal? Will and Jamie discuss the merits of teams hoisting "Memorial Cup finalist" banners.

- The Dallas Stars have no drafted players currently playing in the 'Q,' nor are there any alumni on its NHL roster. However, that latter point may change soon with 2022 QMJHL playoff MVP Mavrik Bourque producing in the AHL.

- The 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week is Mael St-Denis. He has battled injuries in his second QMJHL season, but the two-way center has caught the attention of scouts while in the Rimouski Oceanic lineup.

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On this week's edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- The hockey world was surprised on Sunday afternoon with the sudden resignation of QMJHL commissioner Gilles Courteau. Will and Jamie discuss the lead-up to this news, the immediate fallout, the continuing search for a new league leader and what they feel should be top of mind in all QMJHL circles going forward as the league finds itself in turmoil over ongoing hazing allegations.

- Jamie has completed a rare journey, having watched a game in all 60 current CHL arenas.

- Though none of its prospects are currently plying their trade in the 'Q,' the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche boast an impressive list of former QMJHL players in the AHL. And, of course, there's a pair of players getting it done at the NHL level, including one guy that ranks among the greatest players in franchise history.

- Injuries have shortened the season of 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week Peteris Bulans. However, when healthy, the Latvian rearguard has made an impact on a young Chicoutimi Sagueneens squad on a nightly basis.

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On this week's edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- The Sherbrooke Phoenix and Gatineau Olympiques enter the final month of the regular season neck and neck in the race for first place in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Victoriaville Tigres and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are vying for third place, a situation not many would have predicted last fall.

- A recent newspaper article in the Quebec media discusses perceived shortcomings in the league's educational policies. Will and Jamie offer a reply.

- With the current sanctions in place, the annual Canada/Russia series has been placed on hold. Should something take the event's place in an effort to showcase top talent from throughout the CHL?

- In Trois-Rivieres, the ECHL Lions honored the former QMJHL Draveurs over the weekend, complete with throwback sweaters. Though it's already a very popular trend in the 'Q,' what other retro events might we see in the future?

- The Chicago Blackhawks are in the midst of a very deep rebuild. With three players in the AHL and star forward Samuel Savoie in Gatineau, there's a strong chance the club will make their climb back to the top with 'Q' players on its roster.

- Enjoying a breakout year in Cape Breton, Cam Squires, the latest 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week, will play a key role on an Eagles squad that is poised to make a climb in the standings.

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On this week's edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- The Halifax Mooseheads have a new principal owner as Bobby Smith has sold the franchise to Michigan businessman Sam Simon. How does this affect the Mooseheads and the sale of CHL franchises going forward?

- The Moose have also lost forward Zachary l'Heureux for 10 games due to his incident with a fan two weeks ago. Does the punishment fit the act?

- With a month to go in the regular season, Will and Jamie discuss the race for the final playoff spots in the QMJHL.

- The guys go back to the mailbag to answer your questions.

- The Arizona Coyotes boast QMJHL players and alumni at all levels of its system, including three players currently suiting up in the league.

- This week's 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week is goaltender Quentin Miller, who has posted impressive numbers between the pipes for the powerful Quebec Remparts.

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On this week's edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' Podcast with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- There's a new rivalry in the league as things got heated between the Halifax Mooseheads and Gatineau Olympiques, culminating in an indefinite suspension to Moose star Zachary L'Heureux.

- The Olympiques then went on to sweep their annual interleague series with the Ottawa 67's. Is it time for more interleague play in the CHL?

- The Drummondville Voltigeurs and Val-d'Or Foreurs are in the hunt for new GMs. Who will fill these spots ahead of the draft in June?

- The guys open up the mailbag to answer your questions.

- There are no players in the QMJHL drafted by the Washington Capitals, but at least one big name for the league's recent past seems poised for a return to the NHL.

- Luke Patterson of the Cape Breton Eagles became a Telus Cup champion with the Moncton Flyers last year. This year, he's making an impression in the draft rankings and is the latest 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week.

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On this week's edition of The Hockey News On The 'Q' Podcast with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- It's been a tough season for the players and fans in Drummondville, while one of the league's youngest teams continues to be a pleasant surprise in Chicoutimi.

- The city of Trois-Rivieres hasn't hosted a QMJHL franchise in over 30 years. Could that change in the years to come?

- With the OHL preparing to host the 2024 Memorial Cup, Will and Jamie discuss potential host sites in the 'Q' for the 2025 tournament.

- Former league superstars Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby are synonymous with the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, a number of other league alumni are working their way through the Pens' system as well.

- Sherbrooke Phoenix center Justin Gill has gone undrafted two years running. His pro prospects will likely change this summer, however, as discussed in the 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week segment.

- Much more.

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On this week's episode of The Hockey News On The 'Q' Podcast with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- The Halifax Mooseheads keep on rolling, now at 21 straight games with a point or more. The Quebec Remparts are also red-hot.

- The CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game happened last Wednesday, and there were no other games in the CHL last Tuesday or Wednesday as a result. Should the same be done for the semifinal and medal games at the world juniors?

- The Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL signed Zachary Morin, a highly-rated prospect for the 2023 QMJHL draft. Could this become a trend where more players take the USHL to NCAA route?

- The Philadelphia Flyers are the team profiled this week. Alexis Gendron is the only player still in the QMJHL, but there are seven players from the league now in the pro ranks, including Sean Couturier.

- Luke Coughlin of the Rimouski Oceanic is the 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week.

- And more, including another coveted question pulled from the mailbag.

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On this edition of The Hockey News on the 'Q' Podcast, Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer are joined by Eastlink TV personality Logan Delaney.

- The Halifax Mooseheads, Quebec Remparts and Sherbrooke Phoenix are all riding point streaks. What could set one of these teams apart on the road to a championship?

- It's been a noteworthy week for QMJHL alumni. Three players – William Dufour, Jakob Pelletier and Samuel Bolduc – have all skated in their first NHL contests over the past seven days. The guys discuss what they've seen – and, in at least one case, what they've heard – since these debuts.

- A pair of QMJHL coaches are in the spotlight. While Quebec's Patrick Roy earned his 500th win, Saint John's Travis Crickard issued a suspension... to himself.

- The guys dive into the mailbag to answer your questions.

- The New York Rangers have one drafted player skating in the QMJHL, Moncton's Max Barbashev. But the NHL club is a veritable who's who of league talent, both on the ice and behind the bench.

- Chicoutimi's Andrei Loshko has been on fire as of late, earning him recognition as the latest 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week.

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On this week's episode of The Hockey News on the 'Q' with Will MacLaren and Jamie Tozer:

- The Halifax Mooseheads haven't lost in regulation since late November, in part thanks to some key acquisitions and outstanding goaltending from the latest QMJHL player of the week, Mathis Rousseau.

- Hockey Canada has indicated they would accept proposals from Halifax and Moncton to host the world juniors in 2025. Is this a sign of things to come for future host cities? How soon is "too soon" to host again?

- There were 33 QMJHLers named to the NHL Mid-Season Players to Watch list, and seven are headed to the CHL Top Prospects game later this month. Who rose in the ranks? Any surprises?

- The New York Islanders currently have no drafted players in the QMJHL. However, there are impact guys at both the NHL and AHL levels, and most of them have a winning pedigree.

- The 2023 NHL draft prospect of the week is Mooseheads defenseman Dylan MacKinnon, who earned a spot in the CHL Top Prospects game earlier this week after an impressive first half.

- Will and Jamie dive into the mailbag to answer your questions.

- Much more.

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