Eight hopefuls of the Canadian still participate in the playoffs in the major junior hockey leagues of Quebec (LHJMQ), Ontario (OHL) or the West (WHL).
Joshua Roy is having a thunderous spring tournament with the Sherbrooke Phœnix in the QMJHL.
At the other end of the country, Kaiden Guhle is also a crucial cog for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL.
Le Journal looked at the journey of eight Canadian hopefuls who are continuing their journey in the playoffs. We present them to you.
All three circuits have reached the semi-final stage.
Note that in the QMJHL, the playoffs are played under the formula three out of five.
Left winger | 5th round pick (150th) in 2021 | 6 ft | 191 lbs.
Sherbrooke Phoenix
The Phoenix play against the Charlottetown Islanders in the semi-finals (3 of 5)
Statistics :
In series: 16 pts | 5b | 11p | 7 pj | 9
In season: 119 pts | 51 b | 68p | 66 pd | 43
Roy never slowed down. He is having a phenomenal season. In his third year in the QMJHL, he finished atop the scorers with 119 points. The Canadian rewarded him by offering him a first contract. Since the start of the playoffs, he has still been the offensive engine of the Phoenix with a rate of just over two points per game. He could prove a steal for a fifth-round pick. “He’s been good in the big games since the start of the playoffs,” Phoenix head coach Stephane Julien said. Against the Armada [de Blainville-Boisbriand], we really put a guy in his pants, but he found ways to score. He really wants to win. »
Defender | 4th round pick (113th) in 2021 | 6 ft | 189 lbs.
Islanders de Charlottetown
The Islanders play against the Sherbrooke Phœnix in the semi-finals (3 of 5)
Statistics :
In series: 6 pts | 3b | 3p | 5 pj | 7
In season: 44 pts | 8b | 36p | 68 pd | 30
The Islanders are yet to lose a game in the playoffs. They swept the Moncton Wildcats and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Trudeau and his teammates will face a good offensive machine in the semi-finals against the Phoenix. In Charlottetown, Trudeau finds himself in the shadow of defenseman Lukas Cormier, a third-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020. Since the start of the playoffs, Trudeau has amassed the same number of points as Cormier. The left-handed defenseman has had an interesting progression this season with 44 points and a record of 30. “We’re talking about a very good skater with great intensity,” noted Stéphane Julien.
Center | 6th round pick (191st) in 2021 | 5’7″ | 175 lbs.
Islanders de Charlottetown
The Islanders play against the Sherbrooke Phœnix in the semi-finals (3 of 5)
Statistics :
In series: 7 pts | 1b | 6p | 6 pj | 4
In season: 86 pts | 24 b | 62p | 48 pd | 43
Simoneau has a lot of experience. He played a fifth season in the QMJHL as a 20-year-old player. It was his first year on Prince Edward Island. He stayed true to himself with two points per game. He would like to end his time in the Courteau circuit with a first conquest of the President’s Cup. “Simoneau is coming back from an ankle injury [he suffered during the regular season]. We will have to keep an eye on it, said Stéphane Julien. Xavier Simoneau is relentless, he can change the rhythm of a game. »
Defender | 5th round pick (142nd) in 2021 | 6 ft | 210 lbs.
Spitfires de Windsor
The Spitfires are tied 1-1 in the semis against the Flint Firebirds (4 of 7)
Statistics :
In series: 1 pt | 0 b | 1 p | 12 pj | 3
In season: 17 pts | 2b | 15p | 62 pd | 25
Sobolev did not play last season due to the OHL season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first full campaign at Windsor, the 19-year-old Russian didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, especially offensively. He is described as a defender with a defensive mentality and a robust playing nose.
Guardian | 7th round pick (214th) in 2021 | 6’6″ | 186 lbs.
Battalion de North Bay
Battalion loses 2-0 in semi-finals to Hamilton Bulldogs (4 of 7)
Statistics :
In series: 6 v | 1 d | 3.88 moy. | , 872 | 0 bl
In season: 29 v | 10 d | 6 dp | 2.87 moy. | , 906 | 2 p
Vrbetic is a giant format goalkeeper. In the second round of the playoffs, he had three of five starts against the Kingston Frontenacs. He signed two victories against the team of Shane Wright, who could be the first player drafted this summer. In the semi-finals, Vrbetic took part in the first game against the Bulldogs before giving way to Domenic DiVincentiis for the second meeting.
Center | 2020 2nd round pick (48th) | 6 ft | 180 lbs.
Bulldogs de Hamilton
Bulldogs lead 2-0 in semifinals against North Bay Battalion (4 of 7)
Statistics :
In series: 4 pts | 0b | 4p | 8 pj | -5
In season: 64 pts | 34 b | 30p | 61 pd | 18
Back in the OHL after a season with the Laval Rocket and HC Litvinov in the Czech Republic, Mysak reconnected with the Bulldogs, one of the very good teams in Ontario. Offensively, he hasn’t had great numbers since the start of the spring tournament. But Mysak had a respectable season with 34 goals. He was the captain of the Czech Republic for the World Juniors which lasted only a few days in Edmonton.
Defender | Never drafted, contract with CH in October 2021 | 6’4″ | 204 lbs.
Bulldogs de Hamilton
Bulldogs lead 2-0 in semifinals against North Bay Battalion (4 of 7)
Statistics :
In series: 8 pts | 4b | 4p | 9 pj | 13
In season: 34 pts | 12 b | 22p | 51 pd | 44
Like Guhle in the WHL, Xhekaj has switched sides this season. The Bulldogs paid a heavy price to uproot him from the Kitchener Rangers. They offered forward Navrin Mutter, two second-round, two third-round and one fourth-round picks. Xhekaj brings a healthy dose of toughness to the Bulldogs. He leads his team with a record of 13 since the start of the playoffs. He scored two game-winning goals. The big left-handed defender had had a very good camp for CH recruits to receive an invitation to the main camp this fall and come out with a contract a few days later.
Defender | 2020 1st round pick (16th) | 6 ft 2 in | 200 lbs.
Oil Kings d’Edmonton
Oil Kings lead 2-1 in semifinals over Winnipeg Ice (4 of 7)
Statistics :
In series: 11 pts | 4b | 7p | 11 pj | 10
In season: 40 pts | 7b | 33p | 42 pd | 22
The Oil Kings have big ambitions. They backed up the “Brinks” truck to lure Guhle to his hometown. Oil Kings president and general manager Kirt Hill traded winger Carson Latimer (Ottawa Senators 2021 fourth-round pick), defenseman Eric Johnston to the Prince Albert Raiders in addition to sacrificing two first-round picks round, a sixth round pick and a third round conditional. Guhle hasn’t disappointed since his Edmonton debut. He is the Oil Kings blue line general. Always responsible in his territory and physically imposing, the Albertan also writes his name on the score sheet frequently with 11 points in 11 games.
