Author: Christian Cote

  • 2026 QMJHL’s New England Prospects Showcase Standouts

    The QMJHL’s New England Prospects Showcase returned to Wellesley, Massachusetts for a two‑day evaluation event featuring some of the region’s top 2010‑born players eligible for upcoming the QMJHL draft along with some 2009 prospects. Split into two teams of 20, the prospects were already on QMJHL team radars after their respective regular seasons and participation for some in the US Nationals. Several late‑season risers were looking to solidify their status ahead of the June draft to be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    91 White F Owen Lundin – Feb 26, 2010 (Bolton, MA) – 5’11, 165lbs
    Owen Lundin was one of the most active forwards across the two games, constantly popping up in dangerous areas and using his quick angle changes to shake defenders. A right shot who plays with purpose, he stayed open for rebounds and second‑chance looks while showing solid puck‑handling through traffic. His motor kept him involved all over the offensive zone, and his ability to pressure, retrieve pucks, and immediately turn plays toward the net made him a consistent problem for opposing defenders.

    29 Blue goalie Jesse Bernardinelli – Mar 04, 2010 (Wakefield, MA) – 6’2, 159 lbs
    Jesse Bernardinelli stands out as an imposing right‑handed catching goalie. He used his stature and composure to command his crease, regularly stepping out to the top of his arc to challenge shooters and take away space. He stayed calm while facing heavy volume, sealing the bottom of the net on close‑range scrambles and making multiple second‑ and third‑effort stops. Bernardinelli tracked plays well and covered his angles effectively throughout the weekend, though he was beaten on a difficult side‑to‑side 2‑on‑1 sequence. Overall, his poise, positioning, and ability to manage chaos in tight stood out amongst the goaltenders at the event.

    77 Blue D Mason Stonacek – Dec 26, 2010 (Stamford, CT) – 5’10, 161 lbs
    Mason Stonacek was the most active defenseman I noticed, using a quick, efficient stick to jumpstart breakouts and disrupt plays in the neutral zone with well‑timed sweeps. He retrieved pucks cleanly under pressure and protected them confidently around the net. He repeatedly kept plays alive at the offensive blue line with sharp reactions and good footwork. Stonacek regularly joined the rush with calculated timing and showed comfort shooting from distance, identifying open options in the zone and calling for pucks on the power play. His only real blemish came on Day 2, when a rushed distribution led to a costly 2‑on‑0 against, but overall he played with assertiveness and strong instincts that made him one of the more noticeable players throughout the weekend.

    16 White D Mason Wohlers – May 20, 2010 (Somers, CT) – 6’00, 165 lbs
    Mason Wohlers is probably the only player taking part I had seen play before, albeit in a small sample at the Whitby Silver Stick tournament. This time he defended the middle of the ice with authority, repeatedly closing down oncoming rushes and planting himself to deliver heavy, well‑timed hits. His stick was active in the neutral zone, breaking up plays with long sweeps, and he showed confidence jumping into offensive sequences—though his decision‑making there could feel unpredictable. Wohlers tried to open shooting lanes from the point but didn’t always recognize when space wasn’t truly available, leading to several blocked attempts, and he never really uncorked his big right‑shot release. He identified open options in the offensive zone but a few sequences, including some odd shot choices, reflected a player still refining his reads. This performance showed both his physical strengths and the areas where added patience will elevate his game.

    7 Blue F Chase Warsofsky – Jun 20, 2009 (Northborough, MA) – 5’08, 159 lbs
    Chase Warsofsky was among the 2009-born prospects included. He brought real dynamism, pushing play with pace and attacking the offensive zone with quick cuts and a fast, compact shot release without obvious windup. He contributed on draws and showed strong compete, hustling back hard after missed chances and staying engaged in all three zones. Warsofsky drove the middle with speed, once cutting inside to set a screen before firing through traffic. He later buried a rebound by battling at the net front. His blend of pace, effort, and opportunistic offense made him one of the more noticeable smaller forwards in the event.

    22 Blue F Jameson Needham – Jan 6, 2010 (Woburn, MA) – 5’11, 175 lbs
    Jameson Needham had an energetic showing, taking a few high‑risk routes on exits that forced him to scramble to maintain possession before pushing play into the neutral zone. Once settled, he consistently got himself into the thick of the offensive action, showing a willingness to drive into traffic and stay connected to developing plays. Needham came out with extra pop early in the second game, noticeably raising his compete level, tracking back hard after turnovers, and re‑engaging quickly on the forecheck. His shift‑to‑shift urgency stood out, and while some decisions carried risk, his overall pace and willingness to battle left me with a solid impression in the end.

    20 Blue F Jackson Luedke – Jul 2, 2010 (Ridgefield, CT) – 6’01, 182 lbs
    Jackson Luedke was consistently hard to play against, especially along the boards, where he denied opponents time and space and won a lot of small‑area battles. He was reliably the first man up on the forecheck during opposing breakouts, pressuring puck carriers early and forcing rushed decisions. With the puck, Luedke showed good patience—lifting his head, scanning for options, and waiting out defenders before moving it to the right spot. As a whole, he possesses a nice combination of pressure, competitiveness, and composed puck touches .

    11 White F Kai Scranton – May 3, 2010 (West Hartford, CT) – 5’09, 144 lbs
    Kai Scranton showed a nice work rate, breaking up plays and immediately transitioning them into offense with quick, purposeful touches. When sequences broke down, he didn’t quit on them—driving pucks deep, extending possessions, and creating secondary chances through sheer persistence. Scranton stayed active around the net, keeping his stick available for redirects and positioning himself well for rebound opportunities. In the offensive zone he chased down loose pucks with energy, applying pressure that disrupted opposing breakouts and kept his line in control. He’s a player to keep an eye on as he matures physically.

    Over the course of two competitive days at the QMJHL NE Showcase, Team Blue emerged victorious in both matchups, though the second game tightened considerably as players settled in. With this portion of US evaluations now complete, attention shifts to the final stage of the 2026 QMJHL Cup. This event took place April 22–25 at the Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan. Four teams took part, featuring 80 2010‑born prospects, selected by the CSR. For the first time, American‑born players participated in this final stage of the QMJHL Cup, highlighted by Logan Cotter (St. Mark’s), Robert Dekleine (Belmont Hill), and Mason Stonacek (Mount St. Charles). Their inclusion marks an important step in the league’s expanding reach beyond Quebec and the Atlantic provinces

  • Whitby Silver Stick Invitational

    The Whitby Silver Stick Invitational is one of the premier showcases, serving as a proving ground for players hoping to make their mark with junior and college scouts. Many of these athletes are still a few years away from NHL Entry Draft eligibility, but the tournament has long been a launchpad for future stars, with countless alumni advancing to the different CHL leagues and eventually the NHL. This year’s event featured 30 teams across six pools, producing thrilling preliminary-round battles and razor-thin outcomes. Ontario clubs dominated the field in numbers, but it was the two superior Michigan-based programs who stole the spotlight in final stages

    It was my first time attending this tournament and, therefore, my first viewings of almost all players. Still, here are some standouts I noted:

    Brady Nash wearing 58 for Don Mills Flyers  – 

    Forward – Jan 14, 2010 – Thunder Bay, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1053449/brady-nash

    An energetic left-shooting centre who was always putting pressure on the opposing puck carrier. He makes up for his average height by throwing hard hits in the open and firing off stiff shots from up close. He was quite noticeable on the PP

    Ronan Quinn wearing 17 for Markham Majors – 

    Forward – Jun 12, 2010 – Stouffville, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1048269/ronan-quinn

    A tall imposing lefty forward who comes down the wings with quick handles. He attracted the backtracking defenceman towards him before making a smart pass over to produce a scoring play. 

    Walker Connor wearing 11 for Philadelphia Jr Flyers – 

    Forward – Apr 21, 2010 – Paoli, PA, USA

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1021405/walker-connor

    A tall skilled right wing who goes to the net with rushes or sets up aiming to move D for clearer lanes. Solid feints with the puck, in motion 1 on 1.  Still pretty lanky with an interesting frame to fill in. 

    Jakub Kuklinski wearing 88 for Mississauga Senators  – 

    Forward – 2010 – Bolton, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1053346/jakub-kuklinski

    A large righty forward with smooth hands who opens shooting lanes for himself. He circles around in the offensive zone with intent and fluidity, maintaining control through traffic. Gets goals on rebounds from in close as well with his quick hands. One of my favourite players so far.

    Mason Wohlers wearing 20 for BK Selects –

    Defenseman – May 20, 2010 – Somers, CT, USA

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/998592/mason-wohlers

    A tall right shooting D who protected the front of his net and tied up sticks. His explosiveness is a work in progress but one at the blue line he’s patient with his lateral passes and shots when lanes clear up. 

    Leo Acker wearing 42 for Chicago Mission – 

    Forward – May 28, 2010 – Chicago, IL, USA

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1018259/leo-acker

    A smaller right wing with blazing speed. He caught the puck in transition and let off a quick wrister with no wind up to pick off an open spot high blocker. His game right now is mainly focused on creating offense. Additional attention to defensive zone play will make him a more desirable prospect.

    Tanner Adams wearing 13 for Hill Academy – 

    Forward – Jun 03, 2010 – Porcupine, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1033915/tanner-adams

    An imposing forechecker with thunderous checks along the boards. Right handed, he moves from A to B with purpose and handles the puck beautifully through the neutral zone. I didn’t get to see his release or shot velocity. 

    Marko Mesich wearing 31 for Toronto Jr Canadiens – 

    Goalie – May 23, 2010 – Oakville, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/936781/marko-mesich

    A wide goaltender with efficient side to side movement. Economical in his butterfly usage. He had a solid lead in the third that evaporated. The goals he gave up were on surprise plays from behind the net or clean shots from close. 

    Sam Nowlan wearing 16 for Little Ceasars – 

    Forward – Jan 26, 2010 – Saint-Grégoire, NB, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1046444/samuel-nowlan

    A physically mature left shooting Centre originally from NB. He’s uneven in the faceoff circle but won his battles in the corner and established his position in the front of the net. Jumped on loose puck for a quick chance is on net or rebound opportunities for his line mates. The first game I saw was a mismatch and he took advantage of it.

    Luke Lawson wearing 1 for Mississauga Reps –

    Goalie – Jul 31, 2010 – Aurora, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1059154/luke-lawson

    Listed 6’02.5 left catching goalie. He covered the bottom really well with quick adjustments and kept his rebounds out of the blue paint. I liked his calm demeanor. He kept his team in the game almost until the end before giving up 2 on redirections late.

    Rico Champagne wearing 90 for Toronto Jr Canadiens – 

    Forward – Sep 29, 2010 – Toronto, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1093921/rico-champagne

    A smaller crafty RW who’s not afraid to get in tough areas. Seems responsible at both ends and uses his quick feet to get places, anticipating where the puck will end up.  Catches rebounds net front to cash in on extra chances. 

    Logan Prud’homme wearing 55 for Upper Canada College – 

    Forward – Aug 02, 2010 – Ottawa, ON, CAN

    https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/967703/logan-prud-homme

    I had first seen him at the Cross Border Challenge in the summer of 2024, he was tall and lanky and took on the whole team to score. I said if he fills in he’ll be a beast. Now listed 6’7 the right handed centre is a great puck handler out of his zone, unafraid to take on checkers through the neutral zone and drive the net. Strong on draws. He’s unmovable once he gets to the front of the net. 

    Based on their places of birth, most players across the 30 teams will be eligible for the OHL draft. Still, I noted some QMJHL draft eligibles

    Bishop’s Kearney:

    20 RD Mason Wohlers 

    26 RD Jayden Tillman 

    98 LW Jackson Conroy 

    Little Caesars:

    16 C Sam Nowlan 

    Pens Elite:

    8 RD Colton Kelly 

    Upper Canada College

    14 C Damian Norris 

    Hill Academy

    86 C Mika Richard