Benjamin Vigneault (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Quebec Remparts, 06/04/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Benjamin is an exceptional skater who is incredibly agile, has tremendous gap control and stick positioning. Benjamin takes great routes to pucks, very confident and composed with the puck on his stick,possesses solid puck skills, but will need to get a slight step quicker to really excel and show is full potential at the next level. He is a smooth operator out there, transitional full three zone defender at the Q level, great first pass, very elusive when pressured and can make people miss due in large part to his agility, edge control and overall skating ability. He defends well, but will need to get stronger and a touch more nasty to reach his full potential at the next level.
Thomas Auger (RW, R, 5’8″, 162, Quebec Remparts, 10/22/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: A numbers game in Moncton forced Auger out of the QMJHL very briefly, but Auger put up big numbers in a handful of games at the Jr. A level before getting moved to Quebec where he has flourished. Auger is a speedy offensively dynamic scoring forward with a great release and willingness to engage and get to the middle. Auger battled injuries over the last few seasons with Moncton which hampered his ability to get to the middle of the ice and engage in puck battles and drive offensive opportunities like he did in previous years. He has the ability to score off the rush and create offensive chances in high traffic areas with his puck skills and play making ability, When engaged Auger is very effective and is an offensive threat, his speed to the outside creates even more room, time and space for him to create, he also provides a solid two-way presence and can play in any situation.
Justin Cote (C, L, 5’6″, 163, Drummondville Voltigeurs, 07/11/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Another great example of a player that continues to excel no matter how much criticism comes his way due to his size, Cote is a game breaking, ultra-skilled gritty scoring forward that has speed for days. This kid can flat out play and drive offence, but is so reliable and accountable that he put out there in a defensive role and be an absolute ‘shit disturber’ for any opposition. Cote is incredibly difficult to defend and continues to generate offence even on a rebuilding hockey club like the Remparts.
Samuel St-Hilaire (G, L, 6’2″, 185, Rimouski Oceanic, 05/11/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Samuel moves well laterally, but still needs more quickness that should come with added strength, Very technically sound, square and patient, but would like to see him challenge even more and telescope out. He tends to go down a touch too soon on some occasions, and he needs to fight for his space and be more aggressive on top of the blue paint. It would help if he would keep his glove a touch higher when he’s in the butterfly . He has solid rebound control, but definitely one area he and any young goaltender could improve on, St-Hilaire is the most effective when he’s challenging and patient.
Pier-Olivier Roy (D, L, 5’11”, 172, Rimouski Oceanic, 03/05/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: Pier is a great skater, great agility, tremendous gap control and stick positioning. He takes great routes to pucks, demonstrates a great first pass, and is incredibly confident and composed with the puck on his stick. He is a full three zone defender at the Q level, enjoys great puck skills, doesn’t shy away from the physical nature of the game or the position. He can really lock things down back there and takes a lot of pride in defending against the oppositions best players. Roy has a tremendous release, His ability to jump into the play to support or create offensive opportunities is truly exceptional. Roy’s instincts for the game and position are truly unmatched. You can just tell this kid loves the game and position and everything that entails, definitely a throwback defender with excellent offensive instincts, The Oceanic and very lucky to have a defender like Roy back there as they head into the Memorial Cup. Roy is another great example of a player that will be an excellent candidate to make the jump to the NCAA and continue to grow and develop which will only strengthen his chances at making the jump to the pro game. Obviously undersized, but his understanding of the game and position sets him apart.
Jacob Mathieu (C, L, 5’11”, 190, Rimouski Oceanic, 05/05/2004)
Grade: B
Comments: This kid plays a lot bigger than his stature, he’s a scoring power forward in a 5’11 frame. Mathieu is relentless in all three zones and can really drive offence. He’s gritty and hardnosed to play against, and definitely doesn’t back down from anything. He relishes going to the dirty areas of the ice to create time and space for himself and his linemates, great in traffic, demonstrates good vision and processes the game very very well. He has an outstanding release and can get it off in a hurry, He is a player that if he were a few inches taller would have definitely been a NHL pick, but it’s just another case of a player really coming into his own in the Q later than expected. The Oceanic were patient with him and gave him an opportunity to grow and develop and that’s certainly paying dividends. Obviously, like any player, Mathieu will have to continue to work on his skating, agility and elusiveness if he wants to excel at the pro game, but he’s definitely garnered attention over the last two seasons with his inspired play on both sides of the puck.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images