Played on Oct 10, 2025
Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Game Played in Avenir Centre
Connor Sturgeon (D, L, 6’4″, 213, Rimouski Oceanic, 06/25/2007)
Game Rating
C+
1 Viewing
Comments: Sturgeon has all the tools to be an effective shutdown nasty two-zone defender if he finds and solidifies that identity. Critics will key in on his skating and lateral mobility as a weakness, he does need some work on his mobility and agility from a backward skating perspective, but let’s look at all the positives he brings to the table, he has a good stick, great shot from the point, decent gap control and his give a shit meter is very high. This kid really cares about winning and competes like hell, At 6’3, he moves very well for his size, he has a good first step, is a very good forward skater, good vision and good first pass, From a gap control perspective that area needs some refinement, but you could say that about a lot of young defenders, At times his positioning, routes to pucks and pivots are problematic which causes him to get caught in between especially in the neutral zone, Critics will say this is caused by his skating, getting caught in between is problematic playing against speedy opponents, on the surface that’s perhaps why his skating doesn’t look the greatest at times, he needs more knee bend and needs to work on his backward skating agility and pivots, but again this kid has tons of potential, It’s been a tough road for Sturgeon in the Q, he sustained an injury last season and saw very limited action based on the Oceanic’s depth and championship contender cycle, Right now a less is more approach and small refinements in his game and skating will definitely serve him well if he wants to reach the next level. Sturgeon is a good penalty killer with a good stick, scouting is all about projecting and developing, where will Connor Sturgeon be at 19, 20 or even 23? There’s tons of potential here and that’s what matters most, but he definitely needs to continue to work on his backward skating and his decision making with the puck on his stick. He played the right side a lot at the U18 AAA level, but he’s definitely suited to be on his strong side at the Q level and that’s where he is right now with the Oceanic, Here’s another case of a potential late bloomer and young defender that needs more time and more reps.
Liam Lefebvre (C, R, 6’2″, 203, Rimouski Oceanic, 05/15/2007, Vermont)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: It doesn’t take too long to notice how much potential and how good Liam Lefebvre really is, for me it was his first shift. This kid jumps off the page in so many categories, At 6’3 he skates incredibly well and has tremendous edge control. He processes the game and wing position extremely well and takes great lines to pucks in all three zones, but especially on the forecheck. This kid is only about 10 games into his Q career, and he possesses a very underrated two-way game. On the defensive side of things he competes like hell, back checks with purpose and has a very active stick, he seals guys off with his body and uses his leverage to win puck battles, He skates so well he can beat opponents to pucks and wins the vast majority of puck battles along the halfboards. He has great vision and is a tremendous passer of the puck, he makes subtle plays with and without the puck and makes great decisions with the puck, I realize comparisons are sometimes difficult and unfair to make, but Liam Lefebvre plays a very similar game to that of Ottawa Senators power forward Drake Batherson. I saw Batherson play in his first full season in the Q and Lefebvre is on a similar trajectory. From an offensive side of things Lefebvre drives opportunities has a very heavy accurate shot, and he can get it off very quickly and in stride. He has very good puck skills in traffic and finds all of the quiet areas of the ice in the offensive zone. Obviously, he doesn’t have Batherson’s scoring touch in tight or puck skills in traffic yet, but this kid could surprise a lot of teams and has the potential to be a late 2nd or very early 3rd round pick if he continues to play the right way and plays with pace. Some big body skilled forwards rely too heavily on their skill to get things done, this kid plays the game the right way every time he steps on the ice, If he continues to work on his skating and 1st step this kid is going places in the game.
Emile Duquet (LW, L, 5’9″, 171, Rimouski Oceanic, 02/02/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Émile Duquet is a standout player known for his exceptional work ethic, which translates to valuable minutes in every game situation. He excels as an energy player, effortlessly navigating through traffic and never showing signs of weakness. Duquet’s versatility is unmatched, allowing him to seamlessly switch between forward positions with ease. His hands are highly skilled, and he possesses impressive puck skills, often underrated by opponents who struggle to contain his speed and agility. With a strong foundation in both the junior and professional ranks, Duquet’s potential for growth at the pro level is substantial, making him an attractive prospect for top-tier teams.
1 Viewing
Comments: Duquet continues to catch my eye like he has over the past few years in the Q. Here’s an ‘undersized’ player that doesn’t get a ton of credit or recognition for what he brings to the table, At 5’10 this kid is hands down one of the hardest workers in the entire league. He logs massive minutes in every situation, is a fantastic energy player, has great hands, plays in traffic and never backs down. Duquet is incredibly versatile and is one player that you can tell his opponents hate to play against. When you line up against Emile Duquet you know you’re going to be in for a long long night, because he will make you pay in many aspects of the game. He’s skilled enough to play up and down any line up and can play both forward positions with relative ease, but I can definitely see this kid playing at the pro level, I like him through the middle at the Q level, but he could play on the wing at the pro game and bring tons of energy and grit. His offensive instincts and puck skills are highly underrated. There’s no question Emile Duquet is one of the most underrated players in the Q.
Dovydas Jukna (LW, L, 6’3″, 199, Rimouski Oceanic, 02/07/2007)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Jukna is the type of player that grows on you and does certain things that jump off the page on some shifts and then makes you wonder just how good he could be if he progresses and continues to adapt and adjust to the league and style of play. There’s no question Jukna is skilled and possesses very good puck skills and is good in traffic, however his processing and decision making lacked at times because he’s still getting used to the league. At times I found he needed to be more assertive or urgent in puck battles, and with the puck then there were a few sequences where he had better jump and took over control of those situations and made the right play and then in turn supported the play. Again here’s a player only about 11 games into his Q career and just trying to find his footing in the circuit, He was hesitant and second guessed himself especially when he had the puck on his stick in offensive situations which led to turnovers, but when he relied on his instincts he pushed the play and created a lot of time and space for his linemates. He skates well and is very shifty and agile, has a great accurate release and gets it off quickly, but like most Euro imports in their first foray into the league he was hesitant to use their speed constantly and pick and choose their spots. Once he figures and gains more comfort he will be able to play in all three zones at top speed especially because he processes the game so well.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images