Neutral Zone – Men's
In-Depth Amateur Scouting Coverage and Rankings

Login/Logout

QMJHL: Victoriaville (1) at Quebec (2)

Game played 2/7/2025.

Andreas Straka (C, L, 6’1″, 190, Quebec Remparts, 07/04/2007)

Game Rating

B

1 Viewing

Comments: Andreas is a skilled forward with strong offensive instincts and a high compete level, though he needs to sharpen his decision-making in the offensive zone. He takes care of his defensive responsibilities well but would benefit from quicker reads. He executed a smart dump-in but lacked the necessary pressure on the defender, missing an opportunity to create a turnover. On the power play, he mishandled a pass and panicked, resulting in a costly odd-man rush against. However, he rebounded with an impressive display of speed and awareness, accelerating through the neutral zone, making a slick backhand pass, and driving hard to the net. His playmaking ability shone on an odd-man rush, as he drew a defender toward him before delivering a perfect pass to his winger for the tying goal. Defensively, he showed great commitment by staying with his man and sacrificing his body to block a shot. His persistence paid off in the offensive zone, as he battled behind the net and capitalized on a heads-up play, banking the puck off the goalie for the game-winner.

Loic Goyette (C, L, 6’1″, 194, Quebec Remparts, 10/29/2005)

Game Rating

B-

1 Viewing

Comments: Loic is a highly skilled forward with elite hands and strong situational awareness. He excelled in the faceoff circle, using a quick body spin to shield the puck and prevent his opponent from gaining possession. His defensive pressure was excellent, forcing a turnover with a quick steal from a defenseman. However, he occasionally overhandles the puck, as seen when a backchecker stripped him after he attempted one move too many. His skating is a major asset, allowing him to beat defenders with speed, and he showcased his quick release by wiring a snap shot over the goalie’s glove, though it rang off the crossbar. He consistently drives the net and was able to get a good tip on a play, just missing wide. His high-end skill was on full display when he exploded off the wall, dangled around two defenders, and got a quick backhand shot on goal. With improved puck management in high-traffic areas, Loic’s offensive skill set makes him a dangerous threat every time he’s on the ice.

Benjamin Vigneault (D, R, 6’0″, 181, Quebec Remparts, 06/04/2004, Bemidji State)

Game Rating

B+

1 Viewing

Comments: Benjamin is a poised, puck-moving defenseman who makes smart decisions with the puck and transitions play efficiently. He consistently surveys the ice before moving the puck, executing quick and effective dump-ins when necessary. His smooth skating and quick hands allow him to navigate pressure with ease, and he showcased his vision by threading a perfect pass for a prime scoring chance. Moments later, he retrieved the puck again, used a smart fake shot to freeze a defender, and delivered a crisp pass to set up another opportunity. On the power play, he excelled at moving the puck quickly and getting shots through traffic, demonstrating strong offensive instincts. He also displayed a heavy, low shot off a faceoff win, creating a dangerous scoring chance. Benjamin’s ability to control the game from the blue line makes him a valuable asset, especially in offensive situations.

Charlie Morrison (D, L, 6’3″, 190, Quebec Remparts, 10/12/2007)

Game Rating

B

1 Viewing

Comments: Charlie is a solid defenseman with good puck-moving ability, but there are areas where he can improve his decision-making and execution. His zone exit passes are generally on target, but they lack the necessary pace, making them vulnerable to interceptions. He attempted to step up and deliver a hit at the blue line but was caught off guard and laid out, resulting in a 2-on-1 that led to a goal. Despite this, he showed poise in other situations, making strong plays to hold the line and get the puck into open areas. His shot on goal could benefit from more power, but he’s effective at getting pucks through and creating opportunities with quick releases. Charlie moves well with the puck and has the ability to join the rush, though he is quick to get back on defense if the momentum shifts. His puck protection skills are solid, especially when driving wide, but he needs to work on his decision-making when carrying the puck in the offensive zone, particularly when it comes to utilizing his options on the backhand. Overall, Charlie is a reliable defenseman with room for growth in certain aspects of his game.

Justin Cote (C, L, 5’6″, 170, Quebec Remparts, 07/11/2004)

Game Rating

B

1 Viewing

Comments: Julien is a tenacious forward who excels on the forecheck, keeping his feet moving and maintaining pressure on defenders behind the net. He is dangerous with the puck, using quick changes of speed to elude defenders and create offensive opportunities. However, he could benefit from being more confident in his zone entries, as he sometimes hesitates and overcomplicates dump-ins. Julien is a key driver of the offense, consistently controlling the puck along the wall and actively communicating to orchestrate power play movements, helping dictate the flow of play. While he doesn’t possess elite speed, his vision and playmaking ability make up for it, though there are times when his lack of separation—such as being caught by a backchecker—limits his potential to create scoring chances. Overall, Julien’s strong hockey IQ and work ethic make him a valuable asset, particularly in puck control and setting up plays.

Gabriel D’Aigle (G, L, 6’4″, 220, Victoriaville Tigers, 01/29/2006)

Game Rating

A-

Gabriel D’Aigle is a physically gifted goaltender with strong shot-stopping abilities and impressive lateral mobility. He consistently makes big saves, particularly on point shots, and demonstrates excellent reflexes with his glove hand. Gabriel’s positioning in the net is generally solid, with quick recovery speed that allows him to capitalize on loose pucks. However, rebound control remains an area for improvement, as he often struggles to secure rebounds and leaves them in scoring areas. Despite this, Gabriel exhibits tenacity and athleticism, making scramble saves in tight situations. With continued focus on refining his rebound control, Gabriel’s overall agility, positioning, and reflexes make him a formidable presence in net.

1 Viewing

Comments: Gabriel displayed excellent reaction time, quickly responding to a turnover in front of his net to make a key save. His post play was strong, sealing off the top corner effectively, and his positioning prevented a dangerous low tip from finding the net. He tracks the puck exceptionally well and showed quick reflexes, kicking out a pass to the slot with his pads. His size is a major asset, allowing him to cover the net efficiently and make difficult saves look routine through smart positioning. However, he went down a bit early on one offensive chance, leaving his glove side exposed, though he got lucky as the shot rang off the crossbar. While his rebound control got shaky at times, his strength and quick movements allowed him to stay in front of the puck. He maintained great concentration when an opponent dangled through two defenders and closed in tight, making the save under pressure. One area of concern was his puck-handling—he hesitated when coming out to play the puck, allowing an opponent to get there first and forcing himself into a tough save. A late-game miscue behind the net proved costly, as he lost positioning, leading to a bank shot off his back for the game-winner.

Olivier Laverdiere (F, L, 6’1″, 202, Victoriaville Tigers, 08/18/2007)

Game Rating

C+

Olivier Laverdière is a solid, dependable forward who excels in a defensive role. He consistently makes smart plays to clear the puck out of his own zone, demonstrating composure and quick accuracy with his passes. Olivier’s positional awareness is strong, allowing him to position himself effectively to support his teammates. In the offensive zone, Olivier shows promise when applying pressure, as evidenced by his ability to force a turnover. However, he sometimes makes decisions that don’t maximize scoring opportunities, such as opting for a weak shot over open ice. When in net-front presence, Olivier is difficult to move and displays excellent effort, showcasing determination and a willingness to battle in high-traffic areas. His overall game is marked by hockey sense, discipline, and a strong commitment to defensive responsibilities.

1 Viewing

Comments: Olivier showcases strong puck-handling skills and has the ability to make slick moves in tight areas, particularly down low. However, his decision-making with the puck can be inconsistent, as seen when he attempted a backhand pass to no one, leading to an opposition breakout. He works hard along the boards in the offensive zone to regain possession but sometimes negates his efforts with poor passing choices. On a 3-on-1 opportunity, he struggled to control the puck and ultimately lost possession. While he has decent hands and tries to create plays, he tends to overhandle and hesitate, leading to missed opportunities. Additionally, discipline was an issue, as he took an unnecessary penalty with three minutes left in a tied game, putting his team at a disadvantage.

Maxime Lambert (C, L, 5’10”, 185, Victoriaville Tigers, 07/09/2006)

Game Rating

C+

1 Viewing

Comments: Maxime displays strong situational awareness and a high compete level, particularly in the offensive zone. He won a key faceoff cleanly and immediately drove to the net to make himself available for a scoring chance. His support play is excellent, as he worked hard to retrieve the puck in the corner and made a smart pass to the defenseman for a quality shooting opportunity. He shows a willingness to absorb contact to make plays, demonstrating his toughness and commitment. While he has good hands, he can be overpowered by larger defensemen, which limits his ability to maintain possession in battles. Defensively, he showed strong awareness by dropping low to help his team clear the puck from a dangerous area.

Olivier Houde (LW, L, 6’1″, 180, Victoriaville Tigers, 01/02/2004)

Game Rating

B+

Olivier Houde is a solid, two-way forward with notable strengths in both offense and defense. He excels at faceoffs, particularly on the forehand, and demonstrates sharp defensive instincts by filling lanes effectively and blocking shots. However, he can be prone to overcommitting when his team is trailing, which may lead to mistakes. On the other end of the ice, Olivier’s wide drive to the net allows him to generate scoring opportunities. He shows a strong competitive spirit, but could benefit from refining his decision-making in pressure situations to further enhance his play.

1 Viewing

Viewed on TV

Comments: Olivier is a creative forward with strong puck skills, capable of making slick moves in transition, including a nice jump around a defender on the rush. He demonstrates smart puck management, recognizing when to get pucks on net to generate offensive zone faceoffs, especially when fatigued on the forecheck. His high hockey IQ was evident when he executed a quick dump-in and immediately pressured the defense, forcing an interference penalty to prevent a potential breakaway. Olivier possesses an excellent quick-release shot, keeping it low and forcing the goaltender into a tough save. On the power play, he displayed strong vision and awareness, finding an open man with a well-placed pass down low to create a scoring chance. He also showed impressive patience with the puck, waiting for an opening before making a decisive move and getting a quality shot on goal. While he could improve the sharpness of his quick turns, his overall offensive instincts and playmaking ability make him a dynamic presence on the ice.

Maddox Labre (D, L, 6’2″, 182, Victoriaville Tigers, 06/15/2007)

Game Rating

B

Maddox Labre is a skilled defenseman with strong edge work and puck-handling skills, allowing him to effectively navigate the ice and create scoring opportunities. His ability to move quickly and efficiently through the zone is an asset, making it difficult for opponents to gain possession. On defense, Maddox shows solid positional awareness and a high defensive IQ, which enables him to make smart plays in his own zone. However, there are areas where Labre can improve. He sometimes struggles with reaction time on cross-ice passes, allowing opponents to create scoring chances. Additionally, his shot could benefit from more power behind the puck, making him a greater threat offensively. With refinement in these areas, Maddox has the potential to become an effective and reliable blueliner.

1 Viewing

Viewed on TV

Comments: Maddox is a mobile defenseman with strong edgework and physicality, making him difficult to beat in one-on-one situations. He showcased impressive poise under pressure with a fantastic evasive move behind his own net to evade the forecheck but followed it up with a risky soft pass to the front that nearly resulted in a goal against. In the offensive zone, he demonstrated excellent puck control, using his agility to maintain possession before finding an open teammate with a well-placed pass. His defensive awareness was evident when he stepped up at the offensive blue line to prevent a zone exit, delivering a well-timed hit to keep the play alive. Maddox is tough to get around, utilizing his quickness and body positioning effectively to shut down attackers. While he needs to be more decisive with his outlet passes, his blend of skating, physicality, and puck-moving ability makes him a valuable presence on the back end.

Matheo Lepage (D, L, 6’0″, 170, Victoriaville Tigers, 10/24/2006)

Game Rating

B-

1 Viewing

Comments: Matheo is a steady defenseman who excels in positioning and puck movement. He made a strong defensive play behind the net, closing off his man effectively to limit space and prevent a dangerous setup. However, he misread a passing lane, committing to the wrong side and allowing a pass behind him that led to a scoring chance. Off the puck, he showed good awareness by disrupting the opposition’s dump-and-chase, creating traffic that gave his partner extra time to retrieve the puck. His breakout play is a strength, as he consistently delivers crisp outlet passes that help his team exit the zone efficiently. While his defensive reads could improve, his ability to support teammates and move the puck effectively makes him a reliable presence on the back end.

Robin Svancara (LW, L, 6’4″, 190, Victoriaville Tigers, 05/22/2007)

Game Rating

C+

Robin Svancara is a physically imposing force on the ice, utilizing his size to excel in battles for the puck along the boards. He effectively maintains control of the puck defensively and wins key battles to clear pucks out of his zone. While he may struggle with quickness and agility, particularly in transition, his strength allows him to gain position and hold ground against opponents. Svancara’s long reach enables him to disrupt opponents and create space, but his play with the puck requires refinement, particularly when it comes to handling the puck and making decisions under pressure. Despite these areas for improvement, his size and resilience make him a challenging opponent to contain when driving forward.

1 Viewing

Comments: Robin is a strong, physically imposing forward who plays a smart positional game. He applied good pressure in front of the opposition’s net but remained disciplined, not overcommitting and instead staying in position to disrupt breakout passes. His size is an asset, as he effectively leans on defenders to gain the zone, though his puck skills limit his ability to create offensive opportunities once he gets past them. He showed strong awareness in the offensive zone, moving to the middle of the ice before making a quick, well-placed pass to an open teammate. However, his overall impact could improve with quicker footwork, particularly on zone exits, where added speed would make him a more consistent threat in transition.

Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Post navigation
Scroll to top