| Zachary Bolduc | Sioux City Musketeers | USHL | L | F | 6’1″ | 174 | Rimouski Océanic | Becancour, QC | 2003 | 2020-2021: A |
QMJHL: Rimouski Oceanic at Quebec Remparts, February 6, 2021: Bolduc won a number of puck battles in a variety of ways in this one. There were times he out-muscled opponents off the puck, while other times he used his stickhandling skills to maneuver the puck around multiple opponents in tight quarters. On more than one occasion he went into a crowd of defenders, gained possession of the puck and eluded contact before anyone could get so much as a finger on him. He also displayed a heavy shot, such as his second period scoring opportunity when he wired a shot at the Ramparts’ net from the face-off dot. Remparts’ goalie Thomas Sigouin couldn’t control the high, hard shot off his shoulder, resulting in a juicy rebound that was fired home by Rimouski’s Adam Raska. Bolduc looked very comfortable with the puck on his stick, especially on the power play when quarterbacked the Oceanic’s attack from the point. Rating: A
QMJHL: Blainville-Boisbriand Armada at Rimouski Oceanic, January 31, 2021: Bolduc displayed all the skills of a star forward in this game. He had great bursts of speed, handled the puck with ease, set up teammates for scoring chances and scored his fourth goal of the season. In the first period, Bolduc used his speed to join the rush and create a two-on-one in the Armada zone. With the puck on his stick, he flipped a pass over a sprawling defender, landing on the stick of his Oceanic teammate for a clean scoring opportunity. In the second period, with an Armada defender draped all over him, Bolduc pushed his way to the slot and knocked a pass out of the air and into the top of the net to tie the game at two. He also displayed good defensive play throughout the game, looking like a solid two-way player. Rating: A
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments, November 2020: Zachary is a player I’m really looking forward to seeing play once things open up. He had a phenomenal first year in the QMJHL after coming over from the USHL and I expect more of the same this year. He’s the kind of player who can impact the game in so many ways that I believe he’s going to go early in the draft.
U16: ECC Labor Day U16, September 2019: Bolduc was one of the main attractions of this 16U Red Division. He came in with a sterling reputation as a first round pick of Rimouski in the QMJHL and a second round pick by Sioux City in the USHL. Despite both stellar options he chose to come to Rhode Island for the completely rebuilt Mount Saint Charles team that will play in the Northeast Pack. It should come as no surprise that he impressed as one of the better forwards we saw all weekend. He checks in at 6’ 171 although truthfully he plays bigger and stronger than those measurables, especially along the walls. He does a nice job of shielding the puck and his skating stride is smooth and effective: there are no wasted motions as he carves up the ice with those long strides. He was sneaky in his ability to rack up points. At times you would lose track of where he was in the zone and then sure enough he would get hold of a puck in the slot and toss home a backhander up top for a very casual looking goal with a high degree of difficulty. When he had the puck on his forehand his release was both authoritative and quick. He finds ways to manufacture goals from broken plays whether that is a loose puck that he picks up and carries himself or searching out a player in the slot for a bump pass. There was no one better at this tournament at hitting the bumper in the slot then Bolduc. His most impressive work came in overtime of the playoffs during three-on-three play when he picked up a puck off the near wall slid around a defender and used his long reach to tuck home a game winner on the far side. No doubt about it that he is as good as advertised. Grade: A+
Quebec Midget AAA Challenge, January 2019: Playing on the top line, Bolduc drives the offense for this extremely strong Trois-Rivieres team. All weekend long Bolduc was dangerous every time he touched the puck especially with the man advantage. Plays on the half wall on his offside on the power play where he creates chances with his deadly shot or fires a pin point accurate pass across the box to someone back door. In one of the games, teams where taking away his passing lanes therefore he took advantage by ripping it on net, ultimately leading to a goal. On top of his great offensive instincts Bolduc uses his long reach and explosive skating to beat players in one on one situations. High end prospects who is only going to get better.