We've already ranked the top 25 local '10 forwards, top 20 local '10 defenders and the top 25 local '07-09 forwards.
That means there's only one installment of our 2026 QMJHL Draft rankings left:Â the '07-09 defensemen and goalies.
Just some ground rules: the QMJHL Draft is different from the USHL Draft. The QMJHL Draft is for everyone, while the USHL Phase 1 Draft is for first-year eligible players, and Phase 2 is for the rest of the birth years.
Every team is different when it comes to drafting older players. The second-year eligible players are picked the most, since those are players whom teams may have missed on last season or broke out in the last 12 months. For others, it's about getting older players who can come in next season and make an immediate impact.
I'm doing these stories as if I were the general manager of the New England Hockey Journal Minutemen, the QMJHL's new franchise in New England. I need to pick out the best '09s, '08s and '07s who can help my team. I'm only ranking New England natives and those who played in the region this winter.
Looking back at last year's draft, 37 New Englanders were picked. Of the 37, 16 (43.24 percent) were not first-year eligible players. Fourteen of the 16 were ’08s (second-year eligible players). So, I let that guide my rankings.
Among defensemen, there isn't really an Everett Baldwin-type player. Baldwin entered last year's draft as a top '07 to take who would come in and make an immediate impact. The Saint John Sea Dogs snagged him in the second round, and he put up 44 points in 62 games.
Goalies are a different story. While teams will want to take netminders who might develop and come to their team down the road, teams often look for experienced goalies ready to fight for the starting job. These rankings and what I would want with my team reflect that.
These defensemen and goalies were selected from the QMJHL’s final central scouting list that came out in early May. Someone like Chicago Steel defenseman Marco Senerchia (Greenville, R.I.) would be high on this list, but he's slated to begin at Brown this coming season. The same goes for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders forward Justin Graf (Lincoln, Mass.) with the forwards. The '07 would be dynamite in the QMJHL next season, but is slated to begin at Harvard in the fall, so he wasn't on my list.
Let's dive in.
DEFENSEMEN
1. Ethan Hung
Hotchkiss, 8/9/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/194
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Hung is a pure two-way defenseman whose stock has risen significantly over the last year. He's a clean puck-mover in all three zones. At the offensive blue line, he's active in creating and jumping into the offense. His size and stick help him shut down opposing players in his own zone. And he's never been drafted into the USHL, so he's right there for the taking. As general manager of the NEHJ Minutemen, I'd be all over trying to draft him.
2. Noah Mazzola
Seacoast Performance Academy, 4/24/2009, D, left shot, 6-2/161
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
NCAA: Quinnipiac
USHL Phase 2 Draft: Round 5, Lincoln Stars (2026)Â
Mazzola's SPA 16U numbers from this past season are eye-popping: 17 goals and 94 points in 61 games. He can jump into the offense, but also demonstrates the ability to be responsible defensively. His size is intriguing as well. While he was picked high in this year's USHL Phase 2 Draft, that shouldn't stop a QMJHL team from snagging him around the same spot in this draft.
3. Ryder Bisson
Dexter Southfield, 8/4/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/176
Hometown: Holden, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Bisson has a lot of value. For starters, he hasn't been taken in a USHL Draft. But more than that, he was dominant for St. John's Shrewsbury in the MIAA this winter. With the Boston Junior Eagles in the fall, he played at the same level. He's a phenomenal puck-mover who has a great stride, good speed and can impact the offense. He should be a big factor at Dexter next winter, and if he continues to develop, he could be a great QMJHL player down the road.
4. Ryan Poirier
Waterloo Black Hawks, 9/19/2008, D, left shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Salem, N.H.
NCAA: Harvard
USHL Draft: Rights owned by Waterloo Black HawksÂ
Poirier spent this past winter with the Sioux City Musketeers, where he had four goals and 10 points in 51 games. He was dealt around the USHL Phase 1 and 2 Drafts to the Waterloo Black Hawks, who now have his rights. He's a dynamic, puck-moving defenseman who should be due for an uptick in production after a full season in the USHL. For a QMJHL team, it might be a battle for him, but he's the kind of defenseman you want transporting pucks for you.
5. Ian Sherman
Pomfret, 5/13/2008, D, left shot, 6-0/190
Hometown: Brooklyn, Conn.
NCAA: Sacred Heart
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Sherman graduated from Pomfret and has never been drafted by a USHL team. The Sacred Heart commit had a nice senior year with five goals and 20 points in 28 games. More than that, however, is that Sherman is steady in every sense of the word. He makes smart, simple plays with pucks. He has a great stick and uses it to shut down opposing forwards. Sherman should be able to make an immediate impact.
6. Preston Abbott
Salisbury, 4/5/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/190
Hometown: Middleton, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Abbott has an interesting blend of good size, skating and puck-moving abilities. He had a nice season for New Hampton this past winter, putting up four goals and 19 points in 33 games. That production should go up at Salisbury this coming season. He still has development to undergo in the defensive zone, but he's an intriguing enough puck-mover to want to take a chance on for the future.
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7. Sam Chartier
Williston Northampton, 1/30/2009, D, right shot, 5-11/185
Hometown: Saunderstown, R.I.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Chartier is a mobile skater who moves pucks creatively and reliably. As a sophomore this winter, he posted three goals and 15 points in 26 games. He can generate quite a bit of offense from the offensive blue line and could make it in the QMJHL someday.
8. Anthony Bongo
Sioux Falls Stampede, 5/16/2007, D, right shot, 5-10/165
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
USHL Draft: Rights owned by Sioux FallsÂ
Bongo is a fantastic puck-mover who isn't committed to Michigan anymore. He's been with Sioux Falls for the last two seasons, most recently putting up five goals and 30 points in 62 games this winter. His game would work really well in the QMJHL because of his skill. He could just as easily return to Sioux Falls next season, but he's worth a QMJHL selection.
9. Nick Evans
Corpus Christi Ice Rays, 3/13/2007, D, right shot, 6-2/183
Hometown: Malden, Mass.
USHL Phase 2 Draft: Round 5, Omaha Lancers (2026)Â
I always really liked Evans when he was at Kimball Union — he was extremely underrated. This past season, he posted seven goals and 28 points in 54 games. While the offensive side of his game seems to be growing, it's his defense and all-around, reliable play that he can be counted on for. Despite being picked high in the USHL's Phase 2 Draft, he would make a lot of sense as a QMJHL pick. He's also still uncommitted.
10. Kirby Perler
Johnstown Tomahawks, 3/29/2007, D, left shot, 5-9/170
Hometown: Woodbridge, Conn.
NCAA: Yale
USHL Phase 2 Draft: Round 8, Sioux City Musketeers (2025)Â
It's tough to tell with '07s because they don't have much junior hockey service time left. Still, Perler played most of this past season with the NAHL's Johnstown Tomahawks, putting up five goals and 16 points in 42 games. His elusive, puck-moving game would be a nice fit in the QMJHL.
11. James Odyniec
Coquitlam Express, 1/2/2007, D, right shot, 6-1/194
Hometown: Wilton, Conn.
NCAA: Brown
USHL Phase 2 Draft: Round 8, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (2025)Â
I'm grouping most of the '07s. Odyniec had two goals and 10 points in 46 BCHL games this past season. He's a good-sized, shutdown defenseman who can play a physical game, making life difficult on opponents, which is why he would make sense in the QMJHL.
12. RJ Grace
Winchendon, 8/9/2009, D, left shot, 6-1/170
Hometown: Dracut, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
The next four '09s are mainly projections and will need some more development time in prep. Grace is a good puck-moving defenseman with intriguing size. He had 11 points in 35 games as a sophomore this past season.
13. Niko Tzouganatos
St. Mark's, 12/19/2009, D, left shot, 5-10/161
Hometown: Sudbury, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Tzouganatos was buried a bit at St. Mark's this past season, but should elevate into a top role on the Lions' blue line next winter. He can be a fantastic playmaker and can create offense with his vision. He recently made USA Hockey's Select 17 Camp.
14. Colin O'Leary
Rivers, 2/13/2009, D, right shot, 6-1/160
Hometown: Medfield, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
O'Leary is fortunate to have good size, and he puts it to use as a physical, hard-nosed defenseman. He moves pucks reliably, but most of his game is framed around shutting the opposition down.
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15. Jacob Turcotte
Winchendon, 5/12/2009, D, right shot, 5-10/163
Hometown: South Berwick, Maine
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Turcotte is known as a mobile, puck-moving defenseman. He put up four goals and 13 points in 34 games for Winchendon this winter. He should be due for another bump in points.
GOALIES
1. Jack Fichthorn
Sioux City Musketeers, 5/10/2007, G, catches left, 5-11/170
Hometown: Darien, Conn.
NCAA: Sacred Heart
USHL Draft: Rights owned by Sioux CityÂ
Fichthorn has the kind of experience a QMJHL team wants in a goalie. In 36 games for Sioux City this past season, he put up a 3.57 goals-against average and a .889 save percentage. He's technically sound and could easily compete for a starting job. The plan is for him to return to Sioux City next season, but he's well worth a QMJHL selection.
2. Carson Mertz
Blackfalds Bulldogs, 2/19/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/176
Hometown: Coventry, R.I.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
After a standout career at Mount St. Charles, Mertz spent this past season with Blackfalds in the BCHL, notching a 2.34 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 29 games. I've always found him underrated and someone with the athleticism to be a starter in junior hockey.
3. Tommy Saulnier
St. Sebastian's, 2/15/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/165
Hometown: Medfield, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Now we get into prep goalies. Saulnier was sparkling this past season with a 1.80 GAA and a .943 save percentage. He can handle large workloads, and his sophomore year behind a young, six-win 2024-25 St. Sebastian's team was impressive on its own, with a 2.94 GAA and a .910 save percentage. He can handle large shot volumes and is always square to shots. Saulnier has "stalwart junior goalie" written all over him.
4. Vinnie D'Urso
Tabor, 3/7/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/190
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
D'Urso is right there with Saulnier. For D'Urso's development, it's probably best to stay in prep for a senior year and play every game. But games played is the most important stat for a goalie (goalie guru Brian Daccord told me that, so I'll take his word for it), and D'Urso has been the starter at Tabor for two straight seasons. He was fantastic as a sophomore and even better as a junior this past winter, posting a 1.99 GAA and a .939 save percentage. The experience is there to lend to QMJHL success. If Saulnier is 3A, D'Urso is 3B.
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5. Timmy Heaslip
Governor's Academy, 6/6/2008, G, catches left, 6-3/195
Hometown: Lynnfield, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
In his first year as the starter at Gov's, Heaslip was outstanding with a 2.14 GAA and a .922 save percentage. His size is a big part of his game, which is why he would make sense as a netminder in the QMJHL over the next couple of years.
6. Alex Wang
St. George's, 1/28/2009, G, catches left, 6-3/195
Hometown: Concord, Mass.
USHL Phase 1 Draft: Round 12, Chicago Steel (2025)Â
Wang has long been a top '09 goalie in New England. After splitting time between Groton and Boston Hockey Academy last season, he was with the Neponset Valley River Rats and St. George's this past winter. He was under siege at St. George's, posting a 3.83 GAA and a .903 save percentage. The size and ability to handle a high volume of shots are encouraging.
7. Aaron Alves-Thomas
St. Mark's, 3/31/2009, G, catches left, 6-1/170
Hometown: Uxbridge, Mass.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Alves-Thomas made a big impression down the stretch for St. Mark's, guiding the Lions to the Elite 8 final. He finished with a 2.14 GAA and .921 save percentage, getting the net for the majority of games. His athleticism and ability to make the big save make him an intriguing draft option.
8. Christian Capone
Salisbury, 9/18/2009, G, catches left, 6-0/179
Hometown: East Haven, Conn.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Salisbury senior Jordan Rittenberg got most of the time in net this past season, but Capone posted a 1.74 GAA and a .935 save percentage in a good amount of action. He was a sophomore this winter, so with Rittenberg gone, he should have the inside track to the starting job for the next two seasons, allowing him to play and develop even more.
9. Gavin Weeks
New Hampshire Mountain Kings, 8/3/2008, G, catches left, 6-0/187
Hometown: Goffstown, N.H.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
After a standout three years for BK Selects, Weeks played for the NAHL's Mountain Kings this season, putting up a 4.10 GAA and a .870 save percentage.
QMJHL DRAFT: 25 local ’10 forwards to watch | 20 local ’10 defenders to watch | 25 local '07-09 forwards to watch
10. Charlie Rodrigue
Taft, 4/8/2009, G, catches left, 5-9/146
Hometown: Shelton, Conn.
USHL Draft: UndraftedÂ
Rodrigue saw some time for Taft this past winter as the backup, posting a 4.55 GAA and a .868 save percentage. He was fantastic at USA Hockey's Select 16 Camp last summer with a 1.98 GAA and a .945 save percentage.
