This time last year, the QMJHL still felt like the Wild West — at least here in New England.
Lots of players were going to QMJHL camps, whether to get their feet wet and see how they matched up or to make the team. It was a time of great uncertainty for local fall, prep and full-season teams.
Who will actually be staying and playing in New England when the dust settles?
Plenty of players did stay and play for fall, prep and full-season teams, but a whole bunch also went north to try out the QMJHL for the first time.
I wanted to get their unfiltered thoughts on their time up there. So, I sent out a poll. Players were granted full anonymity in their answers. This also wasn't limited to New England-born players — I cast a wide net for this.
In Part 1, we'll cover what convinced them to make the move to the QMJHL and how expectations matched reality. Parts 2 and 3 will cover separate topics.
Let's dive in.
What convinced you to go to the QMJHL?
Players who wanted to jump to junior hockey took a slight risk opting for the QMJHL over the USHL or BCHL last season. Not that the QMJHL isn't a good league (it most certainly is), but it hadn't been the normal route for college players.
Before the CHL ruling in November of 2024, which allowed players to play in the CHL and still be eligible for NCAA Division 1 hockey, the typical route to Division 1 was the USHL, BCHL or NAHL before arrival on campus.
This was different — in many ways. One common theme among answers, however, was how it felt professional.
"What made me choose the CHL was the pro-like atmosphere," one player said. "Before the rule change, they didn't think about college. It was just pro, and they still think like that in a way. It's also a more pro-like schedule with more games in a week, and just the day-to-day life is more pro-like."
"The CHL is the most professional league in junior hockey from the staff to the facilities and to the fanbase," a different player said.
Another player mentioned the city he played in as a selling point.
"It's such a great city, and it felt like a good organization to go to," that player said. "I thought I could play there and develop."
Development was another popular reason why players opted for the QMJHL.
"We would have designated days for skill work with skills coaches, and I know a bunch of teams up there do the same thing," a player said. "They really focus on every bit of your game that they see can get to the next level."
Not everyone knew what they were getting into.
"I just went to try out with no expectations," one player said. "Just to get some more exposure."
Fair.
Corny's 9th. https://t.co/NdBuedJMx6 pic.twitter.com/lY1GV1cYMv
— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) May 16, 2026
How did expectations match reality?
Players were all over the place in their expectations. One player emphasized that being an American entering the QMJHL came with some hesitancy.
"The experience of my first year definitely surpassed my expectations," that player said. "As an American going into the Q, I didn't know too much of what the year would look like, but I was very impressed with the overall experience."
This past season was the first with these NCAA-bound New Englanders playing from start to finish. While some moved up to the QMJHL right after the CHL ruling, this past year's crop of players didn't have many sounding boards to throw things off of.
"Honestly, the Q exceeded my expectations," a player said. "I didn't know much going into the year, but it was a great league and one of the best years of hockey of my life."
The pro lifestyle also came through when players arrived.
"I think reality exceeded my expectations by how much we get treated like pros," another player said.
One player, however, knew what he was getting into and wanted all that came with it.
"Expectations were pretty spot on for me," they said. "I knew it was going to be a grind with the travel and the schedule, but I knew that's what I wanted. I also knew that education is very important to the Q, so it was nice to keep the brain active during the week."
These players all hope to play college hockey. The academic part is still important (more on that in future parts).
One first-year player polled mentioned the most important thing: comfort.
"Now that my first year is over, I feel way more comfortable going into my second," they said. "I know what to expect."
Many QMJHL teams also have rabid fan bases. They pack their arenas and interact with the community (again, more on that in future parts).
But a byproduct of that is inspiring younger kids to want to play in the league when they're older.
"As a kid growing up in Quebec, I always thought the Q was the NHL," a player said. "It definitely lived up to that expectation in terms of how professional the league is."
