Introduction:
When it comes to junior hockey drafts, the spotlight often shines brightly on players from the QMAAA (Quebec Midget AAA) league. It's no surprise; these young talents are highly skilled, and many of them go on to have successful careers in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). However, amidst the fervor surrounding QMAAA prospects, there's an interesting phenomenon worth exploring - the often-overlooked players from the QMEAA (Quebec Midget Espoir AAA) league.
The QMEAA vs. QMAAA Comparison:
Before we delve deeper into this intriguing topic, let's establish some context. The QMEAA and QMAAA leagues serve as crucial pipelines for the QMJHL, but they operate at slightly different levels of competition and player development. While the QMAAA is the pinnacle of midget hockey in Quebec, the QMEAA is a level below. As a result, players from the QMEAA tend to be ranked lower in the QMJHL draft.
But is this ranking differential justified? Are QMEAA players truly less promising, or could they hold untapped potential?
Historical Success Stories:
To shed light on this, let's turn our attention to history. In the 2019 QMJHL Draft, Samuel Johnson and Frederic Brunet were selected after pick 60. Fast forward to today, and they sit proudly at 14th and 17th in total QMJHL points from their draft class, respectively. This isn't an exception; our data reveals 20 players who played in the QMEAA at 15 to score at least 0.5 points per game (ppg) or better by their 19-year-old season, and that's just from the 2019 draft onwards. The QMEAA is clearly producing quality players who deserve recognition.
(QMEAA Players who went on to play in the QMJHL at 19)
Case Studies:
Let's dig deeper with some case studies. Alex Doucet, for instance, played his QMJHL draft year in the QMEAA, performed admirably, yet was only picked 93rd overall. Similarly, Alexis Gendron didn't play his draft year in the QMEAA, but his performance in the QMAAA goes to show that a strong 16 year old season that league should really give credit to playing in that league in your Q Draft Year +1 Season. These players are living proof that talent can be found in unexpected places.
Olivier Laverdiere:
In the spirit of unearthing hidden gems, we have a contemporary example. Olivier Laverdiere, selected 85th in the 2023 draft, is off to an excellent start with 7 points in 3 games in the QMAAA. While it's a small sample, our model projects him with an 84% chance to hit 0.6 ppg in his 19-year-old season. Laverdiere's performance indicates that the QMEAA continues to produce promising prospects.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the QMEAA deserves a closer look from scouts and teams. The historic success stories, insightful data analysis, and compelling case studies all point to the untapped potential of players from this league. While the QMAAA rightfully commands attention, teams may benefit from reconsidering their draft strategies and recognizing the talent that often goes unnoticed in the QMEAA.
Comments
Post a Comment