The Baie-Comeau Drakkar forward helped propel his team to victory in front of a packed Avenir Centre crowd in Moncton, NB.
Forty of the Canadian Hockey League’s best junior hockey players touched down in Moncton, New Brunswick Monday for three days of intense testing, interviews, and practice leading up to the nationally-televised Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Wednesday night.
Upon their arrival at the beginning of the week, the players worked out with their new coaches and teammates in preparation for the game, held at the Moncton Wildcats' home arena, Avenir Centre.
Many of the players appearing in the event are considered to be the CHL's top 40 skaters and goalies eligible for the National Hockey League Draft, scheduled for June 28-29, 2024 at the illustrious Sphere in Las Vegas.
While some of the upcoming Draft's overall top prospects were not in attendance, due to playing in leagues outside the CHL, plenty of players with impressive skillsets hit the ice in Moncton.
Once the puck dropped for the mid-week match-up, the television lights and numerous scouts in attendance didn't seem to faze the players on the ice. The nearly sold-out crowd was treated to an entertaining game, with Team Red defeating Team White 3-1.
Scoring two goals and adding one assist, Baie-Comeau Drakkar forward Raoul Boilard was named Player of the Game for the winning team. Boilard, who was a solid four-for-seven on the night in the face-off dot, is ranked 34th in the NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for North American players. His 44 points in 45 games ranks first among all rookies in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Saint John forward Eriks Mateiko was one of six players in the game born outside of North America. Prior to joining the Sea Dogs as a rookie in the 2022-2023 season, the six-foot-five forward spent time in Latvia’s development leagues. Finishing fourth in the 30-metre skate with the puck at Tuesday’s on-ice testing, he’s rated 36th among all draft-eligible North American skaters. Mateiko represented Latvia at the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship.
Maxim Massé of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens joined Boilard and Mateiko on Team Red, while Alexandre Blais of the Rimouski Oceanic and Tomas Lavoie of the Cape Breton Eagles suited up for Team White.
One notable omission from the game was Justin Poirier who currently leads the QMJHL in goals with 34 in 45 games. A teammate of Boilard in Baie-Comeau, the 17-year-old is on pace to surpass the 50-goal plateau in his sophomore season. When one independent scout was asked why the Drakkar forward was left off the roster, he simply said, "Size."
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