The Victoriaville Tigres have announced the signing of their first round pick from the 2024 QMJHL Draft, center Enzo Lottin, to a standard player contract.
Lottin, 16, has been playing with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL, potting 13 points (4+9) across 18 games, to preserve his NCAA eligiblity.
Now with the new rule changes allowing major junior players to remain eligible for Division-I college hockey, Lottin becomes the first of the three holdouts from the first round of the 2024 QMJHL Draft to sign.
The remaining ones are Chicoutimi prospect centerman Tynan Lawrence, who remains in the USHL, and Saint John prospect defenseman Cameron Chartrand who has been playing triple-A in the United States.
Given he's already found himself a contributor in the BCHL and the state of the Tigres as of the moment, one can expect he'll have the opportunity to become an impact player with the team on arrival.
This sentiment was echoed by GM Keven Cloutier.
"He should have an important role upon his arrival," he said. "He will have to make his place, but I am not worried about him."
However, even though he'll join the team over the coming days, his 'official' arrival in a Tigres jersey might be not for a week as the signing will await the approval of Hockey Canada given that the BCHL isn't under its jurisdiction anymore.
Lottin may not be the only Chilliwack Chief to depart for the QMJHL as defenseman Olivier Beaulieu's signing rights were recently dealt to Shawinigan from Blainville.