League news
At the beginning of the month, the NCAA has repealed a rule which prohibited major junior players from being eligible to play Division-I college hockey. Meaning that CHL players, including QMJHLers, will now be able to play top-level NCAA hockey at the completion of their major junior career -- so long as they aren't contracted by an NHL team.
Also discussed is the league's appetite for expansion southwards as the renewed interest in major junior hockey from US-born athletes will allow the league to expand while keeping the level of play competitive.
Given this ruling, we took a look at which US-born players --whose rights are already owned by QMJHL teams via the now defunct American draft -- who could join the QMJHL as soon as this season.
Expanding on our earlier coverage of the renewed interest in hockey in Newfoundland, as well as the potential moving of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. CBC did a piece with Glenn Sanford, the man spearheading the movement.
His group is trying to get the province to change its labour laws to accommodate the return of hockey in some capacity to St. John's Mary Brown's Centre as soon as next season.
In the article, Sanford said that they are looking at all options, whether QMJHL via expansion or relocation, or minor professional hockey.
Tournaments
November had a couple of tournaments that were worth the attention of QMJHL fans.
Firstly, Moncton's Caleb Desnoyers and Blainville's Justin Carbonneau participated in the first CHL/USA Hockey Challenge -- which replaces the CHL Top Prospects game. Both top 2025 NHL draft eligibles came out with two points over two games, helping Team CHL sweep the series.
As for the younger prospects, eight QMJHL-affiliated players took part in the Under-17 World Challenge in Sarnia. All eight medaled at the tournament, with Benjamin Cosette-Ayotte (Val-d'Or), Jayden Plouffe (Chicoutimi), Antoine Proulx (Acadie-Bathurst) and Tynan Lawrence (Chicoutimi) winning gold with Team Canada White. Team Canada Red, featuring Maddox Dagenais (Quebec), Chad Lygitsakos (Shawinigan), Romain L'Italien (Cape Breton) and Cameron Chartrand (Saint John) finished with Silver.
Miscellaneous
In some good news, Cape Breton alternate captain Brayden Schmitt suited up for his first game since he and two of his teammates were involved in a multi-car accident in early September.
Schmitt was the last to return with Lucas Romeo participating in the Boston Bruins training camp just a couple weeks later and Angelo Fullerton returning earlier this month as well.
Transactions
Below are all the notable transactions, and their respective articles.
- Nov 1: Gatineau claims import forward Lukas Kral from WHL
- Nov 7: Shawinigan trades for Remparts defenseman Antoine Michaud for a pick
- Nov 11: Shawinigan signs defenseman Olivier Beaulieu
- Nov 12: Rouyn-Noranda cuts goaltender Kyle Hagen
- Nov 12: Val-d'Or overager Nathan Drapeau leaves for BCHL
- Nov 12: Charlottetown signs forward Jude Herron
- Nov 13: Victoriaville signs 2024 first round forward Enzo Lottin
- Nov 13: Charlottetown signs OHL forward Lane Sim
- Nov 14: Quebec signs defenseman Alexandre Taillefer
- Nov 16: Shawinigan signs BCHL goaltender Owen Bresson; cuts overager goaltender Liam Sztuska
- Nov 16: Cape Breton dropped overage forward Dylan Andrews
- Nov 16: Chicoutimi releases forward Brennan O'Donnell and defenseman Christian White
- Nov 16: Quebec signs defenseman Alex Perreault
- Nov 17: Sherbrooke signs BCHL forward Robin Benoit
- Nov 18: Rimouski signs BCHL forward Thomas Belzil
- Nov 22: Chicoutimi signs BCHL defenseman Julian Wasmer
- Nov 22: Sherbrooke trades pick for, and signs BCHL goaltender Kyan Labbe
- Nov 27: Moncton signs Red Wings prospect, USHL goaltender Rudy Guimond
- Nov 28: Drummondville forward Maxime Lafond leaves for BCHL
- Nov 28: Drummondville signs goaltender Jacob Leblanc
- Nov 28: Baie-Comeau signs BCHL forward Samuel Boisvert
- Nov 28: Drummondville signs BCHL forward Jesse Allecia
- Nov 28: Victoriaville claims import forward Robin Svancara from WHL
- Nov 28: Halifax signs BCHL defenseman Mathieu Taillefer
- Nov 29: Quebec signs BCHL defenseman Carter Hynes
Commitments
Below are all the QMJHL players who committed to NCAA programs this month.
- G Jacob Steinman (MON) -> Bowling Green (2025/26)
- F Sam Oliver (DRU) -> New Hampshire (2025/26)
- D Alex Carr (ROU) -> New Hampshire (2025/26)
- F Luke Woodworth (DRU) -> Nebraska Omaha (2025/26)