NHL fans, particuarily those fans who cheer for rebuilding teams, keep your eyes out for Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defenseman Xavier Villeneuve next season.

Amassing 62 points (12+50) through 61 games in his sophomore QMJHL season, Villeneuve was a dynamo this past season and given his dominance, it has come as no surprise that he has been rewarded with the Emile-Bouchard Trophy for defenseman of the year.

He becomes just the second D-1 defenseman to win the award, the first one dating back to former 10th overall pick of the Vancouver Canucks and eventual veteran of 16 NHL seasons, J.J. Daigneault who won the award in 1983. Villeneuve will have the chance next season to become only the second player in QMJHL history to win the award twice, matching Vegas Golden Knights' prospect Lukas Cormier. 

Nominees included Seattle Kraken prospect Alexis Bernier (Baie-Comeau) and Ty Higgins (Rouyn-Noranda).

Islanders Defenseman Jardine Wins QMJHL's Humanitarian Of The Year Award There's something in the water in Charlottetown, and it's certainly a good thing as Maxwell Jardine becomes the third Islanders player to win the Humanitarian Player of the Year Trophy for community involvement over the past five seasons, following Brett Budgell (in 2022) and Marcus Kearsey (in 2024).

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