Born just one day before the cut off for the 2025 NHL draft and playing in the EHLP league last season, 6-foot-6 right-shot-defenseman Thomas Labelle was likely not expecting to get drafted. Despite his name going uncalled, he was able to catch the eye of the Dallas Stars who invited him to development camp this summer.

Now? Thomas Labelle has secured a move to the Shawinigan Cataractes for the 2025-26 season.

Labelle, 17, notched eight points (1+7) through 36 games with the Adirondack Jr. Thunder. 

Cataractes de Shawinigan (@Cataractes_Shaw) on X 🚨 SIGNATURE Les Cataractes annoncent la signature de l’agent libre Thomas Labelle! 💥 Ce défenseur de 6 pieds 6 sera présent au Challenge des recrues. ⚡ #JeSuisCataractes

The Sorel-Tracy, QC native is a former 11th round pick in the 2023 QMJHL draft by the Rimouski Océanic, who presumably let his rights go.

Labelle has plenty of ties to major junior hockey. His father Eric played in 125 games in the QMJHL between the Victoriaville Tigres, Val-d'Or Foreurs and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan from 1999-2001. On of his cousins, Daniel Payette was a star forward for the Granby Prédateurs and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the 90's, scoring 171 points (63+108) across 228 games while in the league. His other cousin? NHLer Scott Sabourin, who iced in 166 OHL games, all with the Oshawa Generals, before going on to play games with the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks.

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