Despite rule changes, some 20-year-olds still starring in QMJHL

In the changing world of major junior hockey, one of the biggest shifts has been the quality of 20-year-old players available. But maybe the change hasn’t been as drastic as feared.

Before the 2025-26 calendar kicked off, player movement was largely predictable in major junior. The agreement between the NHL and CHL prohibited NHL-drafted players from moving to the professional ranks until their overage season, unless the player made the NHL. Since only exceptional talents tend to make the NHL before turning 20, teams were almost assured they’d have their players until age 20 — barring the odd exception of a European going home, a lower-line player leaving for the junior A ranks, or a player requesting a trade.

At age 20, with no limitations on their ability to jump to the pro ranks, teams have been accustomed to a majority of drafted players making the jump to the pros before their would-be major junior overage campaign, and many of the undrafted Europeans also have the option to go pro at home. But given that a large majority of players are undrafted, there would still be plenty of options to fill overage positions around the league.

Enter the NCAA.

In the fall of 2024, the NCAA changed its rules, allowing those with major junior experience to play American collegiate hockey. In 2025-26, the QMJHL was more or less unscathed by the rule change. But this fall, much like its OHL and WHL counterparts, the “Q” saw a number of key departures. The NCAA was not just coming after stars with NHL draft pedigree, but also the “best of the rest” who were undrafted but would be stars if they returned to the QMJHL.

Shawinigan forward Félix Lacerte, who placed fifth in the QMJHL scoring race in 2025-26, elected to make the jump to the University of Vermont. Vincent Dejsardins (Blainville-Boisbriand), Mavrick Lachance (Chicoutimi), Ross Campbell (Charlottetown) and defenseman Marcus Kearsey (Charlottetown) were also among those who finished in the top 50 in QMJHL scoring and have decided to play down south this fall.

In 2025-26, three 20-year-olds placed in the top 10 in scoring: Thomas Vedron (Rouyn-Noranda), Justin Larose (Newfoundland), and Nathan Leek (Charlottetown). Despite the alleged decline in the quality of veterans this season, heading into weekend play, there are three 20-year-olds in the top 10 in scoring.

Thomas Desruisseaux is one of five-year players in this group, a former first-round Cape Breton draft pick who was dealt in his rookie campaign to Chicoutimi, where he won the championship last spring. He’s on the hunt for another title after a draft-week swap to Victoriaville. Mathys Dubé, a second-round pick by his hometown Rimouski team, is in his fourth year with the Océanic and is following up on last year’s breakthrough effort, where he tallied 22 goals. Rounding out the trio is fourth-year Charlottetown forward Matthew Butler, who is having a bounce-back season after producing more than a point per game at 18 and taking a step back the following season.

The potential lack of depth did see some teams look elsewhere for overage help. The Québec Remparts, a title contender, signed Hunter McKenzie from the OHL’s Guelph Storm, but despite scoring 10 goals last year, he didn’t record a point in his first eight games. Two other ex-OHLers had more success, as former Kingston forward Matthew Frost has scored seven times for Newfoundland, and Sudbury forward Daniel Berehowsky picked up six points in his first five games in Chicoutimi.

Rimouski filled two of its three overage spots with non-QMJHLers. Pennsylvania native A.J. Schaaf, who split 2025-26 between the high-profile junior A leagues, the AJHL and BCHL, has had success with 10 points in his first eight games. Meanwhile, Edouard Lord, a Québécois who was previously playing at a prep school in the U.S., finds himself in a three-goaltender system.

There will inevitably be more movement on the 20-year-old front. A powerful Saint John team has an open spot, as does Gatineau (an off-season rule change now allows teams to choose 20-year-olds in the import selection, and Gatineau swung and missed choosing 2006-born Philadelphia prospect Ilya Pautov, who is now playing in the AHL). A young Shawinigan team currently has one 20-year-old on its roster.

Berehowsky finds himself in a glut as Chicoutimi holds four overagers (forward Christophe Berthelot, defenseman Brayden Kaldenbach, and goaltender Raphaël Précourt are the others). Baie-Comeau is also holding four 20-year-olds: forwards Brayden Besner and Dominic Pilote, along with defencemen Mattias Gilbert and Samuel Brunet.

Despite the exits of significant stars, there is still star power on the older side of the league.

Patrick McNeil is the play-by-play announcer for the Cape Breton Eagles of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.