Halifax Mooseheads
u 2013-14 record – 47-18-0-3, lost in seven games to the Val-d’Or Foreurs in QMJHL semifinal.
u Key losses – Leading scorer Jonathan Drouin (29G, 79A, 108Pts in 46GP), Brent Andrews, Darcy Ashley and MacKenzie Weegar.
u Key returnees – Nikolaj Elhers, Austyn Hardie, Ryan Falkenham, Timo Meier and Zachary Fucale.
u Key newcomers – Maxime Fortier, Brett Crossley, Taylor Ford and Morgan Nauss.
u Team outlook – “We have a combination of guys coming back and young guys coming in. I think we have a good mix and we’ll see.”
Coach Dominique Ducharme.
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
u 2013-14 record – 37-27-1-3, swept by the Gatineau Olympiques in the first round.
u Key losses – Leading scorer Cameron Darcy (35G, 47A, 82 Pts. in 65GP), Justin Hache, Stephen Woodworth, Jeremy Beaudry, Raphael Corriveau and Guillaume Gauthier as well as goalies Zach Fortin and Alex Bureau.
u Key returnees – Defencemen Loik Leveille, Jason Bell, Brad Lalonde as well as forwards Charles-Eric Legare and Max Lazarev.
u Key newcomers – The Screaming Eagles acquired 18-year-old defencemen Duncan MacIntyre and Jonathan Deschamps and goalie Francois Brassard in trades, drafted Pierre-Luc Dubois in the first round and brought in Russian Evgeny Svechnikov.
u Team outlook – Coach Marc-André Dumont said they are the fifth-youngest team in the league with an average age of 18.0.
“We’re still in transition mode. We feel we can do better than we did last year,” he said. “I think despite the fact that we’re young, we do have some level of talent and skill and we’re going to be able to show up every night and have a chance to win.”
Moncton Wildcats
u 2013-14 record – 33-32-0-3, lost in six games to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the first round.
u Key losses – D Dillon Donnell, C J.C. Campagna, F/D Kyle Haas (Woodstock), and RW Christopher Caissy.
u Key returnees – C Ivan Barbashev, G Alex Dubeau was the team’s MVP last year, D Jacob Sweeney, leading scorer RW Christophe Lalonde (40G, 29A, 69Pts in 64GP)
u Key newcomers – American D Zachary Malatesta, D Brandon Lukezic, LW Eric Leger, D Marcus Tesink and 16-year-old American Liam Murphy.
u Team outlook – The Wildcats had 14 rookies on its roster last season.
“We surprised a lot of people last year,” said coach Darren Rumble.
He added with the much of the team returning, it should improve, but it could still add a couple of pieces.
“I think we will be solid,” he said.
Acadie-Bathurst Titan
u 2013-14 record – 22-40-4-2, swept by Val-d’Or in the first round.
u Key losses – Three graduating players Matthew Boudreau, Scott Oake and Lucas Grundy and Raphael Lafontaine was traded to Sherbrooke.
u Key returnees – Essentially the defence corps returns from last year, including Anthony Gingras, Alexandre Gosselin, Mark Trickett and Guillaume Brisebois, goalie Jacob Brennan while Chrisophe Boivin is the top returning scorer.
u Key newcomers – Trade acquisitions Andrew Ryan (Halifax), Bronson Beaton and Raphael Corriveau (Cape Breton).
u Outlook – “We had a plan last year at Christmas to go young. We’re definitely going to keep going in that direction,” said general manager Sylvain Couturier. “We hope to compete every night.”
Charlottetown Islanders
u 2013-14 record – 21-39-3-5, swept by Halifax in the first round.
u Key losses – D Troy Vance, G Eric Brassard and F Craig MacLauchlan.
u Key returnees – G Mason McDonald, D David Henley and forwards Daniel Sprong and Alexandre Goulet.
u Key newcomers – D Ryan MacKinnon, LW Oliver Cooper, LW Ross Johnston and C Filip Chlapik.
u Team outlook – “We’re a young team, but we’re going to build things the right way (with a) team concept and look to improve on last year,” said coach Gordie Dwyer.
“It’s a development stage for our hockey team with a lot of younger, talented players.”
Saint John Sea Dogs
u 2013-14 record – 19-44-2-3, missed the playoffs.
u Key losses – Leading scorer Oliver Cooper (28G, 29A, 57 Pts in 68GP) and Will Thompson were traded to Charlottetown in separate trades and Noah Zilbert sent to Gatineau.
u Key returnees – G Sebastien Auger, defencemen Olivier LeBlanc and Thomas Chabot, as well as forwards Spencer Smallman, Matthew Highmore and Nathan Noel.
u Key newcomers – Imports Jakub Zboril, a defenceman; and Juraj Siska, a forward; as well blue-liner Luke Green, who was the first player taken in the QMJHL Draft.
u Team outlook – There are only eight players returning from the last-place team in 2013-14.
“I think we have a big upgrade in our skill level from last year. We have a young team but a team that works hard,” said coach Ross Yates. “I like our team speed and I think we have a lot of skill.”
