19 Islanders eligible for QMJHL draft

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild defenceman Zach Biggar is the top-ranked Islander for June’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft.

The 16-year-old Coleman native is ranked as a potential third-round pick by central scouting, which released its rankings on Wednesday. The draft will take place June 8 in Quebec City.

Biggar had four goals and 24 assists for 28 points in 31 games this season for the Wild. The five-foot-11, 172-pound blue-liner had a goal and seven assists in seven games for the Kyle Dunn-coached Team P.E.I. at the Canada Games. He also had a goal and five assists in four games at the Atlantics. He played bantam for the Prince County Warriors.

Jacob Squires, a defenceman who played with the Charlottetown Bulk Carriers Pride this season, is ranked to go high in the fourth round. The five-foot-11, 167-pound Charlottetown native had three goals and 15 assists for 18 points in 33 regular season games.

He added three goals and an assist in four games at the Atlantics. During the tournament he scored two goals, including the winner, and helped set up the equalizer in a 5-4 win over the Moncton Flyers. He played for bantam with the Central Attack.

Jack Campbell, who led the Canada Games team in scoring with 17 points, is listed in the sixth- to eighth-round section of the rankings. The Souris native had 29 points in 27 games this season with the Wild. The forward played bantam with the Eastern Express.

Players must be ranked by central scouting in order to be selected at the draft. There are 11 Islanders on the list, including first cousins Michael and Matt McQuaid.

Joshua Roy, a forward with the Levis Chevaliers in Quebec, is the top-ranked prospect.

The top five include Justin Robidas, a forward with Magog who lost the Telus Cup final in double overtime to Toronto; Peter Reynolds, a New Brunswick forward who played at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota; Cameron Whynot, a defenceman from the Valley Wildcats in Nova Scotia; and Zachary L’Heureux, a forward with the Chateauguay Grenadiers in Quebec.

Roy had 28 goals and 25 assists for 53 points in 35 regular season games.

He also had five goals and five assists in six games while captaining Quebec to gold at the Canada Games. Roy recently had six goals and seven assists for 13 points in seven games at the Telus Cup.

Robidas is the son of former NHL defenceman Stephane Robidas.

The top-ranked player from Newfoundland and Labrador was Zach Dean, a forward who played for the Toronto Nationals this season. He is ranked in the middle of the first round.

The top-rated goalie was Jacob Goobie, who led the Halifax Macs to the Telus Cup after winning the Atlantics in Charlottetown.

The Saint John Sea Dogs won the lottery and own the right to select the first player.

The pick, originally belonging to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, was acquired as part of the haul for Joe Veleno from Drummondville. The Voltigeurs sent the Armada pick plus first- and second-round picks in the 2018 and 2020 draft to Saint John for the Detroit Red Wings prospect.

The Sea Dogs have six of the first 32 players who were selected at last year’s draft, including Charlie DesRoches, a Days Corner defenceman, who had 10 goals and 17 assists in 59 games this season for the Sea Dogs.

Related links

QMJHL release on draft rankings

Islanders GM Jim Hulton says players shouldn't worry about draft rankings

Newfoundland's Dean ranked ninth for QMJHL draft

Nova Scotia's Whynot ranked No. 4 for QMJHL draft

Here is a look at the Islanders on central scouting’s list:

Position, player 2018-19 team

Third round

D Zach Biggar Kensington