2013 QMJHL Entry Draft: To no one’s surprise, Nicolas Roy taken first overall by Cape Breton

Apparently, the NCAA rumours didn’t steer the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles from making the pick they said they would.

They took forward Nicolas Roy first overall at the 2013 QMJHL Entry Draft in Chicoutimi, Que., confirming exactly what head coach and general manager Marc-Andre Dumont said they would do. This comes despite what Nicolas Roy’s father said earlier in the week, that Nicolas would go to the draft and put on the jersey, which he did, but will not report to Cape Breton over distance and education issues.

The tantalizing talent of Roy was too much for the Screaming Eagles to pass up, a big player with excellent vision and positioning, who could be an elite playmaker and two-way player in the QMJHL. He is an all-around offensive player who isn’t afraid to start or finish plays, and makes his teammates better. He is a true centerpiece for the Screaming Eagles who will grow well with their prospects already in the system.

The Shawinigan Cataractes used the second overall pick on Midget AAA leading goal-scorer and MVP Anthony Beauvillier out of Antoine-Girouard. The younger brother of Francis Beauvillier of the Rimouski Oceanic, Beauvillier is a natural creative goal scorer with a deadly shot.

The Saint John Sea Dogs took Newfoundlander forward Nathan Noel out of Shattuck-St. Mary’s with the third overall pick. He is a great skater with a solid two-way complete game.

Two Antoine-Girouard defencemen were taken to round out the top five picks. The Sherbrooke Phoenix took Jeremy Roy, ranked second in the QMJHL Central Scouting Report, and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan took Guillaume Brisebois. Roy is a great skater and an offensive defenceman, while Brisebois could be a great, but not flashy, two-way defenceman.

Acadie-Bathurst and Gatineau engaged in a massive trade during the first round. The Olympiques acquired forward Marc-Olivier Brouillard and five draft picks, including the eighth overall pick, for forwards Adam Chapman and Alexandros Soumakis and four picks, including the 16th pick overall. Gatineau then swapped the eighth and 19th picks to Val-d’Or for center Vincent Dunn. Gatineau previously traded their sixth pick to Val-d’Or for both the ninth and 10th picks.

With the sixth pick, Val-d’Or took forward Julien Gauthier from Laval-Montreal. The Chicoutimi Saguenéens took forward Jeremy Bouchard from Chateauguay with the seventh pick.

With the eighth pick, Val-d’Or picked defenceman David Henley, younger brother of Samuel and Cédric Henley, who both have played for the Foreurs.

Gatineau rounded out the top ten by taking forwards Alexandre Alain and Alex Dostie.

There were 11 forwards and eight defencemen selected in the first round. No goaltenders were taken. The only American taken was forward Cameron Askew by the Drummondville Voltigeurs with the 11th pick overall.

Fifth-ranked defenceman Jason Bell of Laval-Montreal was taken 12th by the Screaming Eagles, while forward Daniel Sprong, who some considered had an outside shot at the top five picks, was taken 13th by Charlottetown.

Rounding out the first round, Bathurst took forward Christophe Boivin, the Baie-Comeau Drakkar selected defenceman Nicolas Meloche, Val-d’Or picked defenceman Olivier Galipeau, Saint John took defenceman Will Thompson, Chicoutimi picked defenceman Frederic Allard and Charlottetown selected forward Alexandre Goulet.