Rimouski Océanic 2024-25 Season Preview

jacob titus

Sat, Sep 7, 2024, 12:00 p.m.·4 min read

The Océanic will be celebrating their 30th anniversary this season, and not only do they plan to celebrate their history but also they plan on making history.

The Memorial Cup hosts will ice one of the toughest teams in the league.

In net will be Montreal Canadiens prospect Quentin Miller.

Quentin Miller with the Rimouski Océanic<p>Photo: Iften Redjah – Folio photo.</p> — Quentin Miller with the Rimouski Océanic
Photo: Iften Redjah – Folio photo.

Miller, who will be one of the team's overagers, carried a .907 save percentage across 47 games between the eventual last place Quebec Remparts and the Océanic.

Since making the move to Rimouski, Miller carried a .915 save percentage over 15 games.

Behind him, is the early favourite for the top goaltending prospect of the 2026 NHL Draft in William Lacelle as the backup.

Miller is just one of the many NHL affiliated talents on Rimouski.

Spencer Gill of the Rimouski Océanic<p>Photo: Iften Redjah, Folio photo</p> — Spencer Gill of the Rimouski Océanic
Photo: Iften Redjah, Folio photo

Their blueline features three, in 2024 Philadelphia Flyers second round pick Spencer Gill (46 in 65), alternate captain and 2023 Florida Panthers sixth rounder Luke Coughlin (22 in 42) and newly acquired import, Canucks 2024 seventh rounder Basile Sansonnens from Switzerland.

The 6-foot-4 defenseman had 3 points (1+2) over 40 games with Fribourg Jr. of the Swiss U-20 league, and also played a handful of games in the second-tier pro league, the Swiss League, and the top league, the National League.

Pier-Olivier Roy as a member of the Victoriaville Tigres<p>Photo: Victoriaville Tigres</p> — Pier-Olivier Roy as a member of the Victoriaville Tigres
Photo: Victoriaville Tigres

Arguably the biggest addition to the blue line is overager Pier-Olivier Roy, who is coming off a 50 point (10+40) season with the Victoriaville Tigres. Funnily enough, that was a down year as he had previously potted 68 points (6+62) in 68 games with the Tigres in 2022-23.

Another potential overager on the blue line is 6-foot-6 defender Charles Cote, who had 16 points over 52 games

Roy isn't even the biggest addition to the team this off-season. That would be Vegas' 2023 3rd round pick Mathieu Cataford, who was acquired from Halifax.

Mathieu Cataford at the 2023 CHL Top Prospects Game<p>© Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports</p> — Mathieu Cataford at the 2023 CHL Top Prospects Game
© Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Cataford was third in the QMJHL in points last season with 90 (40+50) in 68 games. The 19-year old right winger even got into four games with the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights at season's end and notched two assists.

Alexandre Blais of the Rimouski Océajnic<p>Photo: Iften Redjah – Folio photo.</p> — Alexandre Blais of the Rimouski Océajnic
Photo: Iften Redjah – Folio photo.

Feeding him is Anaheim's 4th round pick from the 2024 NHL Draft in Alexandre Blais. Blais' 84 points (24+60) led the Océanic in points last season and was sixth in points. He had the highest point totals in the entire QMJHL, for all NHL draft eligibles. Additionally, his 60 assists was good for second in the league.

Quinn Kennedy of the Rimouski Océanic<p>Photo: Iften Redjah – Folio photo.</p> — Quinn Kennedy of the Rimouski Océanic
Photo: Iften Redjah – Folio photo.

On top of those two are notable returners in overage captain center Jacob Mathieu (63 in 55), centerman Mael St-Denis (58 in 67), right winger Quinn Kennedy (45 in 52), Maxime Coursol (49 in 43) and left winger Lyam Jacques (27 in 65).

Pavel Simek with the Saint John Sea Dogs<p>Photo: Michael Hawkins, Saint John Sea Dogs</p> — Pavel Simek with the Saint John Sea Dogs
Photo: Michael Hawkins, Saint John Sea Dogs

Additionally, they have acquired former Saint John Sea Dog left winger Pavel Simek from the Import Draft, who is coming off of a 38-point (18+20), 68-game season.

The Océanic should easily be one of the QMJHL's top dogs next season to begin with, but they also have an ace up their sleeve that may just put them over the edge.

Bradly Nadeau.

Nadeau putting on the Carolina Hurricanes jersey on for the first time after getting selected by the Canes in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft<p>© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports</p> — Nadeau putting on the Carolina Hurricanes jersey on for the first time after getting selected by the Canes in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft
© Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Océanic have inadvertantly played the long game selecting the college bound left winger from New Brunswick in the nineth round of the 2021 QMJHL Draft.

However, now that the 30th overall selection of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has signed with Carolina, after an electric 46 point (19+27) rookie campaign with the University of Maine, Nadeau may get loaned to the Océanic to help on their quest for Memorial Cup glory if he can't make the Hurricanes full time.

Shawinigan getting Gridin would turn a good team into a great team, but Rimouski getting Nadeau would turn a great team into a world eater.