With only a 9.5% chance of climbing onto the stage first, the Remparts were unlucky as they retained their fourth place, ahead of the Saint-Jean Sea Dogs (5th).
Represented in Montreal by its chief recruiter, Patrick Leblond, the general director, Sylvain Couturier followed everything from his hotel room in Baie-Comeau, where his team’s semi-final begins this evening against the Drakkar.
“I didn’t do anything, it’s our year, you have to believe! smiled the CEO when asked about his lucky superstition. When I saw that we were moving forward to at least second position, I was still happy.”
“But to get into first place is something!”
— Sylvain Couturier of the Eagles
Grateful to Carrière
Couturier thus had the lucky hand for the second time in three years, defender Tomas Lavoie having been obtained thanks to the first overall pick of 2022. After hanging up with The sunthe boss of the Eagles planned to make a phone call to his predecessor, Jacques Carrière, the one who had carried out the transaction involving the lucky choice, two years ago.
Former Eagles general manager, Jacques Carrière, and head recruiter, Patrick Leblond. (Simon Séguin-Bertrand, The Law/Simon Séguin-Bertrand, The Law)
In January 2022, Connor Trenholm had indeed moved to the Sea Dogs in a transaction involving Charles Savoie, Carter McCluskey and several draft picks, including the first round selection of Saint-Jean in 2024. “I am very grateful to him, added Couturier . It was a very good exchange!”
It had been discussed
When Cape Breton moved at the time, there was talk of the chances of seeing this first round pick end up in the lottery, remembers Patrick Leblond, a member of the organization for nine years.
Connor Trenholm when acquired by the Sea Dogs in 2022. (COURTESY SEA DOGS, MICHAEL HAWKINS/COURTESY SEA DOGS, MICHAEL HAWKINS)
“It was one of the first things that Jacques Carrière had said,” he says. It’s a bonus [de choisir premier] because we didn’t think we would climb first. At the time, it was a price you couldn’t refuse.”
Betraying his hometown!
Leblond, who was having his first experience on live TV, felt almost ashamed to leave the RDS studios with his hands full, where the draw took place. “I felt bad after the lottery [pour les Foreurs], but I feel even worse thinking about the fact that I just did that to my hometown!” joked the Eagles representative.
Patrick Leblond, head scout for the Cape Breton Eagles. (Simon Séguin-Bertrand, The Law/Simon Séguin-Bertrand, The Law)
Desruisseaux philosopher
The scenario is a little less happy for the Foreurs, who had a 15/21 chance of obtaining the first choice. The general manager of the worst club in the QMJHL in 2023-24, Maxime Desruisseaux, hoped to speak during the first two selections, a disappointing result which did not discourage him too much when contacted by The sun.
Only one favorite to win has been drafted in first place since 2017, a real curse! “We would have liked to choose in ranks 1 and 2, but it’s not 3 and 4 either,” Desruisseaux put things into perspective. It’s a very appreciable position, it could have been better, but we’re super happy with what we have.”
“I didn’t think too much about the curse, because it’s still luck.”
— Maxime Desruisseaux
Foreurs GM Maxime Desruisseaux with his first round selection, Philippe Veilleux, during last year’s draft. (Maxime Picard/La Tribune)
Three CEOs in the same car!
As Desruisseaux, Leblond and Simon Gagné had decided to travel between Boisbriand, where the QMJHL Cup takes place, and Montreal by carpooling, we then spoke with the GM of the Remparts during the same telephone interview. Gagné remained realistic about his chances of victory.
“I came across very down-to-earth,” confided Gagné. My disappointment would have been to fall back to fifth and I believed in our chances when I saw Saint-Jean come out, but I’m not disappointed. The experience was fun. We had the pleasure of going up to Montreal together, but here we have a different kind of pleasure leaving there.”
“We are with the van from Val-d’Or, too!”
— Simon Gagne
— Can you imagine that I feel a little too much? Leblond joked, sitting next to him.
Involved in the race for the Gilles-Courteau trophy, the Eagles do not yet have the lead in the draft. The identity of their choice in Moncton does not seem to be established at the time of writing. “We will look at all the options, but the top 3 is very good this year,” summarized their CEO, Sylvain Couturier. We’ll see what happens with our choice, but we’re very happy.”
We can understand it!
The order for the 2024 QMJHL draft:
1- Cape Breton Eagles
2- Val-d’Or drillers
3- Val-d’Or drillers
4- Quebec City Ramparts
5- Sea Dogs of Saint-Jean
