At 6ft2in and 200 pounds, defender Gabriel Anctil, of the Collège Notre-Dame Albatross, is one of the rare players who can compete physically with young Alexis Joseph in the U18 AAA Hockey Development League.
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The 16-year-old athlete, already drafted by the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the QMJHL, smiles when it comes to his opponent. It must be said that the two youngsters also played together last May, in Ottawa, within the Quebec U16 team, during the Challenge de la Frontière.
“I’ve been playing against him for two years, said Anctil, recognizing that it was a good challenge. I got to know him. He’s tall, he has a good physique, he skates fast. He is good with the puck as well as without it. With him, you have to be physical, because he is difficult to stop.
Watching him perform during the CCM Challenge, held in Châteauguay, we have to admit that Anctil is doing a good job for his team on the blue line. In addition to making his presence felt on the ice, the young man from Saint-Anaclet-de-Lessard, near Rimouski, makes a great offensive contribution to his team.
With a tally of 27 points in 25 games since the start of the season with the Albatross, the defender is even the best scorer on his team. He also comes at the top among the guards on the M18 AAA circuit.
From this season?
Drafted in the sixth round by the Saguenéens last June, Anctil remains hopeful of making the jump to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. And why not for a first stay before the end of the campaign?
“It’s certain that I would really like to move up to the QMJHL for a few games between now and the end of the season,” agreed Anctil, who is obviously relying on the plan of Yanick Jean, head coach and general manager of the Saguenéens.
- Among the other players present at the CCM Challenge in Châteauguay, the Saguenéens could also count on two intriguing offensive prospects: the twins Alexis and Félix Cadran, from the Cantonniers de Magog. Félix also collected an assist on his team’s only goal while the two little players played in the tournament final on Sunday. The powerful Knights of Lévis then won by a score of 5 to 1 over the Cantonniers.
