Big expectations for Julien Nantel, Francis Perron

Rick Springhetti — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 14:48:52 +0000

Two of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies’ top three picks from the 2012 draft are coming of age.

Second-rounder Julien Nantel has the size to impose his will physically, but is still learning how to use it effectively. Nantel lacks a mean streak that could take his game to new levels but his stride, prowess in the face-off circle and shot are calling cards that will earn consideration for a draft pick.

Expectations are bigger for Francis Perron, whose stature is smaller than his teammate’s. Perron, the sixth-overall pick in 2012, saw his game grow by leaps and bounds in his second full season. A crafty playmaker who showed the versatility to play the point on the power play, Perron uses his speed and tenacity in the offensive zone.

Both players will play integral roles in northern Quebec next season. Rouyn-Noranda took strong strides after head coach and GM Andre Tourigny departed for the Colorado Avalanche and will look to these two young players moving forward.

Julien Nantel (2014), C

Tall, lanky center is a cerebral forward who has been very effective in providing secondary scoring for the Huskies this season .. smooth skater with an effortless stride, he needs but a few steps to hit top speed .. turns and stops are very controlled .. handles the puck reasonably well using his body to shield the puck .. can be guilty of overthinking the game instead of relying on his instincts .. possesses a good shot on net but he needs to get into better position to take advantage of it as too many shots are low-percentage plays .. excels in the face-off circle using his size effectively to win battles .. also uses his size well defensively by angling his man with his frame and stick .. could increase his defensive effectiveness with a more aggressive approach .. doesn’t engage physically as one would like for a player of his size .. a very smart player with a lot of intriguing tools that teams covet .. his success at the next level may correlate directly whether he’s able to use his size to his advantage and play a physical game .. can be expected to take a good step forward next season with a bigger, more defined role.

Francis Perron (2014), LW

Undersized player is very raw physically but upside is intriguing .. a very quick skater, Perron has shown improvement in his explosiveness as he gained a good deal of lower-body strength .. darts in and out of traffic well while keeping his head up looking for openings or passing option .. sees the ice well and is able to make crisp passes while in motion .. makes quick decisions in the offensive zone which buys him some time and creating openings to the point where the coaching staff has started using him on the point after star defenseman Dillon Fournier went down with a season-ending injury.. excels at zone entries due to his mobility and vision but needs to be paired with bigger forwards who can get to the front of the net .. possesses a good shot on net with a quick release .. has trouble fighting off checks due to his size and overall strength .. at his best on the power play where he can use all his tools .. defensively, he still has to improve his decisions-making, especially at neutral ice where he is hesitant on the transition .. compete level is admirable down low but effectiveness is mitigated by running around too much .. has shown excellent improvement in his overall game in the second half of the season which culminated in an excellent post-season.

Scouting Huskies: J-S Dea, Mathieu Lemay

Rick Springhetti — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:25:06 +0000

Among the surprises in the QJMHL this season, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies have had a few players really emerge and and take a step forward. At the top of the list are a pair of forwards, Jean-Sebastien Dea and Mathieu Lemay who are handling large minutes, and often against the opponent’s best lines.

Jean-Sebastien Dea (C, 2013), Rouyn-Noranda

Went undrafted in first year of eligibility, and responded with a fantastic start to this season highlighted by 15 goals in his first 9 games (9-15-8-23) .. displays much improved focus and intensity compared to last year .. steadily learning to better use his tools more effectively .. possesses quick hands and impressive stick control which gives him the ability to release shots rapidly and win a good deal of his faceoffs (season faceoff mark sits at 54.3 %) .. likes to dart in and out of the crease quickly when he sees scoring chances .. demonstrates excellent hand-eye coordination that helps corral passes effectively .. boasts decent speed, yet looks quicker by keeping his feet moving at all times .. turns are sharp and controlled .. can be an asset defensively against skilled players as he pressures the puckcarrier effectively, however can have a very difficult time against physical players .. biggest issue for him is size and strength .. at 6-foot-0 and 160 pounds, he is quite undersized and can have a tough time winning battles for position .. size and strength issues also affect his capacity to take advantage of second and third scoring chances .. logs a lot of minutes with Rouyn-Noranda, one of the QJMHL clubs who travel the most miles - and the strain of it all is starting to show as he did not have a great month of January .. likely gets an invite to a pro camp unless he can re-elevate his game back to the levels of the first half of the season.

Mathieu Lemay (RW), 2013, Rouyn-Noranda

An average skater - stride is a bit choppy, yet he still manages to get to where he needs to go quickly enough .. takes pride in his defensive game and will sacrifice himself for the good of the team .. could improve his stick position and placement .. knows where players are on the ice when the puck is in his zone and manages to react fairly quickly .. not afraid to use his body to make a play .. will block shots when he has the chance or simply get out of the way if he doesn’t think he has the chance to get to it effectively .. steadily gaining more confidence in himself and will now initiate contact against opponents .. won’t contribute much offensively .. not very smooth with the puck, he has trouble handling the puck when moving at quick speeds .. also has difficulty corralling passes and making plays .. tends to drop his head when moving the puck which hampers his peripheral vision .. his shot is rather weak as well - and he will usually just try to get it to the net .. limited player in what he can do but still quite useful to a team with a strong system.

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies – McKeen's Hockey

Big expectations for Julien Nantel, Francis Perron

Scouting Huskies: J-S Dea, Mathieu Lemay