12-05-2025
Could the Regiment's first QMJHL draft pick be a Newfoundlander?
With under a month remaining until the Newfoundland Regiment makes its first-ever selections in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft, a recent scouting report suggests that some homegrown talent may be available to the club when they step to the podium to make their inaugural picks.
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The QMJHL Central Scouting recently published its final prospect rankings ahead of the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft, identifying 21 talented draft hopefuls from Newfoundland and Labrador, including two skaters who have a chance at being selected in the first round.
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St. John's native Benjamin Veitch is the province's top-ranked skater heading into the draft, ranking seventh out of 381 eligible prospects from across Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The 15-year-old left-handed forward displayed tremendous scoring touch during the 2024-25 season, scoring 21 goals in 29 regular-season games and adding 10 goals in 10 playoff games with the York Simcoe Express U16 AAA squad in Aurora, Ontario.
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Just a short drive away across the Greater Toronto Area is where you will find the province's top-ranked defensive prospect, 15-year-old Quinn Norman from Conception Bay South. The well-rounded rearguard is the third-ranked defenseman among all Atlantic Canadian skaters and collected three points in four games at the OHL Cup as a member of the Vaughan Kings.
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Back at the QMJHL Draft Lottery in late April, it was determined that the Newfoundland Regiment would have three first-round selections at the upcoming QMJHL Draft, taking place in Quebec City on June 6 and 7.
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Given the club's draft selections are the fifth, sixth and eighth overall picks, it's not impossible to fathom that one or both players may be available when the team makes its selections.
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Whether or not the team chooses to bring one or both of these players back home via the draft would be the decision of the yet-to-be-confirmed general manager and/or head coach.
