QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Since rumors of trades swirled around the QMJHL a total of 15 trades were confirmed by different general managers. Fourteen trades were confirmed by the QMJHL office, seven of them came from Quebec.
General managers used to be active out of spotlight leading to the last QMJHL trade period. A rule in the league prevents any G.M. to make any announcement in regard of an eventual trade before December 22nd.
Back on December 21st, in Quebec during a game between Rimouski and Quebec, rumors of a eminent trade between Rimouski and Saint John began to intensify during the second period of that game involving one of the best QMJHL defenseman, Kevin Gagne coming to Rimouski.
People are very active on social network these days and often lots of things went through those networks before being validated. Even with a rule in QMJHL preventing any G.M. from confirming a trade before December 22nd the Rimouski general manager Philippe Boucher announced the arrival of Saint John defenseman Gagne with the Oceanic during the third period of the game between his team and the Quebec Remparts.
After the game some reporters asked the question of Oceanic head coach Serge Beausoleil if the rumor had been confirmed? The answer given by Beausoleil was, “I didn’t have time to talk to Kevin yet but if it was the case, if our G.M. did make the trade Gagne is certainly one of two best QMJHL defensemen in the league. The other in my mind is Xavier Ouellet of Blainville-Boisbriand.
Knowing that Quebec possibly made four trades reporters tried to get some comments from Quebec general Manager Patrick Roy after the game but Roy’s answered was, “ The QMJHL rule prevent me to tell or announce anything before Tomorrow (Saturday December 22nd), so even if I would lake too I can’t you will have to wait.”
On the Rimouski trade about the arrival of Gagne Roy only said, “It doesn’t matter to us, but Rimouski will be a better team.”
Fifteen minutes past midnight on the 22nd a press release from Quebec Communication Director Nicole Bouchard confirmed that the Quebec general manager Patrick Roy had made seven trades involving six players from Quebec being traded elsewhere, five new players came from other teams to Quebec.
First trade: Sherbrooke sent right defenseman Jeremy Beaudry and a ninth round pick in 2013 to Quebec. In return, Quebec sent a third round pick in 2013 (previously belonging to Halifax) and a fourth round pick in 2015.
Second trade saw Quebec defenseman Jean-Philippe Lebrasseur and a fifth round pick in 2015 going to Sherbrooke. In return, Sherbrooke sent to Quebec left winger Brent Turnbull.
Third trade involved Quebec and Shawinigan. The Cataractes sent veteran defenseman Dillion Donnelly, a six round pick in 2013 (previously belonging to Blainville-Boisbriand) and a nine round selection in 2014 to Quebec. The Remparts sent to Shawinigan center Pierre-Maxime Poudrier and the second round pick (previously belonging to Chicoutimi).
Fourth trade saw Cape Breton sending left defenseman Jean-Simon Deslauriers to Gatineau. In return, the Olympiques sent to the Screaming Eagles their second round pick in 2014.
Fifth trade saw Cape Breton left winger Blake Millman going to Quebec. In return, the Remparts sent a fifth round selection in 2013.
Sixth trade Acadie-Bathurst sent center Michael Lyle to Cape Breton. In return, the Screaming Eagles sent fifth round selection (previously belonging to Quebec).
Seventh trade Shawinigan sent center Samuel Landry to Sherbrooke. The Phoenix sent an eighth round pick in 2014.
Eighth trade Moncton sent center Kris Hodge to Shawinigan. The Cataractes sent a sixth round pick (previously belonging to Val-d’Or).
Ninth trade Saint John sent defenseman Kevin Gagne and a sixth round selection in 2014 to Rimouski. In return, the Oceanic sent to the Sea Dogs their first and six round picks in 2013 and a fourth round pick in 2014 (previously belonging to Cape Breton)
Tenth trade Gatineau and Prince Edward Island traded players. The Olympiques sent right defenseman Anthony Cortese to Prince Edward Island. In return, the Rocket sent right winger Bent Kelly.
Eleventh trade Quebec sent defenseman Maxime Fortier to Victoriaville. In return the Tigres sent to Remparts a nine round pick (previously acquired in another trade with Quebec).
Twelveth trade Sherbrooke sent center Anthony Verret to Quebec. In return, the Remparts sent to Phoenix their nine rounds picks in 2014.
Thirteenth trade Drummondville sent left winger Bryce Milson to Cape Breton. The Screaming Eagles sent a third round pick in 2013.
Fourteenth trade the last trade of the first day on December 22nd saw Pierre-Maxime Poudrier (previously acquired in the day from Quebec) by Shawinigan been sent to Val-d’Or. In return the Foreurs sent right winger Mason Gray to the Cataractes.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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