Prospects Report: Why a return to Quebec is paying off for Remparts’ Scantlebury

Simon Gagne did not want detailed scouting reviews on James Scantlebury previous to the 2025 QMJHL Draft.

The Quebec Remparts basic supervisor had years of expertise watching Scantlebury compete in opposition to his son, Matthew, by means of the minor-hockey ranks for 2009-born gamers within the province. Gagne even had an opportunity to teach Scantlebury at one summer season peewee event in Boston.

“I saw James since he was a little kid playing against my son,” the longtime Philadelphia Flyers ahead mentioned in a phone interview this week.

“… I knew the type of player he was — not just the skill player, putting up points, but the compete level, the work ethic that he was bringing. Especially when I coached him, he was making everybody better that was playing with him with and without the puck.”

With a deep file on Scantlebury alongside along with his connection to the ahead from their time on the Chowder Cup, Gagne did not hesitate choosing the Montreal-area native ninth general final 12 months, despite the fact that he knew the participant had been tendered by the Chicago Steel of the USHL for 2025-26.

Fast ahead a 12 months, and Gagne’s transfer seems like an enormous winner. Scantlebury, 17, made the choice to return to Quebec forward of his 2027 NHL Draft eligibility, and is off to as sizzling a begin as any rookie within the CHL.

“Even though Quebec took me, I wanted to honour my commitment (to Chicago) and I wasn’t going to opt out last minute on them,” the five-foot-10, 175-pound Scantlebury, 17, mentioned. “I wished to play my 12 months out and see how issues go. And then finally I feel it was my most suitable option to return play in Quebec this 12 months.

“… There’s a great coaching staff here (led by longtime AHL and QMJHL coach Eric Veilleux), and obviously Simon is great. I just felt we had a great team going and we have a chance to win. I want to be on a winning team and a winning organization and I felt that was going to help me become the best player I can be and help me in my career.”

After two years starring for the Bishop Kearney prep-school program in Rochester, N.Y., and being a finalist for USHL rookie of the 12 months final season whereas enjoying for a Chicago staff that completed out of the playoffs, Scantlebury is doing extra scoring and successful in Quebec.

Scantlebury is tied for second within the Q scoring race with 17 factors (eight objectives, 9 assists) in eight video games after a six-point efficiency final day out in opposition to Chicoutimi.

He’s an enormous motive the Remparts have gained seven in a row after shedding their season opener, good for the No. 2 spot within the newest CHL rankings heading into Friday evening’s dwelling recreation in opposition to Gatineau.

Playing on a staff that additionally recruited anticipated excessive first-round choose Carter Meyer from the U.S. National Development Team Program this 12 months, Scantlebury is doing all the things in his energy to show he is a first-round prospect, too.

“Of course being in the first round is a goal of mine and in the back of my head,” mentioned Scantlebury. “But I feel like just not thinking about it and working every day toward that goal will ultimately help me in the long run.”

Another bonus of being in Quebec is getting in-arena help from household — together with his dad and mom, Leo and Michelle, and three siblings. “Their attendance is really great for me because I’m big on family,” Scantlebury mentioned.

The son of two faculty academics, Scantlebury comes by his ardour for the sport naturally.

“When I was young, even 10-11 months, my dad to get me to stop crying would put on some hockey and I would just watch it. ‘Stop crying,’ he said,” Scantlebury mentioned with a chuckle, certainly recalling tales informed by Leo.

“He kind of put a stick on my hands and then I started skating at two, and we had a backyard rink every year. Grateful to have had that. It made me love the game.”

Because he isn’t the most important man, Scantlebury at all times must struggle off dimension considerations.

It’s no coincidence that he fashions his recreation after a sure Carolina Hurricanes ahead.

“I think I play similar to Logan Stankoven,” Scantlebury mentioned of the five-foot-eight Cane. “Undersized guy but plays with a lot of speed and pace to his game. He’s relentless, he’s a dog. I think when I’m doing those things I’m at my best. I like to watch him and take after his game.”

Gagne was an assistant coach on a 2022-23 Remparts staff that competed in opposition to Stankoven’s host Kamloops Blazers on the Memorial Cup. Quebec gained the championship, whereas Stankoven was the event’s main scorer.

“I see (the comparison) really, really well,” Gagne mentioned. “We did play against him at the Memorial Cup in Kamloops when we won. I saw him right there in junior. When you see a player like that have success in junior and work his ass off like that and you see him go to the next level and doing the same thing and having success, that shows you those guys are capable to do it at different levels. That’s a great example for James.”

The Remparts and the Moncton Wildcats are the finalists for the 2028 Memorial Cup, with the winner anticipated to be chosen in November.

If the Remparts get the nod, maybe it will likely be incentive for Scantlebury to remain in Quebec and delay his begin at Boston University.

But that is a query for an additional day. The Remparts, who even have St. Louis Blues first-round choose Maddox Dagenais up entrance, are going to have an opportunity to win their method into this 12 months’s Memorial Cup in Guelph, Ont.

“One thing I can tell you is people have started to pay more attention to him, that’s for sure,” Gagne mentioned. “With the start that he’s had and what he’s doing, every player that has played with James since the start of the season has seen their game pick up and they’re having success.”

While issues have began off very effectively for an anticipated Q title contender in Quebec, it is mainly the alternative story for the Cape Breton Eagles.

After an all-in low season that includes a number of blockbuster strikes, the Eagles are off to an underwhelming 2-3-4 begin. It prompted staff house owners Irwin and Trevor Simon to handle a letter to Eagles followers on social media this week.

“We hear your frustration and we understand it,” learn a part of the letter. “You have every right to expect more, and we hold ourselves to that same standard.”

The Eagles by no means have gained a QMJHL title. This is speculated to be the season to make a critical run after the Eagles acquired guys like goalie Lucas Beckman (Ottawa Senators) and ahead Liam Lefebvre (Los Angeles Kings) from the reigning Q champion Chicoutimi Sagueneens.

Keep a watch on the Attack

After a 2-6 begin below new administration and possession, the Owen Sound Attack made an enormous commerce Thursday, sending Florida Panthers prospect ahead Cole Zurawski to the Kingston Frontenacs for 4 draft picks.

While Attack GM Tyler Nother informed Owen Sound Sun-Times beat reporter Greg Cowan the transfer doesn’t imply the OHL staff is rebuilding, it raises questions on whether or not Owen Sound would possibly think about dealing guys like forwards Harry Nansi (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Pierce Mbuyi (Pittsburgh Penguins).

The Memorial Cup host Guelph Storm and London Knights appear to be the groups to beat within the Western Conference, however the East seems extensive open.

Michigan Wolverines at Denver Pioneers, Friday, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT; Saturday, 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. MT

It would not get a lot better than the top-ranked staff within the NCAA (Denver) in opposition to the No. 2 squad (Michigan). Denver beat Michigan in double-OT in final 12 months’s Frozen Four semifinal en path to the nationwide title. Of course, that recreation did not embrace guys like 2027 NHL Draft high prospect Landon DuPont of Michigan and Denver rookies Daxon Rudolph (Buffalo Sabres first-rounder) and Ryan Lin (San Jose Sharks first-rounder).

Victoria Royals (6-1) at Red Deer Rebels (6-2-1), Friday, 9 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. MT

Poul Anderson (undrafted within the NHL) and Rebels teammate Beckett Hamilton (Colorado A-Z Eventz) are 1-2 in WHL scoring. They face a Royals staff permitting a mean of simply 2.6 objectives per recreation.

Cape Breton Eagles (2-3-4) at Saint John Sea Dogs (6-1-2), Saturday, 3 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. AT

2027 NHL Draft first-round prospect Jamie Glance has had 4 multi-point video games in a row for surging Saint John.

Sudbury Wolves (7-0-1) at Guelph Storm (7-2), Sunday, 2:07 p.m. ET

Surprising Sudbury enters the weekend as the one OHL staff with no regulation loss. Senators prospect Adam Nemec has one objective and 10 assists in 4 video games for Sudbury. Guelph has gained seven in a row after beginning the 12 months with two losses.