Herd Word

CHL AWARDS
After winning the Marcel Robert Trophy as the QMJHL's scholastic player of the year, former Moose forward Mathieu Cataford received a nomination for the CHL's equivalent. On June 13 during the ceremony at Delta Hotels Toronto, the 20-year-old won the award and was named the 2025 CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. Cataford has been studying in his second language (English) and maintaining an average above 95%. Now enrolled in Business Administration at Saint Mary's University, the Saint Constant, Quebec native 'has achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA each semester and plans to study kinesiology to eventually open his own training centre.' 

Photo - CHL Twitter

Congrats Mathieu on winning the award. Hear what Cataford had to say about his journey here. 

Overage goaltender Jacob Steinman was a nominee for the CHL Goaltender of the Year award after winning the QMJHL's Patrick Roy Trophy but was defeated by the Kitchener Rangers' Jackson Parsons. 

TRAINING FACILITY
According to the CBC, the Halifax Mooseheads have asked city regional council for up to $1.625 million to expand the training facility they lease at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth. The team proposed a 4,700-square-foot addition to upgrade the building. 'Russell told the committee a state-of-the-art facility would enhance the Mooseheads' ability to attract top talent, putting the team on the same level as NCAA teams, universities and colleges.' A 21-metre turf training track, high-performance gym, more spacious player lounge along with a sauna and steam room are included in the proposed plans. No word on when a decision will be made by the council was noted in the news article.

BEHIND THE SCENES
Ever wondered what happens during draft weekend? Well the Halifax Mooseheads posted a behind the scenes video of the 2025 QMJHL Entry Draft.

PROSPECTS DRAFTED IN MHL
Three Mooseheads' prospects were drafted last weekend into the Maritime Hockey League. South Kent Selects' Duncan Anderson, who Halifax selected in the 11th round at this year's QMJHL draft, was taken 3rd overall by the Valley Wildcats. Forward Sam Ryan, picked 167th by the Herd in early June, heard his name called also by the Wildcats in the fifth round. Meanwhile, the Mooseheads' last 2025 selection; goaltender Jack Bell was picked at the #106 spot by the Amherst Ramblers. 

Full draft results can be found on the MHL website. 

Photo - AP News

MARCHAND WINS AGAIN
Herd alumni Brad Marchand is a champion once again after winning the Stanley Cup on June 17 with the Florida Panthers. The 37-year-old recorded 20 points (10G & 10A) in 23 games played during the playoffs to help the Panthers go back to back. Marchand was traded back in March from the Boston Bruins to Florida and played 10 regular season matches with his new team. He scored 2 big goals in Game 5 en route of the Panthers' 4-2 series victory in a rematch against the Edmonton Oilers. The Halifax-native previously won the ultimate trophy as part of the 2011 Bruins team. 

Congratulations to Brad and the Panthers on lifting the 2025 Stanley Cup. 

NHL DRAFT

Photo - Canadiens Twitter

The 2025 NHL Draft was held this weekend and only one Moosehead player heard his name. Defenceman Carlos Handel was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the 6th round, 177th overall on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles, CA. Handel, who was ranked #73 in the CSS final rankings, is coming off his rookie campaign in the QMJHL where he scored 3 goals and 26 points for Halifax. 

Central Scouting Services had ranked two other young men who suited up in Moose Country this past season but unfortunately Liam Kilfoil and Shawn Carrier did not get picked. Hopefully the two teammates will still be invited to development and/or rookie camps this summer. 

On Friday, the New York Islanders picked Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters first overall. The Moncton Wildcats' Caleb Desnoyers, who is former Herd Elliot Desnoyer's younger brother, got drafted by the Utah Mammoth at #4. Carlos and Caleb were two of a total 19 QMJHL players that were selected over the two day event.  

Herd Word

HOCKEY CANADA SUMMER CAMPS
Three Halifax Mooseheads players will be in Calgary later this month for summer camps put on by Hockey Canada. After participating in the camp last year, 19-year-old Zachary L'Heureux was invited to the National Junior Team camp while new sophomores Mathieu Cataford and Dylan MacKinnon will be among the 44 players set to participate in the National Men's Summer U-18 Team camp. 

The U-18 players 'will compete for an opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Red Deer, Alta. The selection camp, which takes place July 20-23, will include a variety of on- and off-ice sessions. Following the selection of the final roster on July 24, Team Canada will play a pair of games against Red and White teams from Canada's National Junior Team summer camp.' MacKinnon had two points in an injury filled season that saw him play only 52 games in his rookie season. Cataford, meanwhile, led the QMJHL's 16-year-olds with 46 points in 62 games and was nominated for rookie of the year. 

44 players will also be on the ice for the Junior Team camp which is set for July 23-27. "This is an exciting first step as we begin preparations for the upcoming season and the opportunity to compete at the 2023 World Juniors on home ice in Halifax and Moncton this December," Alan Millar added. " We are excited about this group of players, and we look forward to returning to the ice for a highly-competitive camp to kick off a new season." 

DUMAIS

Second year forward Jordan Dumais was once again rewarded for his discipline during the Canadian Hockey League awards that were held on June 28 in Saint John, NB. Dumais was one of the three nominations for the CHL Sportsman of the Year and named the 2021-22 recipient. Other nominees were Logan Stankoven of the Kamloops Blazers and Windsor Spitfires' Wyatt Johnston. The 18-year-old picked up only six penalty minutes during the regular season leading to him winning the QMJHL Sportsman of the Year award. 

Big congrats to Jordan on winning the award. 

FINAL RANKINGS

The final rankings were announced awhile ago but with the 2022 NHL Entry Draft coming up in a few days, I thought I would remind you where a few of our Herd players were ranked at the end of the season. Despite recording 109 points in 68 games, Jordan Dumais did not move up in the rankings and is still anticipated to go in the third round. 

Rankings amongst North American skaters
Jake Furlong  #68

Jordan Dumais  #73
Markus Vidicek  #116

You can catch the first round on Sportsnet at 8:00 p.m. AT on Thursday night, with rounds 2-7 happening on Friday afternoon. 

MEMORIAL CUP

After many delays, the 2022 Memorial Cup tournament was played in late June with the host Saint John Sea Dogs winning the final game and lifting the trophy on home ice. The Sea Dogs had a long break before playing in the Memorial Cup after getting ousted by the Rimouski Oceanic in Round 1 of the QMJHL playoffs. Saint John defeated the OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs 6-3 on June 29 to win their second national championship in franchise history. 

Final standings 

Saint John Sea Dogs (hosts)
Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL champs)
Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL champs)

Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL champs)

CHL IMPORT DRAFT

Our Mooseheads used the 33rd overall pick in Friday's CHL Import Draft to select defenceman David Moravec of Czechia. The 2003-born Moravec is 6-feet-tall, weighs 190 points and is the 44th ranked European skater for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. He recently represented his country at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championship and has also played internationally at the U16, U17 and U18 levels. Moravec had four assists in 40 games in the 2021-22 season. 

Welcome to Moose Country David!

Cam Russell didn't use his second pick in the draft as forward Attilio Biasca is expected to be back on the team in 2022-23. The team also did not make any trades over the weekend when the summer trading period opened up on Saturday. 

Photos - Elite Prospects, Herd website, CBC website, The Hockey Writers

Hischier Wins at CHL Awards

Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

Nico Hischier, of your Halifax Mooseheads, was named the CCM Rookie of the Year at the annual Canadian Hockey League awards ceremony this afternoon.

Each year during the Memorial Cup, the CHL presents the winners of the league's trophies. I'm sure no one in Moose Country is surprised by the announcement that Hischier was given the trophy for being the best first year player in the nation this season.

From the press release:

2017 NHL Draft prospect Nico Hischier of the Halifax Mooseheads led all rookies in scoring with 86 points in 57 games including 38 goals and 48 assists.  The 18-year-old from Naters, Switzerland, was chosen sixth overall in the 2016 CHL Import Draft and is listed second in NHL Central Scouting’s final draft rankings.  He becomes the second Moosehead to win the award following current Winnipeg Jet Nikolaj Ehlers in 2014, and will challenge for the NHL’s top pick in June where he would follow 2013 first overall pick and Moosehead grad Nathan MacKinnon who currently stars with the Colorado Avalanche.  Finalists for the award were Aleksi Heponiemi of the Swift Current Broncos and Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm.

Nico is the second Moosehead to win the award, joining Nikolaj Ehlers who won in 2013-14.

Below is the full list of winners at the CHL Awards:
Sherwin-Williams Top Prospect - Nolan Patrick, Brandon Wheat Kings
Chrysler Top Scorer - Sam Steel, Regina Pats
BRP Sportsman of the Year - Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound Attack
MasterCard Humanitarian of the Year - Tyler Wong, Lethbridge Hurricanes
CIBC Scholastic Player of the Year - Sasha Chmelevski, Ottawa 67's
Sofina Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year - Ryan McGill, Owen Sound Attack
CCM Rookie of the Year - Nico Hischier, Halifax Mooseheads
Vaughn Goaltender of the Year - Michael McNiven, Owen Sound Attack
Superstore Defenceman of the Year - Thomas Chabot, Saint John Sea Dogs
Sportsnet Player of the Year - Alex DeBrincat, Erie Otters

Nico Hischier was also nominated for the CHL Top Prospect of the Year award as well.

Nico Given Star/Player of the Week

Photo - CHL twitter

With a nine point week, Halifax Mooseheads rookie forward Nico Hischier was named by the Canadian Hockey League as the player of the week for the week ending November 13, the league announced today. Hischier helped the Mooseheads to two high scoring victories over the weekend recording 4 goals and 5 assists while being a plus-4. The 17 year old scored twice and record 3 assists on Friday night as the Herd defeated the Sherbrooke Phoenix 9-5 on home ice. He than scored a hat trick and got a helper on another goal in Halifax's 7-4 win over the Charlottetown Islanders the next evening. It was his second hat trick of the season in his young career, bringing his points total to 34 in 21 games which is third in the league.

On Monday, Nico was also named the QMJHL's first star of the week. He was joined by Alex Dostie of the Gatineau Olympiques who was announced as the second star with 4 goals and 6 points in 3 games as well as Chicoutimi Sagueneens' Nicolas Roy who had 4 goals and 7 points in 2 games.

Congratulations to Nico on receiving both honours, very well deserved for the young man.

Nik Wins Again.

What an awesome rookie campaign the #DanishDane is having! Nikolaj Ehlers from your Halifax Mooseheads has added another award to his collection. It may not be the one that every junior player wants to win but it's not a bad award to win either. Ehlers was nominated for two awards at the Canadian Hockey League awards ceremony that is held annually at the Memorial Cup tournament. The Moosehead player won one of them. He was named the BMO Rookie of the Year, an honor that he won a month and a half ago during the QMJHL awards, of the CHL.

Nikolaj was nominated for the Jack Link's Top Prospect of the Year as well but lost to Sam Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs in the Ontario Hockey League. Halifax goaltender Zach Fucale was also nominated for a CHL award; the Vaughn Hockey Goaltender of the Year. Fucale was named Top Goalie in the QMJHL in early April but was unable to add to his collection as Kelowna Rockets' Jordon Cooke won the award this afternoon.

Eric Veilleux, Anthony Mantha & Nik Ehlers stand with their awards. Photo: QMJHL twitter

See below for the full list of winners:
Jack Links Top Prospect of the Year: Sam Bennett (Kelowna, OHL)
autoTRADER.ca Sportsman of the Year: Sam Reinhart (Kootenay, WHL)
Dodge Canada Top Scorer: Connor Brown (Erie, OHL)
Copper Tire Humanitarian of the Year: Sam Fioretti (Moose Jaw, WHL)
SUBWAY Scholastic Player of the Year: Connor McDavid (Erie, OHL)
Old Dutch Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year: Eric Veilleux (Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)
BMO Rookie of the Year: Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax, QMJHL)
Vaughn Goaltender of the Year: Jordon Cooke (Kelowna, WHL)
Arctic Spas Defenceman of the Year: Derrick Pouliot (Portland, WHL)
Sportsnet Player of the Year: Anthony Mantha (Val-d'Or, QMJHL)

CHL Announces Award Nominees.

Press release.

Thursday May 8, 2014
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the nominees for the 10 major awards that will be presented at the annual CHL Awards Ceremony which takes place on Saturday May 24 as part of the 2014 MasterCard Memorial Cup festivities in London.

Jack Link’s Top Prospect of the Year:
Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads)
Sam Bennett (Kingston Frontenacs)
Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)

Chrysler Dodge Top Scorer:
Anthony Mantha (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Connor Brown (Erie Otters)
Mitch Holmberg (Spokane Chiefs)

SUBWAY Scholastic Player of the Year:
Jeremy Gregoire (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Connor McDavid (Erie Otters)
Nelson Nogier (Saskatoon Blades)

Cooper Tires Humanitarian of the Year:
Charles-David Beaudoin (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Scott Simmonds (Belleville Bulls)
Sam Fioretti (Moose Jaw Warriors)

autoTRADER.ca Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year:
Frederik Gaudreau (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Connor McDavid (Erie Otters)
Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)

Old Dutch Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year:
Eric Veilleux (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
D.J Smith (Oshawa Generals)
Dave Lowry (Victoria Royals)

BMO Rookie of the Year:
Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax Mooseheads)
Travis Konecny (Ottawa 67’s)
Nick Merkley (Kelowna Rockets)

Vaughn Goaltender of the Year:
Zachary Fucale (Halifax Mooseheads)
Alex Nedeljkovic (Plymouth Whalers)
Jordon Cooke (Kelowna Rockets)

Arctic Spas Defenceman of the Year:
Guillaume Gelinas (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Aaron Ekblad (Barrie Colts)
Derrick Pouliot (Portland Winterhawks)

Sportsnet Player of the Year:
Anthony Mantha (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Connor Brown (Erie Otters)
Sam Reinhart (Kootenay Ice)



Congratulations to Nikolaj and Zach on being nominated. Check back here on the 24th to see how our boys did as I will post a full list of the winners after they are announced.

Ducharme Named Top Coach

The banquet for the CHL Awards was this afternoon in Saskatoon at the Memorial Cup. The trophy and all the nominees were led into the room by a bagpiper. Jonathan Drouin, Konrad Abeltshauser and Dominique Ducharme were all nominated for awards. The winners of the awards in the individual leagues were the nominees.

Jack Link's Top Prospect of the Year - Seth Jones, Winterhawks
FRAM Sportsman of the Year - Tyler Graovac, Bulls
Chrysler Dodge Top Scorer - Brendan Leipsic and Nicolas Petan, Winterhawks
Travelodge Humanitarian of the Year - Ben Fanelli, Rangers
Subway Scholastic Player of the Year - Josh Morrissey, Raiders
Old Dutch Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year - Dominique Ducharme, Mooseheads
BMO Rookie of the Year - Valentin Zykov, Drakkar
Vaughn Goaltender of the Year - Patrik Bartosak, Rebels
Post Defenceman of the Year - Ryan Sproul, Greyhounds
CCM Player of the Year - Jonathan Drouin, Mooseheads

Congratulations to all winners especially our own Halifax Mooseheads players. For a full list of nominees click here.