Setting up the draft

Top Islander ranked in the fourth round by QMJHL Central Scouting

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League released its final rankings for next month’s draft and the top-ranked player is a forward out of Quebec.

Alexis Lafrenière, 15, from the St-Eustache Vikings in the Quebec midget AAA League gets the nod.

The six-foot, 171-pound Lafreniere led the league in goals (33), assists (50) and points (83) in 36 regular season games.

Lafreniere is followed by forwards Samuel Poulin (College Esther-Blondin), who was second in league scoring with 68 points, Jakob Pelletier (Seminaire St-Francois) and Xavier Parent (College Esther-Blondin) in the second through fourth spots, respectively.

Newfoundland and Labrador forward Alex Newhook, who played minor midget in York Simcoe, Ont., is the fifth-ranked and top Maritimes prospect.

The top P.E.I. prospect is forward Brad Morrissey, who plays for the Notre Dame Hounds in Saskatchewan. He is pencilled in for the fourth round (62nd overall).

The Tignish native had 16 goals and 30 points in 37 regular season games and added three more points in four playoff contests.

The QMJHL draft is Saturday, June 3, at Harbour Station in Saint John, N.B.

Rimouski has the first overall pick after winning the draft lottery in April. Following Sherbrooke to the stage, barring trades, will be Sherbrooke, Moncton, Halifax and Val-d’Or.

Charlottetown doesn’t pick until the second round.

In Rounds 6-12, the Island prospects include defenceman Zachary Arsenault (Kensington Wild), forward Declan MacEachern (Charlottetown Pride), forward Bradley Campbell (Kensington), defenceman Logan Kelly-Murphy (Charlottetown), forward Josh MacDonald (Charlottetown) and goalie Erik MacInnis (Charlottetown).

Islanders also eligible for the draft are defenceman Ethan Beaulieu (Kensington), defenceman Hunter Bradley (Charlottetown), defenceman Carter Cahill (Kensington), forward Josh Dow (Charlottetown, Bishop’s College School under-16), goalie Cole Gallant (Western Regals minor midget), forward Kennedy Gallant (Charlottetown), forward Robbie Howatt (Kensington), goalie Nicolas Jamieson (Kings County), forward Bennett MacArthur (Kensington), forward Colby MacArthur (Kensington), defenceman Lucas MacAulay (Charlottetown), forward Owen McNeill (Charlottetown), forward Dylan Matthews (Mount Albion, Ontario Hockey Association under-17), defenceman Seth Morris (Charlottetown, Bishop’s under-16), forward Thomas Rennie (Kensington), forward Ryan Richards (Kensington), forward Cameron Roberts (Kensington) and defenceman Jordan Spence (Charlottetown).