2023 Canada Games: Team Quebec Preview

After winning the Gold Medal at the 2019 Canada Games, Team Quebec will look to defend their title with another very talented group of players this year. 

They will be led by highly rated forwards Caleb Desnoyers and Emile Guite, who have been playing on the same team since young, as well as top prospects Nathan Lecompte, Philippe Veilleux and Shawn Carrier, three centers who can bring a lot of offense to the table. Louis-François Bélanger, Emile Ricard and Anthony Flanagan should bring a lot of speed and skill to the team while Olivier Groulx and Olivier Lampron should provide a steady two-way presence to the team. Power forwards Jordan Labelle and Elliot Desmarais will look to wear down the opponent on the forecheck and create space for their linemates. As always, Team Quebec will have a deep offensive group with a lot of different types of players. 

Defensively, high-end skater Alex Huang should have a lot of responsibilities at both ends of the ice, while offensive defensemen Louis-Alex Tremblay, Nathan Watson and Benjamin Amyot will likely have to battle it out for a chance to play the power play. In this small defensive group, Julien Bonnet stands out as the big physical presence of the group, and Jonathan Prud’Homme should be able to bring some grit as well as some offense for Team Quebec. This defensive group is highly mobile and can move the puck efficiently. It will be interesting to see how well they can defend against the top forwards in Canada. 

Team Quebec will have the chance to rely on two gifted goaltenders in William Lacelle who has been tearing up the M18 AAA Quebec Hockey League this season as well as Samuel Meloche who combines great size and athleticism. 

Team Quebec should feel confident entering into the 2023 Canada Games that they can challenge for a medal again this year.