The Maritimers who do are looking for stronger competition and better development. It’s plain and simple. The Maritimes are behind.
Several 2003’s and 2004’s did go always for 1-3 years and they’re all thriving in the Q.
I have nothing against maritimers who want to go prep before going the QMJHL route. This turns out pretty well very often. What I find doesn't work out that well is when they develop here and then decide not to go the Q route and instead try to go NCAA.
Just looking at recent Lac St-Louis players...
Van Houtte Cachero struggled big time at 17 in the NAHL. He should have been a solid top 9 winger in the QMJHL if he had gone that route at this point.
C-E Legault had a pretty average USHL season this year. Can't help but think he would have been a top 4 fixture and would have much more chances of being drafted in the NHL. I don't know if his commitment with BU still holds.
Even a guy like Mastrodomenico could have been a top 4 guy on a contending team in Shawinigan this year.
Dovar Tinling played at 17 in the NCAA in Vermont, that was difficult. Can't help but think he'd have had a similar impact to Olivier Nadeau in Shawinigan as well... and would look like a top 3 round draft pick.
Just looking at what Robert Orr is doing (PPG in the Q, looks like a lock to be drafted in the NHL) when he was basically the same level as Van Houtte last year in Midget AAA... Jordan Dumais and Markus Vidicek decided to go the QMJHL route and they're on their way to great junior careers and potentially NHL draft picks... looks like the decision to go the Q route was a good one.
Obviously, La Starza is doing very well in the USHL, and I'm not really worried about Rozzi, he'll be fine.
I don't know. I'm sure you could find good and bad examples on both sides, but I tend to find that players that choose the Q route develop better than when they choose to go for the USHL/Prep - NCAA route... so far.