Miscouche hockey player Riley Cormier is taking the next step in his career, after being selected by the Gatineau Olympiques in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft on June 6, 2026. The 16-year-old forward, who plays for the Kensington Wild U18 AAA team, was picked in the 11th round, 188th overall, at the draft held at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Cormier, born May 7, 2010, wears number 21 for the Wild and was recognized earlier this year as an Honourable Mention in PuckPreps’ final 2026 QMJHL Draft Rankings. The draft, presented by Fenplast, saw 216 players selected over two days by all 18 QMJHL teams, marking the first time the Halifax Mooseheads hosted the event in the franchise’s 32-year history.
The selection highlights a growing pipeline from the Kensington Wild program to the major junior ranks. In 2025, two Wild players were drafted: goaltender Jase MacPherson from Montague, taken by the Saint John Sea Dogs, and Cormier’s fellow Miscouche native Drew Murphy, picked by the Cape Breton Eagles. Cormier’s draft to Gatineau continues that momentum for local hockey development.
The Gatineau Olympiques are led by general manager and interim head coach Serge Beausoleil, who will now oversee Cormier’s next steps. For local hockey supporters in Kensington and the surrounding area, the draft pick is a sign that the Wild’s U18 AAA program is producing talent that catches the eye of major junior scouts.
