Zachary Lainesse was selected as part of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies roster for the 2026-27 season, and they gave the 15-year-old goaltender a prime spot immediately.
Huskies analyst Jean-Sebastien Blais revealed on social media that the Rouyn-Noranada Huskies have confirmed their goaltending tandem for the 2026-27 QMJHL season, and it includes Zachary Lainesse - a 15-year-old phenom who has put up fantastic numbers as a young teenager:
The Pack has confirmed these 2 goalkeepers for the 2026-2027 season. It will be Alexandre Raymond and Zachary Lainesse.
The goaltending duo will have an important task with a young team expected for the next season.
@LHJMQ
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Lainesse earned his QMJHL opportunity after dominating at just 15 years old
Lainesse, 15, had a stellar season in 2025-26 with the Lévis Chevaliers where he posted a 16-5-0 record (22 games) with a 2.49 GAA and .920 SV%. He also added a 13-4-0 record in the playoffs with a 2.98 GAA and ,903 SV%.
He also took part in the Telus Cup with the Chevaliers, with him recording a 4-1-0 record, a 2.57 GAA and .920 SV% in five games played. Lainesse is already fairly sizeable already, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing 163 pounds (per Elite Prospects) - he is eligible for the 2029 NHL Entry Draft as well.
Scouts point to his composure, hunger, and elite reaction time as key assets however some are concerned that his size actually could be a hindrance and that he may not grow as much - leading him to be overpowered by opponents but still keeps fighting:
Zachary is a really fast goalie with a high compete level in his game. He is focus-alert in his net, following the plays really well. He looks hungry to make saves and be a difference maker. He has reactive hands as they work really well in front of his body.
Being a smaller frame goal, he can get overpower by players at times. He has a harder time to fight behind the screens to see shots. But he never gives up on a play, working hard to make every saves. - Maxime Ouellet
Scouts already believed Lainesse was ready for a full-time QMJHL backup role
He also ranked #19 on Elite Prospects' Top 100 QMJHL prospects board, and was ranked as the most refined goaltender in the entire 2026 Draft, and believe he can step into a full-time backup role right away:
The top candidate from this draft class is Zachary Lainesse, who could likely step into a full-time role as a solid backup right now. Lainesse is the most technically refined goalie in the class. He's exceptionally calm, efficient, and structured, with strong hands and a very well-crafted stance.
The scouts continue on and even believe that Lainesse is so ahead of the curve that he could have already been seen as a QMJHL player despite having just been drafted and that he can fill a backup role right away.
That makes Lainesse's first QMJHL season particularly interesting. He isn't simply getting an early look at 15, Rouyn-Noranda has already made him part of its goaltending tandem.
With three seasons before he's eligible for the 2029 NHL Draft, he'll now have an unusually long runway to prove whether his success against players his own age can translate against older, stronger QMJHL shooters.
Do you think Zachary Lainesse will be drafted in 2029 and be an NHL goalie?
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