Northeastern Men’s Hockey secured the commitment of their second Canadian forward in the last two weeks when Maxime Lafond posted on his social media that he has committed to play his college hockey on Huntington Avenue. Lafond is currently playing for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL, where he is teammates with 2026 defenseman recruit Owen Keefe.
Lafond is a 6-foot-5, 205 pound left shot forward from Longueuil, Quebec, Canada. He’s a left winger for Drummondville, starting this season on their second line, but also has been taking faceoffs. He has opened the season on fire, with seven assists in his first six games, and as we type this is on a three game point streak, totaling five points in those games. Six of those assists are primary assists, showcasing an ability to be a play-driver early in the season. He’s also put 15 shots on goal in the first 6 games.
Lafond is rated a 3.75 star prospect by Neutral Zone Scouting. His size is an obvious trait that coaches and scouts love, and gives him a high ceiling as he continues to mature. Neutral Zone calls Lafond “a physically-imposing power forward with a relentless work ethic and strong intangibles. He excels in board battles, protecting the puck, and driving the net…strong positioning and second effort near the goal…fearless in attacking the dirty areas of the ice.” One evaluator called him a potential diamond in the rough type player for the college level. Elite Prospects’ draft profile for Lafond called him a playmaker primarily, saying “he scans the ice, locates teammates, and makes short passes to them. He’s also capable of deception and he understands how to create space for others prior to feeding them the puck.“
Lafond’s path to this stage has not been linear- he is starting his fourth season in Drummondville after being a third round QMJHL Draft pick in 2022, putting up 35 points (10 goals) in 152 games. Last season he left the Voltigeurs around midseason to get more playing time in the BCHL and QJHL, putting up 15 points (6 goals) in 24 games between the two leagues, and adding 13 points in 13 QJHL playoff games. He returned to the QMJHL this year and is being counted on to have a big year by Drummondville, and head coach Sylvain Favreau said that the reset has done him well. “For every player, the progression or development curve is different,” said Sylvain Favreau. “In Maxime’s case, we were always looking to see a little more. At times, he was excellent; at other times, he left us a little hungry. His decision to return to Junior AAA, I think it did him good. It gave him back his confidence. It allowed him to play big minutes, especially in the playoffs, and to have a different impact.”
Lafond echoed his coach’s feelings about being better prepared this season. “Last year, I had a bit of a downturn: I was less passionate about hockey,” he said in the interview linked above with Journal Express. “This year…I feel more mentally ready after a big summer of training. I want to show that I belong in the QMJHL. I’m ready to play here. I want to show my full potential. I have good size, but in the past, I haven’t always used it. I have skills, but I’m also capable of playing a more physical style.”
Favreau and the Drummondville brass are ready for the young forward to blossom: “We’re excited to see what comes next.”
And the Northeastern coaching staff obviously agrees with them, ultimately offering a scholarship to Lafond once his junior career is done in the QMJHL. Currently playing as a 19 year old with one more year of CHL eligibility, Lafond is projected to enroll to Northeastern in 2027, a class currently loaded with high-end CHL talent both up front and on the blue line. Lafond projects as a someone with the upside of a middle-six forward who can thrive in the heavy, puck-possession system that Coach Keefe likes to employ. We look forward to watching him continue to breakout this year in Drummondville and continue his development ahead of enrollment.
Congratulations to Maxime on his commitment to Northeastern!
As always, go Huskies!