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By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

cream of the crop

Meaningful to represent team & community, says Red Deer’s Easton Daneault, named CJHL’s top rookie

May 7, 2025 | 11:48 AM

Humble as ever, Red Deer’s Easton Daneault says he couldn’t have been named Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Rookie of the Year without a lot of help from his linemates, team and community.

The honour is a first for the Drumheller Dragons as well, who’ve never won a CJHL award in their 22-season history.

“It’s great to be able to represent that team and Drumheller with this award,” Daneault, a forward with the Dragons, said to rdnewsNOW shortly after the announcement was made Wednesday.

“I think I do [have another level]. My goal is to go play in the WHL, so I will have to elevate my game. This off-season will be a big [one] to get stronger, bigger and faster to be able to compete at another level.”

Daneault, who played consistently on a line with near 19-year-old Bradley Gallo and 18-year-old Ellis Mieyette, said the confidence to be consistent among older players starts in practice.

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“It’s about building that confidence throughout the week, and then in games on weekends. It’s about going into games with a clear mindset, no matter who you’re playing,” he said.

“I’m a smaller guy so I have to work that much harder on pucks and to be able to score.”

According to AJHL.ca, Daneault, who just turned 17 in April, is 5’10” and 145 pounds.

Yet, the AJHL Rookie of the Year managed to put up 56 points in 54 games, which was tied for first amongst rookies in Alberta.

He also finished tied for seventh in AJHL scoring, averaging 1.04 points-per-game while accumulating 21 goals and 35 assists, including 24 points on the power play.

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The Red Deer product and former Red Deer Chief, was twice recognized as the Inter Pipeline AJHL Rookie of the Week in December. He also notched five game-winners and earned five Viterra AJHL Player of the Game selections.

Daneault is also committed to NCAA Division I Merrimack College and is a prospect of the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes where he appeared in six regular season and eight playoff games for them this past season.

“It was good to get a taste of how that next level is [in the WHL]. It’s a lot different than the AJHL,” said Daneault, who contributed three assists in those 14 overall games with the Hurricanes, who made the WHL’s Western Conference final.

“My goal is to play the full year in the WHL, develop my game as much as I can, and then at the end of the year, if I can get into college as a true freshman to get a year with my older brother [Ty Daneault], that would be awesome. If I’m not ready for college yet, I’ll stay another year in the WHL.”

Easton’s brother Ty, who is 20, just completed his second season with Merrimack College; meantime, his younger brother Madden, who’s 14, put up a whopping 93 points in 33 regular season games — then 21 points in 10 playoff games — with the U15 AAA Red Deer Rebels en route to a provincial championship in March.

Other finalists for the CJHL’s Top Rookie award were Émile Fournier of the MHL’s Edmundston Blizzard, Mitchell Kathler of the MJHL’s Portage Terriers, Mason Kim of the OJHL’s Mississauga Chargers, and Evan Simeoni of the SIJHL’s Thunder Bay North Stars.

The CJHL is made up of nine Junior ‘A’ leagues across Canada, including the Alberta Junior Hockey League.