Xavier Villeneuve
Xavier Villeneuve is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. He is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
In 2021–22, Villeneuve played with the Lac St-Louis Grenadiers M15 AAA team, scoring 23 points in 27 games played. The next year, he played in the U.S., joining the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U15 program, affiliated with the NHL team. Appearing in 48 games, he posted five goals and 18 assists for 23 points. After the season, he was selected in the first round of the 2023 Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League draft by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. During the 2023–24 season with the Armada, Villeneuve appeared in 54 games, posting eight goals and 43 points which led all rookie defencemen in the league. He was named the QMJHL Defensive Rookie of the Year for his performance.In 2024–25, Villeneuve posted 12 goals and 50 assists in 61 games and was named the Emile Bouchard Trophy winner as the league's best defenceman. He was also named a third-team CHL All-Star. He returned to the Armada for the 2025–26 season and scored 36 points in the first 35 games.
Villeneuve is considered a top prospect eligible for the 2026 NHL entry draft. In October 2025, he received an "A" rating from the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, indicating his status as a first-round prospect.