Another tournament another impressive performance from Nova Scotia’s Max Brien, who’s looking like the best Atlantic prospect at this juncture. What truly sticks out to me is the versatility he provides on a shift-to-shift basis, creating advantages for himself and his linemates his powerful on-puck rush game or sheer physicality to work his way to the front of the net and win inside positioning. He often opted to attack defenders head on with the puck on his stick before either dipping a shoulder on a powerful net drive or executing a drop pass after creating space up high. He was highly effective along the boards as well, winning a majority of his battles and helping prolong offensive cycle sequences as a consequence.

Brien was yet another member of Team Nova Scotia to earn himself a bid on the tournament all-star team after finishing tied for 2nd in tournament scoring with 5 points in 4 games. The physical presence Brien offered to this forward group was simply unmatched as he made life difficult for opposing defenders by being physical as the F1 on the forecheck and dominating play along the boards. The way he was able to pull pucks through and around defenders while operating along the wall made him just that more deadly in the offensive zone, allowing him to work his way off the wall and gain access to the middle of the ice in order to get a slot shot off or feed a linemate in a dangerous area. He was difficult to contain in transition when he was able to build up speed in the neutral zone both on and off the puck. There were a handful of times I noted where Brien was able to catch a pass in stride, beat a defender wide and dip his shoulder to drive the net before finishing the play off with a beautiful finish upstairs to score. The lateral agility will need to improve in order for Brien to be a more effective attacker in open ice, but he still remains one of the best prospects to come out of Nova Scotia this season.

There wasn’t a player who impressed me more at this camp than Max Brien. His combination of size and skill was unprecedented here and he was using it very effectively to create advantages for himself and his linemates at a high rate. He was so good at creating turnovers off the forecheck by using his reach to get his stick on pucks and break up outlet passes before connecting on quick centering feeds to create dangerous scoring chances for his line. He was equally impressive with the puck, combining high-end puck skills to consistently get pucks through and around defenders to gain access to primary scoring areas. While the skating isn’t necessarily dynamic, he possesses the ability to create space for himself through subtle fakes and deceptive tactics, making him all the more deadly as a playmaker by opening up seams for himself to slip pucks through. Brien had a few strong sequences on the backcheck as well by sticklifting puck-carriers from behind and getting pucks heading back up ice quickly for counterattack opportunities. Plenty can change from now until June but as of right now he’s the best Nova Scotian prospect for the 2026 QMJHL Draft.

Despite not finding the score sheet, there might have not been a Dartmouth player more effective than promising prospect, Max Brien. As a puck carrier, he showcased a mix of puck protection and subtle touches to work his way through defenders. Around the perimeter, he used his size perfectly to win a majority of his board battles, extending offensive zone sequences for his team. Around the net, when not firing shots toward the goal, he was stopping on pucks in front, trying to pot second chance opportunities. Defensively, he was very aware of his surroundings, anticipating breakout passes and getting his stick in lanes to deflect them. Overall, a very impressive performance from one of the more projectable prospects out of NS.

Brien thrived down low and in small areas within the offensive zone, relying on his physical tools to protect the puck and shield it from opponents. He had many scoring chances that stemmed from this theme of dominating along the boards and around the net, easily leading CEM in the scoring chance department in this game. When he had his chances, Max was opportunistic, scoring twice from in-tight, showcasing some hands around the net and patient to outwait the goaltender.