Jayden Tillman Drafted by the Gatineau Olympiques
Draft Day QMJHL June 6, 2026
Jayden Tillman waited longer than expected on draft day. Three months later, he scored the winning goal in his first QMJHL game. The Gatineau Olympiques took the right-shot defenceman from Fall River, Nova Scotia, 57th overall in the fourth round of the 2026 QMJHL Draft, and he made their opening night roster at 15.
Who is Jayden Tillman?
Jayden is a 15-year-old defenceman who spent his draft year in the United States with the Bishop Kearney Selects 15U AAA program, where he put up 25 points in 65 games. He calls himself "a good two-way defenceman who plays physical, plays with pace and is a great skater."
QMJHL Central Scouting ranked him 39th on its final list and singled out his shot: "Tillman has an excellent shot, which he releases with both power and accuracy." In April he helped Team Gaudreau win the 2026 QMJHL Cup in Shawinigan, with a goal and two assists in four games.
How the Gatineau Olympiques drafted Jayden Tillman
The draft ran on June 5 and 6 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax. Central Scouting projected Jayden as a third-round pick. He went early in the fourth, 57th overall, to Gatineau.
Obviously you never want to drop down in any draft… waiting and being drafted to Gatineau was the best decision for me.
Jayden Tillman, after the draft
A game winner in his QMJHL debut
Jayden went to Gatineau's camp in August and made the team. On September 19, in his first QMJHL game and the Olympiques' season opener at Centre Slush Puppie, he scored the game-winner at 2:22 of the third period of a 4-2 win over Rouyn-Noranda.
Where CEM Hockey fits in
CEM Hockey represents Jayden and stays close to him and his family through his first major junior season and every step after it.
What comes next for Jayden
Jayden turns 16 in November. His job now is to earn more ice time on the Gatineau blue line and keep using that shot.
Congratulations, Jayden. What a way to start.
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