SYDNEY - Sean Couturier has already made his mark and he hasn't even played a game yet in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

The Drummondville Voltigeurs made the big, rangy centre the second overall pick in the 2008 QMJHL draft on Saturday in Sydney. That's the highest a New Brunswicker has ever been taken in the draft, one spot ahead of defenceman Luc Bourdon of Shippagan who went third overall to the Val d'Or Foreurs in 2003.

"It's an honour," said Couturier, who will be a 16-year-old rookie next season. "I think I worked hard so I think I deserve it. It feels great to be the second overall pick."

Brandon Gormley and Couturier -- in that order -- were the top two prospects in separate rankings compiled by QMJHL central scouting and International Scouting Services. The Moncton Wildcats made Gormley, a defenceman, the first overall pick.

Gormley and Couturier were teammates this season and helped the Notre Dame Hounds capture the championship in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. Gormley is from Murray River, P.E.I. and Couturier is a Bathurst resident.

"We know each other since we're younger," said Couturier. "We played on a couple of teams together and I think it's just good for Atlantic hockey (that players from the region were the top two picks in the draft). I think it's good for us to show that Notre Dame is a good place to go (for hockey and schooling)."

Couturier was born in Phoenix, but his parents are from Quebec and he has relatives near Drummondville. His father is Acadie-Bathurst Titan general manager Sylvain Couturier and he's been living in New Brunswick for six years.

He had 56 points, including 19 goals, in 40 games this season and keep in him he was competing in a league that featured mostly players one and two years older than him.

International Scouting Services believes he has the potential to some day win a QMJHL scoring title. The company rated him as having the second best hands and second best vision among prospects available in the draft.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Gormley and Couturier were the top two prospects," said Drummondville general manager Dominic Ricard.

"They're both worthy of being the No. 1 pick. It's more a question of philosophy and needs than actually who's the best player. Even if we were picking No. 1, we would've taken Couturier.

"Couturier has great offensive talent and he's also responsible defensively. He's a very intelligent player in all zones. He's going to eventually develop into our No. 1 centre."

There were 25 New Brunswickers selected in the 2008 QMJHL draft. The province reached a new high with three players taken in the first round.

Garrett Clarke, a defenceman from Moncton, was claimed sixth overall by the Lewiston MAINEiacs. He stated all along that he would play junior A in the U.S. for the next two seasons and then move on to suit up for the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux.

That was just a smokescreen to make other teams shy away from him so that he would still be available come Lewiston's turn to pick. He admitted that he had been speaking to Lewiston for about six months and that he had committed to go there well in advance of the draft.

Clarke played this season for the Russell Stover under-18 team in Kansas City. He was fifth best in the QMJHL central scouting rankings. International Scouting Services rated him as the second best offensive defenceman available.

He didn't show up for the top prospects presentation on Friday. He said all along that he wouldn't be attending the draft, but then came out of hiding in the Zamboni tunnel when Lewiston announced his name.

"I know (Lewiston's) head scout (Roger Shannon) and their coach very well," he said. "I met with their owner Mark Just and got a feeling for the whole program and I thought it was the right place for me. I was also coached by Ed Harding in some summer camps so I have a good feeling for how he runs everything."

Harding is Lewiston head coach and general manager.

"Garrett Clarke has a lot of potential," he said. "He's an elite player and we're very happy to have him joining our team. We think he can play with any defenceman who was taken in this draft."

Alex Noel, a centre from Dieppe, was selected 15th overall by the Val d'Or Foreurs. He played this season for the midget AAA Moncton Flyers.

"I know this team really wants me because I talked to them a lot of times," he said. "I'm happy to go there. It's probably the team I talked to the most (before the draft)."

Noel was the 13th best prospect in the QMJHL central scouting rankings. International Scouting Services rated him as the fourth best skater and fifth best warrior available in the draft.

"There's not usually a lot of New Brunswickers taken in the first round," he said. "There's a lot of pride (being among the three New Brunswickers who went in the first round of this draft). It's a great feeling."