Xavier Villeneuve Commits To Boston University
After losing Yegor Shilov to Penn State University yesterday, the Boston University Terriers are still getting their hands on a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. According to an announcement on his Instagram, defenseman Xavier Villeneuve has committed to Boston University.
Villeneuve, 18, has spent the last three years with the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He has been a solid scoring talent throughout that stretch, scoring 26 goals and 143 points in 152 games with a +11 rating. During the 2024-25 campaign, he suited up for Team Canada at the IIHF U18 World Junior Championships, scoring four goals and eight points in seven tournament contests.
According to NHL Central Scouting, Villeneuve is the 18th-ranked North American skater for the upcoming draft. Given that he’s projected between the 15th and 20th selection on many boards, Villeneuve should expect to land with a team that’s currently playing, or that qualified for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Furthermore, he follows a recurring theme of smaller, past-first defenseman for the Terriers. Obviously, the most recent example would be Lane Hutson and his brother, Cole Hutson. Neither brother is 6’0″ or taller, but both have become solid NHL players. Lane is only three years removed from his time at Boston University, and he’s scored 18 goals and accumulated 146 points in 166 games throughout his young career, winning the Calder Trophy in 2025.