Maxence Guenette Bio
Maxence Guenette (born April 28, 2001) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a defenceman for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 185 centimetres tall and weighing around 82 kilograms, Guenette is recognised for his mobility and size on the blue line. He was selected 187th overall in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL entry draft by the Ottawa Senators.
Early Life and Background
Maxence Guenette was born on April 28, 2001, in L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in the province of Quebec, where ice hockey is deeply woven into the local sporting culture. From an early age, he developed an interest in the sport, training within youth programmes that prepare players for the demanding Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Guenette’s path through minor hockey positioned him as a steady defenceman with strong fundamentals. His physical stature and skating ability became defining traits during his teenage years. These formative experiences helped him earn a high selection in the 2017 QMJHL entry draft, marking him as one of the top young defencemen in his age group.
Path to Hockey
Guenette played his entire major junior hockey with the Val-d’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He was selected fifth overall in the 2017 QMJHL entry draft by the Foreurs and joined the team during a rebuilding phase. Over time, he established himself as a reliable defender, praised for his mobility, size, and two-way play.
Internationally, Guenette represented Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he won a gold medal after Sweden was defeated in the final. The tournament reinforced his reputation as a dependable young defenceman. His development in Val-d’Or and his international experience set the stage for his transition to professional hockey.
Maxence Guenette Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
During his major junior tenure with the Val-d’Or Foreurs, Guenette steadily developed into one of the team’s most consistent defencemen. He played several seasons in the QMJHL, refining his defensive game while contributing offensively when opportunities arose. His size and skating drew attention from NHL scouts, culminating in his selection by the Ottawa Senators in the 2019 NHL entry draft.
After completing his junior career, Guenette signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on April 3, 2021. He was assigned to Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, where he began his professional journey. In his first two seasons with Belleville, Guenette’s numbers improved year over year, signaling his readiness for higher-level competition.
NHL Debut and Belleville Senators Years (2021–2024)
Guenette was recalled by Ottawa in April 2023 and made his NHL debut in the team’s final game of the season against the Buffalo Sabres on April 13, 2023. The appearance marked his first taste of NHL action after years of development in the AHL. Following the brief recall, he returned to Belleville to continue building his game.
Guenette had a strong 2023 training camp but was among the final cuts, being assigned to the AHL on October 8. In February 2024, he and teammate Angus Crookshank represented Belleville at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, an acknowledgment of his consistent play. He was recalled by Ottawa on an emergency basis on February 15, 2024, after Artem Zub suffered an injury, and made his NHL season debut that night against the Anaheim Ducks.
Guenette was recalled again on an emergency basis on March 2, 2024, and played against the Philadelphia Flyers before being returned to Belleville. He was recalled once more on March 7 and remained with Ottawa until Thomas Chabot returned from injury, at which point he was reassigned on March 17. He finished the season in Belleville and appeared in all seven of their Calder Cup playoff games, registering an assist. On June 18, 2024, Ottawa announced a one-year two-way contract extension with Guenette.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms Era (2025–Present)
Guenette passed through waivers unclaimed and was assigned to Belleville to start the 2024–25 season. He was recalled by Ottawa on January 7, 2025, to replace the injured Jacob Bernard-Docker, but served as a healthy scratch for five straight games before being returned to Belleville on January 14 without appearing in an NHL contest.
As a restricted free agent entering the 2025–26 season, Guenette remained unsigned into November. Approximately two months into the season, Ottawa traded his signing rights to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Dennis Gilbert. He subsequently signed a one-year, two-way contract with Philadelphia and was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate.
Driving Style and Strengths
Guenette is regarded as a mobile, two-way defenceman whose size allows him to win battles along the boards and in front of the net. His skating and gap control make him effective in transition, while his steady decision-making supports penalty-killing duties. Throughout his development, coaches have highlighted his composure and reliability in defensive-zone coverage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Guenette’s defining moments are his 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal with Team Canada and his NHL debut with the Ottawa Senators on April 13, 2023. His selection in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL draft by Ottawa also stands as a notable milestone, given his late-round pedigree. Representing Belleville at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic further underlined his standing within the Senators’ organisation.
Maxence Guenette Career Wins
Maxence Guenette’s most prominent win came at the international level when he captured a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. At the club level, his major-junior and professional career has been defined more by steady development than by championship victories, with consistent contributions to the Val-d’Or Foreurs, Belleville Senators, and Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
QMJHL and AHL Highlights
Guenette played his entire QMJHL career with the Val-d’Or Foreurs after being drafted fifth overall in 2017. While specific major-junior championship wins are not documented in available records, he served as a reliable top-four defenceman during his tenure. In the AHL, he appeared in all seven Calder Cup playoff games for the Belleville Senators in 2024, recording an assist during the postseason run.
Other Wins and Performances
Internationally, Guenette’s 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup gold medal remains his most celebrated accomplishment on a competitive stage. He has also earned recognition through his selections to events such as the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, where he represented Belleville alongside teammate Angus Crookshank.
Maxence Guenette Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information regarding Maxence Guenette’s family background is not publicly documented in available sources. As a Quebecer born in L’Ancienne-Lorette, he grew up in a region with a deep tradition of ice hockey, which likely influenced his early introduction to the sport.
Personal Life
Public information about Maxence Guenette’s personal life is limited. He focuses on his professional hockey career with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Philadelphia Flyers organisation.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season began with Guenette assigned to the Belleville Senators after clearing waivers. He was recalled by Ottawa on January 7, 2025, to replace the injured Jacob Bernard-Docker, but sat out five straight games as a healthy scratch before returning to Belleville on January 14 without making an NHL appearance. The stretch tested his patience, yet he continued to contribute reliably at the AHL level.
As a restricted free agent entering the 2025–26 season, Guenette waited into November before Ottawa traded his signing rights to the Philadelphia Flyers for defenceman Dennis Gilbert. He quickly signed a one-year, two-way contract with Philadelphia and was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he aims to re-establish his role within a new organisation.
Looking ahead, Guenette’s outlook centres on earning ice time with the Phantoms and positioning himself for an NHL opportunity with the Flyers. His combination of mobility, size, and defensive responsibility makes him a steady depth option. Continued strong play in the AHL could open the door to a more permanent NHL recall during the season.