Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault
Born (2002-10-22) October 22, 2002 (age 22)
L'Islet, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 172 lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
Position Centre/Right Wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Ottawa Senators
Belleville Senators (AHL)
NHL draft 22nd overall, 2021
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2022–present

Xavier Bourgault (born October 22, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Junior career

Bourgault was drafted by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the second round of the 2018 draft as a centre.[1][2] However, the Cataractes chose to move him to the wing to play alongside Mavrik Bourque.[1] Making his QMJHL debut with the Cataractes in 2018–19, Bourgault recorded 7 goals and 20 points in 62 games. In 2019–20, he increased his offensive output to 33 goals and 71 points in 63 games, for a 1.13 points per game rate. His points per game rate was raised yet again to 1.38 in 2020–21, as he recorded 20 goals and 40 points in a pandemic-shortened 29 games. Recording only six penalty minutes that season, he was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the QMJHL's award for sportsmanship.[3] During the 2021–22 season, he had his best year with the Cataractes, scoring 36 goals and 75 points in 43 games.[4] In the playoffs, Bourgault finished second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 22 points, behind only Bourque, as the Cataractes won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champions.[2] The Cataractes made the 2022 Memorial Cup, but finished third in the four-team tournament, losing to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League in the semi-final.[5]

Professional career

On July 23, 2021, Bourgault was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL) 22nd overall in the first round of 2021 NHL entry draft.[6] Bourgault was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract on March 31, 2022.[7] He was assigned to the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, for the 2022–23 season. In his AHL rookie season, he scored 13 goals and 34 points. He returned to Bakersfield for the 2023–24 season, but saw his offense decline, scoring only 8 goals and 20 points in 55 games.[2]

On July 15, 2024, Bourgault was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with forward Jake Chiasson for forward Roby Järventie and a fourth-round draft pick in 2025.[8] He was assigned to Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, to begin the 2024–25 season.[9]

International play

Bourgault was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in December 2021. He played in the opening game against Czechia and was struck in the head, causing him to leave the game.[10] However, the tournament was cancelled shortly afterwards before its completion due to the pandemic and the results were annulled.[11] The tournament was restarted in August 2022, but Bourgault chose to skip it, preferring to focus on making the Oilers.[12]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2017–18 Lévis Chevaliers QMAAA 38 13 13 26 12 3 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 62 7 13 20 12 6 0 1 1 0
2019–20 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 63 33 38 71 20 — — — — —
2020–21 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 29 20 20 40 6 5 0 4 4 2
2021–22 Shawinigan Cataractes QMJHL 43 36 39 75 20 16 12 10 22 10
2022–23 Bakersfield Condors AHL 62 13 21 34 16 2 0 0 0 2
2023–24 Bakersfield Condors AHL 55 8 12 20 24 2 0 0 0 0
AHL totals 117 21 33 54 40 4 0 0 0 2

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Canada White U17 6th 5 0 2 2 0
Junior totals 5 0 2 2 0

References

  1. ^ a b Nugent-Bowman, Daniel (February 4, 2022). "Why Oilers prospect Xavier Bourgault is 'a player that everybody wants to play with'". The Athletic. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Caron, Raphael (July 15, 2024). "Oilers Trade Former QMJHL Forward Xavier Bourgault to Senators". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Beneteau, Josh (July 22, 2021). "Prospect of Interest: 'Elite' offensive talent Xavier Bourgault". Sportsnet. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. ^ "Xavier Bourgault". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Hamilton Bulldogs top Shawinigan Cataractes in overtime, clinching a berth in Memorial Cup title game". ESPN. Associated Press. June 27, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Jacklin, Jordan (July 23, 2021). "Oilers Select Xavier Bourgault with the 22nd Overall Pick". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "Oilers sign Bourgault to entry-level contract". Edmonton Oilers. March 31, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Ottawa Senators acquire forwards Xavier Bourgault and Jake Chiasson from Edmonton". Ottawa Senators. July 15, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ Mcgoey, Steve (September 27, 2024). "Ottawa Senators Assign 20 Players to Belleville Senators". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "Canada's Bourgault could miss time after hit to head". TSN. December 27, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  11. ^ "IIHF cancels remainder of 2022 world juniors due to COVID-19". Sportsnet. December 29, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Van Diest, Derek (September 15, 2022). "Oilers Notes: No regrets on skipping world juniors for Bourgault". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Edmonton Oilers' first round draft pick
2021 		Succeeded by