Picking the best option
Screaming Eagles’ Crête-Belzile doesn’t regret choosing QMJHL over NCAA
Looking back at his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League career to date, Antoine Crête-Belzile has no regrets.
In fact, the Quebec City native believes the decision to play major junior hockey was the best to make for his development.
“It was the best option for my shortterm goals,” said Crête-Belzile. “The route between midget and college is a weird one — people think that when you sign with a university you’re playing for sure.
“You’re not playing for sure because if injuries happen or something comes up, they can cancel your contract.”
Despite making the decision to stay north of the border, there was a time when the now 19-year-old was strongly considering the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
During his draft year, Crête-Belzile missed most of the first half of the season with two injuries — a broken wrist and a broken elbow — but that didn’t affect his draft ranking for the 2015 QMJHL Entry Draft.
When the draft rankings were released by QMJHL Central Scouting in May 2015, the defenceman was ranked No. 4 overall, behind only Maxime Comtois, Antoine Morand and Shane Bowers.
Crête-Belzile made it known he wasn’t sure if he wanted to play major junior or college hockey prior to the draft and, with no decision made, he decided not to attend the draft that June.
With the uncertainty of Crête-Belzile’s future, his draft stock dropped, and he wasn’t picked in the top five as projected by central scouting. He would later be selected No. 11 overall by the BlainvilleBoisbriand Armada.
“I wasn’t there because (at the time) I wanted to play college in the United States,” said Crête-Belzile, noting his other option was the United States Hockey League. “I had visited Boston University, Boston College and Yale University.
“It wasn’t until I spent two weeks in Blainville training with the guys and being on the ice with Joël Bouchard (now head coach of the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League) that I really fell in love with the Armada.”
Crête-Belzile wasn’t always a hockey player.
Before joining hockey at the age of seven, Crête-Belzile was an alpine skier, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Philippe Crête-Belzile, who was once a member of the junior national alpine skiing team.
“There was a pond by the mountain, so I started skating there, and when I got home in Quebec City, some of my friends were playing hockey, so that’s how I started.”
Crête-Belzile played his minor hockey career in Quebec City, but like many young athletes, played different sports in the summer including tennis, wakeboarding and surfing.
Following his minor hockey days, Crête-Belzile suited up for the Quebec Cyclones of the Quebec Bantam ‘AAA’ Hockey League, and later spent one year with the Séminaire St-François Blizzard of the Quebec Midget ‘AAA’ Hockey League, before making the jump to the QMJHL.
In his rookie season in 2015-16, CrêteBelzile, whose brother Olivier plays with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL, appeared in 43 games, notching three goals and 10 points.
Crête-Belzile continued his career with the Quebec-based franchise, gaining experience on the blueline with backto-back lengthy playoff runs in 2016-17 and 2017-18, which saw the Armada lose to the Saint John Sea Dogs (2017) and Acadie-Bathurst Titan (2018) in the President Cup final.
In June, Crête-Belzile was traded to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles along with a fourth-round pick in 2019 for forwards Peyton Hoyt, Antoine Rochon and a second-round pick in 2018.
“It was kind of a shock to be traded, but when you’re 19 years old, you have to be ready for it,” said Crête-Belzile. “It’s
not like you’re a 16-year-old kid going far away from home — I was happy for the new challenge and the new opportunity.”
Following the trade, Crête-Belzile spoke with former Screaming Eagle players Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tobie Paquette-Bisson and Drake Batherson, who all played with the Armada, about Cape Breton.
“It was all very positive,” he said. “One thing they told me is that the people were welcoming and that the guys were all close and had good team chemistry — they weren’t wrong.”
Although Crête-Belzile, who has a goal and seven assists in 16 games this season, admits losing in the league final twice with the Armada was a difficult pill to swallow, he believes it’s made him a better player.
“I want to bring experience and leadership to this team,” said Crête-Belzile, noting he fell in love with Cape Breton Island almost immediately. “I’m looking forward to a big run in the playoffs this year with the Screaming Eagles.”
Crête-Belzile and the Screaming Eagles will return to the ice on Tuesday when they host the Moncton Wildcats at 7 p.m. at Centre 200 in Sydney.