MEMORIAL CUP CAPS BIG SEASON FOR BOURGAULT
From the world juniors to a QMJHL title, Oilers prospect has been on quite the ride
A lot has happened to Shawinigan Cataractes forward Xavier Bourgault in the past calendar year.
The Quebec City product was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft and got to attend his first pro rookie camp.
Bourgault, 19, then returned to Shawinigan for his third season with the Cataractes and got off to a hot start with 22 goals and 42 points in his first 20 games. He was then selected to represent Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, but was injured in his first game of the tournament against Czechia.
The tournament went on to get cancelled and rescheduled for August, but Bourgault didn't get back on the ice until March. And then he led the Cataractes to the QMJHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup.
“Overall, I think it was a pretty good season for me,” Bourgault said. “There were a lot of things that happened this season; the draft, (Oilers) rookie camp, the world junior that got cancelled, then I got injured and now we're in June and we're at the Memorial Cup.
“There were a lot of things, but it was good to come back and overall, I'm pretty happy with my season.”
Outside of the head injury Bourgault sustained at the world juniors when he took a hit from Czechia defenceman Stanislav Svozil in the third period of a 6-3 win on Boxing Day, the Oilers were probably happy with his season as well.
Bourgault finished the regular season with 36 goals and 75 points in 43 games. He then added 12 goals and 22 points in 16 playoff games as the Cataractes won the QMJHL title, getting past the Rouyn-noranda Huskies, Gatineau Olympiques, Quebec Remparts and Charlottetown Islanders along the way.
Shawinigan went into the playoffs as the third seed in the QMJHL Western Conference and was not expected to knock off Quebec and then Charlottetown in the final.
“We had a lot injuries this year and we had a lot of adversity, which I think made us stronger as a team,” Bourgault said. “The younger guys had to play a little more, so I think it really helped them having that experience and that helped us in the playoffs.
“Against Gatineau, Quebec and Charlottetown, we were the underdogs in all those series and we always found a way to win those series. Against Quebec, we were able to win Game 5 and we were down 3-1 going into the third period. So, I think the chemistry we have, we never get down as a team, we always find a way to come back for each other and I think we have a good group of veterans.”
Bourgault and the Cataractes open their tournament on Tuesday when they face the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings.
The highly talented forward knows plenty of hockey fans in Edmonton will be tuning into the game to watch him play.
“For sure, playing Edmonton here and me drafted by Edmonton, it's going to be a lot of fun,” Bourgault said. “It'll be special to play against them and I know some guys on that team, so it's going to be fun.”
At the moment, Bourgault's focus is to try to earn Shawinigan its first Memorial Cup since 2012. Much like in the playoffs, the Cataractes are considered underdogs at the four-team event, but should not be underestimated now that they're healthy.
“Every game here is important,” Bourgault said. “The first time we'll play against Edmonton, they don't know us, we don't know them, so I think the first period each team will feel each other out. But I think there is a lot of talent on both teams and I think that's going to be a very good game. I think all the games are going to be very good to watch it will be fun.”
After the Memorial Cup, Bourgault is not certain whether he will play in the rescheduled world junior tournament in August at Rogers Place. Some high-end NHL prospects may skip the tournament to prepare for training camps in September.
“I'm still not sure, but right now I'm just focusing on the Mem Cup,” he said. “After this,
I'll take a step back and I'll think about it. It would be fun and it's in Edmonton, too, so it would be special for sure.”
Bourgault is hoping to challenge for a spot on the Oilers' roster next season. While involved in his own playoff tournament, he did keep tabs on how the Oilers were doing during the NHL playoffs, getting to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2006.
“Yeah, I watched every game,” Bourgault said. “Sometimes it got a little late, because of the time difference, but I was pretty happy for the team and what they did.
“It was a pretty good run and I think the future looks very good. It was very exciting to watch them and hopefully, I'll get to play with them. I think that team is going to be very good in the future.”