Music: {allcanada} Bourgault recovering from injury, mulling WJC before Oilers training camp

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

{allcanada} Bourgault recovering from injury, mulling WJC before Oilers training camp

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EDMONTON -- Xavier Bourgault did not skate during Edmonton Oilers development camp earlier this month because of recovery from a core muscle injury, but the 19-year-old center prospect is still planning a busy offseason in his quest to reach the NHL.

Selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Bourgault is figuring out his next move, which could be playing for Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship from Aug. 9-20 if healthy enough. The tournament was postponed in December due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

Bourgault was named to the WJC team in December. He sustained an upper-body injury in Canada's opening game of the tournament against Czechia on Dec. 26, after a hit to the head by defenseman Stanislav Svozil in the third period of a 6-3 win. The tournament was postponed three days later.

"It wasn't as bad as it looked," Bourgault said during development camp. "I felt good after a day or two and would have kept playing if they didn't cancel the tournament."

Bourgault is expected to be ready for Oilers training camp in September. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract March 31.

"It's a short summer, I'll have a chance to rest, I'll get some treatments here and I'll get a chance to work out," Bourgault said. "I have the choice to make pretty soon whether to play at the world junior. I have a big summer of working out going into my first year pro (season) and I want to be ready for it. I'm going to have to be ready for a big year."

Bourgault (6-foot, 172 pounds) is expected to get a good look by the Oilers with an outside chance of making the roster. If not, he will start this season with Bakersfield of the American Hockey League.

"I think last year, I had two good exhibition games with the Oilers, and I look at their lineup and they have good veteran players," he said, "but I think there is some opportunity for me and younger guys to push for a spot.

"It's good for our team to have some young players and to get some experience for the future. For sure, we think we can help the veteran players that are already there. We saw during the (Stanley Cup Playoffs) they are very close to a championship here."

Bourgault ranked second for Shawinigan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season with 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists) in 43 games and the playoffs with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 16 games. His final season playing junior hockey was highlighted by Shawinigan qualifying for the 2022 Memorial Cup, where it lost to Hamilton 4-3 in overtime in the semifinals. Bourgault tied for second in the tournament with seven points (two goals, five assists) with teammate Mavrik Bourque, a forward selected by the Dallas Stars with the No. 30 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

"It was a pretty special team," Bourgault said. "I remember at 16 years old I was talking with [Bourque] and said it would be fun to go to the Memorial Cup and play against guys like Jake Neighbours (No. 26, St. Louis Blues, 2020), who we were with at the Canadian U-17 camp together. And it was good to end my junior career at the Memorial Cup, playing with a lot of guys that I know. It was pretty special."

Bourgault and Bourque proved a dynamic offensive pair for Shawinigan, combining for 143 points (56 goals, 87 assists) during the regular season and 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) in the playoffs.

"It's just amazing, we both arrived in Shawinigan as 16-year-olds, and we didn't really know each other and then we came up together; he's such a talented player," Bourque said during the Memorial Cup. "We've been playing on the same line since we were 17 and we started to develop chemistry, and I think it's been three years playing with him and it was fun playing with such a good hockey player."

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