December 4, 2021 by Eric Friesen

Edmonton Oilers’ prospect Xavier Bourgault was named to Team Canada’s selection camp for the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship on Wednesday.

Selected 22nd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, Bourgault previously represented Canada at the 2018 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, where he had no goals and two assists in five games. Bourgault, who attended Canada’s summer showcase in Calgary, spoke about how valuable that experience was during Oilers’ rookie camp.

“That was a great camp,” said Bourgault in an interview with Oilers TV on September 15. “You can see where you can better, and the other players there. And the more the camp was going, I was getting better every game and every practice. And one of my goals is to make the team at Christmas and have a chance to play here in Edmonton.”

Bourgault is tied for the QMJHL lead in goals (21) and ranks fourth in the league in points (40) in 23 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes this season. The 19-year-old scored a hat trick and added an assist in a 5-4 win over the Halifax Mooseheads today. It was his first hat trick and second four-point game of the season.

After playing only 29 games in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bourgault has a real shot to put up 50 goals and 100 points in a full 68-game schedule this year. However, if he misses around 10 games while playing with Team Canada, that will likely take him out of contention for a QMJHL scoring title – a small sacrifice to make for a chance at World Junior glory.

His linemate in Shawinigan, Mavrik Bourque, was also among the 35 players invited to tryout for the Canadian national junior team. Their chemistry and experience playing together over the past four seasons bodes well for both Bourgault and Bourque to play for Canada this Christmas.

The selection camp will take place in Calgary from December 9-13.