June 25, 2022 by Eric Friesen

Edmonton Oilers prospect Xavier Bourgault scored a goal and two assists, all on the power-play, to propel the QMJHL champion Shawinigan Cataractes to a 3-2 win over the OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs in round-robin play at the 2022 Memorial Cup on Thursday.

With the victory, the Cataractes are guaranteed at least a spot in the semi-final, and can advance straight to final with a win over the host Saint John Sea Dogs on Saturday. Bourgault, who was dangerous all night dictating play in the offensive zone, was named the second star of the game.

The L’Islet, Quebec native is tied for the tournament lead in points with five in two games. He also earned first star honours with a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday.

More impressively, Bourgault reached a couple unofficial milestones with his first-period power-play goal against the Bulldogs that tied the game 1-1. Bourgault scored his 50th goal and 100th point with the Cataractes this year, including the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup.

Related: Xavier Bourgault invited to Team Canada’s selection camp

It took Bourgault just 61 games to eclipse the 50-goal and 100-point plateaus in his fourth and final major junior season. The 19-year-old was third in the QMJHL in goals-per-game (0.84) and fifth in points-per-game (1.74) in 43 games in 2021-22.

If healthy, Bourgault almost certainly would have put up 50 goals and 100 points in the regular season alone. Still, he has proven to be one of the league’s most lethal snipers over the past two seasons.

Bourgault continued to produce offence at an impressive rate in the playoffs. He finished tied for second in the league in goals (12) and tied for fourth in points (22) in 16 games, and helped the Cataractes claim their first President’s Cup title in franchise history.

The Oilers prospect is now a real contender for the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as most outstanding player of the tournament and the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as top scorer of the tournament. But the only trophy Bourgault wants to win next week is the Memorial Cup.