Alex Belzile

Alex Belzile (born August 31, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He is currently playing for the Laval Rocket in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Alex Belzile
Born (1991-08-31) August 31, 1991
Saint-Éloi, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 192 lb (87 kg; 13 st 10 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Montreal Canadiens
Laval Rocket (AHL)
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 2012–present

Playing career

Junior

Belzile played as a junior in the QMAA within the Rivière-du-Loup Midget AA program before he was selected in the 11th round, 192nd overall, at the 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Draft by Rimouski Océanic. In his rookie season in 2009–10, Belzile appeared in 31 games recording 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He showed offensive potential in posting 11 points in 12 playoff games.

In his first full season in the QMJHL in 2010–11 season, Belzile led Rimouski in setting a personal best 27 goals in 64 games. Establishing himself as a skilled, attacking forward, Belzile notched new career high to lead the club in scoring in posting 70 assists and 92 points in the 2011–12 season. Despite placing second in the QMJHL in assists and fourth in points, he was passed over in each draft eligible season.

Professional

Opting to turn professional, Belzile signed a one-year contract to play for the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL for the 2012–13 season. He recorded ten goals and 20 assists in 40 games with the Gladiators. Belzile also signed a professional try-out with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hamilton Bulldogs. In his first game with the club on March 22, he scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over the Syracuse Crunch.[1] He finished his tenure with the team with eight points in 14 games.

Belzile remained with the Gladiators for the following 2013–14 season, but played a mere three games due to injury. On February 28, 2014, he was traded to the Alaska Aces. Belzile finished the season with 12 points in 19 games before scoring ten points in 18 postseason games. The Aces defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones in six games to win the Kelly Cup.[2]

On October 16, 2014, Belzile was traded to the Idaho Steelheads. He recorded a career-high 28 goals and 41 assists for 69 points during the 2014-15 season.

On September 1, 2015, Belzile was traded to the Fort Wayne Komets. On September 22, he signed a contract with the Komets' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.[3] He split the 2015–16 season between both clubs, finishing with 31 points in 29 games for the Komets and ten points in 25 games for the Rampage.

On July 15, 2016, the Rampage re-signed Belzile to a one-year contract extension.[4] He split the subsequent season between the Rampage and their new ECHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Belzile recorded a team and ECHL-best 26 points in 18 games to help the Eagles claim their first Kelly Cup.[5]

Belzile returned to the Rampage for the 2017–18 season, signing a one-year contract extension on August 8, 2017.[6] In his first full AHL season, he recorded 34 points in 61 games.

Belzile with a trick shootout attempt at the 2019 All-Star Classic.

On July 1, 2018, Belzile signed a one-year contract with the Laval Rocket.[7] He represented the club at the 2019 All-Star Classic on January 3, 2019.[8] He finished the season with 54 points in 74 games.

On May 25, 2019, Belzile signed his first National Hockey League (NHL) contract, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Rocket's affiliate, the Montreal Canadiens.[9] He totaled 14 points in 20 games for the Rocket during the 2019-20 season.

On March 19, 2020, the Canadiens signed Belzile to a one-year, two-way contract extension.[10]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Collège Champlain Cougars QJAAAHL 33 14 26 40 62 — — — — —
2009–10 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 31 10 24 34 20 12 7 4 11 14
2010–11 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 64 27 40 67 78 5 2 5 7 6
2011–12 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 63 22 70 92 85 21 6 18 24 28
2012–13 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 40 10 20 30 36 4 0 2 2 2
2012–13 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 14 3 5 8 11 — — — — —
2013–14 Gwinnett Gladiators ECHL 3 0 0 0 8 — — — — —
2013–14 Alaska Aces ECHL 16 4 8 12 0 18 3 7 10 18
2014–15 Idaho Steelheads ECHL 63 28 41 69 113 6 1 1 2 4
2015–16 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 29 10 21 31 34 16 6 10 16 20
2015–16 San Antonio Rampage AHL 25 6 4 10 10 — — — — —
2016–17 Colorado Eagles ECHL 17 10 17 27 18 18 14 12 26 38
2016–17 San Antonio Rampage AHL 45 5 7 12 39 — — — — —
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 61 14 20 34 63 — — — — —
2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 74 19 35 54 80 — — — — —
2019–20 Laval Rocket AHL 20 7 7 14 30 — — — — —
AHL totals 239 54 78 132 233 — — — — —

Awards and honours
Award Year
ECHL
Kelly Cup (Alaska Aces) 2014 [2]
Kelly Cup (Colorado Eagles) 2017 [5]
AHL
All-Star Game 2019 [8]

References
  1. "Hamilton Bulldogs 1, Syracuse Crunch 0". American Hockey League. March 22, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  2. "Alaska Aces win Kelly Cup with 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones". adn.com. June 9, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  3. "Komets notes, Colorado official comments on continuing affiliation". The News-Sentinel. September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  4. "Rampage re-sign Alex Belzile". San Antonio Rampage. July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  5. "Colorado Eagles sweep South Carolina to win first Kelly Cup". Denver Post. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  6. "Rampage ink forwards Alex Belzile and Thomas Frazee". San Antonio Rampage. August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  7. "Rocket agree to terms with Alex Belzile on one-year contract". Laval Rocket. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  8. "Alex Belzile to represent Rocket at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic". Laval Rocket. January 3, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  9. "One-year, two-way contract for forward Alex Belzile". Montreal Canadiens. May 25, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  10. "Canadiens agree to terms on a one-year contract with Alex Belzile". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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