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Alexis Gravel

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Alexis Gravel
Born (2000-03-21) March 21, 2000 (age 24)
Berlin, Germany
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg; 15 st 8 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Right
ECHL team
Former teams		 Orlando Solar Bears
Allen Americans
NHL draft 162nd overall, 2018
Chicago Blackhawks
Playing career 2021–present

Alexis "Alex" Gravel (born March 21, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL. Gravel was selected in the sixth round, 162nd overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[1]

Playing career

Junior

Before being drafted into major junior hockey, Gravel played two seasons for the Missasauga Senators of the Greater Toronto Hockey League and was selected 20th overall in the second round of the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Halifax Mooseheads.[2]

Gravel began playing for the Mooseheads the following season, the 2016–17 season. In his first season with the team he played 50 games with 17 wins, 24 losses, and 3 overtime losses. Gravel had one shutout and had a (.894) save percentage and played 6 games in the playoffs for Halifax, the team was eliminated in the first round in 6 games by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Gravel was a nominee for the Raymond Lagacé Trophy, which is the award given annually to the QMJHL's best defensive rookie of the year.[3]

In his second season with the Mooseheads, Gravel found himself starting in fewer games and with a declining save percentage. He later admitted he was no longer enjoying the game, saying, "Mentally, I just wasn’t there. I think that screwed me a little bit."[4] Gravel was selected 162nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

A summer of enhanced workouts, together with hands-on training with Blackhawks developmental goalie coach Peter Aubrey, helped to refocus Gravel's attention for the 2018–19 QMJHL season.[5] Starting in 49 games for the Mooseheads, he finished the regular season with 33 wins and a .913 save percentage, leading the team to first place in the league's Eastern Conference.

In the QMJHL President Cup playoffs, Gravel backstopped the Mooseheads to its best finish in seven seasons, winning 14 of 23 games en route to a 4–2 series loss to the Rouyn-Noranda in the league final.[6]

The two teams would meet again in the final of the 2019 Memorial Cup, the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League, by virtue of the Halifax's status as tournament host. While the Mooseheads would drop a 4–2 decision to the Huskies in the championship game, Gravel was awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the tournament's best goalie, with a save percentage of .918 and a goals-against average of 2.78. Gravel was also named to the tournament all-star team.[7]

Professional

Un-signed by the Blackhawks, Gravel embarked on his professional career as a free agent before agreeing to join the Allen Americans of the ECHL for the 2021–22 season on October 13, 2021.[8]

University

Gravel attended the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, to-date playing for the UQTR Patriotes from 2021–22 to 2022–23. The Patriotes won the 2022 U Sports University Cup national championship,[9] with Gravel winning the Major W.J. "Danny" McLeod Award as Most Valuable Player of the national championship tournament[10][11] – including his 66 save performance in the double overtime victory over the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the Cup final.[12]

Return to professional

Following three seasons with the Patriotes, Gravel resumed his professional career in returning to the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears for the 2024-25 season on July 29, 2024.[13]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
Gold medal – first place 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament

Gravel was born in Germany but represents Canada in international competition. He was a goalie for Canada at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics where he played in 4 games for Canada, earning a (.902) save percentage.

Gravel also competed for Canada men's national under-18 ice hockey team and was named to the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, a tournament not sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation,[14] winning gold with Canada, and defeating the Czech Republic 4–1.[15] Gravel played only one game for Canada in the tournament, earning a (3.69) goals against average with a (.857) save percentage.

Personal life

Gravel was born in Berlin, Germany but grew up in Asbestos, Quebec. He is the son of Francois Gravel, a former professional ice hockey goaltender who was selected in the 3rd round, 87th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens and also represented France in the 1998 Winter Olympics.[16]

Gravel was inspired to play goaltender because of his father, and began playing when he was around five years old, first playing in Italy where his father played for 12 years.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2016–17 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 50 17 29 3 2628 147 1 3.36 .894 6 2 4 410 20 0 3.61 .924
2017–18 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 39 20 16 2 2093 118 0 3.38 .890 8 4 4 467 21 1 2.70 .917
2018–19 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 49 33 13 2 2870 119 5 2.49 .913 23 14 8 1408 64 0 2.73 .917
2019–20 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 40 12 23 3 2198 145 1 3.96 .893 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 20 7 8 4 1123 73 0 3.90 .887 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Allen Americans ECHL 2 1 1 0 120 10 0 5.00 .863 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 UQTR Patriotes OUA 11 8 3 0 670 23 1 2.06 .924 7 7 0 — — 1 1.55 —
2022–23 UQTR Patriotes OUA 19 15 2 1 1067 36 4 2.02 .932 6 5 1 — — 1 2.52 9.29
2023–24 UQTR Patriotes OUA 23 15 6 0 1250 39 3 1.87 .935 7 5 2 — — 2 1.60 9.42
QMJHL totals 198 89 89 14 10,913 602 7 3.31 .897 37 20 16 2,285 105 1 2.76 .918

References

  1. ^ "Blackhawks' Alexis Gravel: Project goaltender added to Chicago system". CBS Sports. RotoWire. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Goaltender Gravel Set to Join the Herd". Halifax Mooseheads. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  3. ^ "Golden puck Awards: the nominees are revealed". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
  4. ^ "Alex Gravel wondered if he was done as a No. 1 goaltender: Now he's leading the Halifax Mooseheads into the QMJHL final". Toronto Star. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  5. ^ "Alex Gravel wondered if he was done as a No. 1 goaltender: Now he's leading the Halifax Mooseheads into the QMJHL final". Toronto Star. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  6. ^ "Alexis Gravel". Halifax Mooseheads. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  7. ^ "Goalie Statistics". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  8. ^ "Opening night has arrived". Allen Americans. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "History | Past Champions". U Sports. 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  10. ^ "Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award (Championship MVP)" (PDF). U Sports. 2019-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  11. ^ "University Cup Gold Medal Game: UQTR Patriotes mount stunning double-overtime comeback, capture David Johnston University Cup". U Sports. 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  12. ^ "UQTR defeats Alberta in double-OT thriller to claim 1st U Sports men's hockey title in 19 years". CBC Sports. Canadian Press. 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  13. ^ "Solar Bears add rookie goaltender Alexis Gravel". Orlando Solar Bears. July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mooseheads' trio make Team Canada's U18 roster for Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup; Zadina officially joins Herd". The Chronicle Herald. 2017-08-02. Archived from the original on 2018-03-09. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  15. ^ "Canada cruises past Czechs to win gold at Ivan Hlinka tournament". Sportsnet. 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
  16. ^ Kennedy, Ryan (March 24, 2016). "Why a Top Quebec Goalie Prospect Played in the Toronto Suburbs". The Hockey News. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  17. ^ Lipscombe, Kristen (2016-08-26). "'Wanted to be like him': Halifax Mooseheads prospect looks to goaltender father for inspiration". MetroNews. Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
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