Alexis Gravel (born March 21, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Orlando Solar Bears in the ECHL. He was selected in the sixth round, 162nd overall, by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[1]
| Alexis Gravel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
March 21, 2000 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 | ||
Playing career
editJunior
editBefore being drafted into major junior hockey, Gravel played two seasons for the Missasauga Senators of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and was selected 20th overall in the second round of the 2016 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (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 appeared in 50 games, posting 17 wins, 24 losses, and 3 overtime losses. Gravel would register one shutout along with a (.894) save percentage, and played six games in the playoffs for Halifax, whom were eliminated in the first round by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Gravel was a nominee for the Raymond Lagacé Trophy, awarded 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 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] Despite this, he 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 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 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 (CHL), by virtue of 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
editGoing unsigned by the Blackhawks, Gravel embarked on his professional career as a unrestricted free agent before agreeing to join the Allen Americans of the ECHL for the 2021–22 season on October 13, 2021.[8]
University
editGravel attended the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), and played for the UQTR Patriotes from 2021–23. 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 tournament[10][11] – including his 66 save performance in the double overtime victory over the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the final.[12]
Return to professional
editFollowing 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
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Canada
| ||
| Ice hockey | ||
 |
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 (IIHF),[14] winning gold with Canada, defeating the Czech Republic 4–1.[15] In his sole appearance for Canada at the tournament, Gravel posted a (.857) save percentage along with a (3.69) goals against average.
Personal life
editGravel was born in Berlin, Germany but grew up in Asbestos, Quebec. He is the son of François, a former professional ice hockey goaltender who was selected in the third round, 87th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and represented France in the 1998 Winter Olympics.[16]
Gravel began playing goaltender when he was around five years old in Italy, where his father played professionally for 12 years.[17]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| 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
edit- ^ "Blackhawks' Alexis Gravel: Project goaltender added to Chicago system". CBS Sports. RotoWire. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "Goaltender Gravel Set to Join the Herd". Halifax Mooseheads. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
- ^ "Golden puck Awards: the nominees are revealed". Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2018-03-09.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Alexis Gravel". Halifax Mooseheads. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- ^ "Goalie Statistics". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
- ^ "Opening night has arrived". Allen Americans. October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ^ "History | Past Champions". U Sports. 2023-03-19. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ "Major W.J. 'Danny' McLeod Award (Championship MVP)" (PDF). U Sports. 2019-03-17. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Solar Bears add rookie goaltender Alexis Gravel". Orlando Solar Bears. July 29, 2024. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Canada cruises past Czechs to win gold at Ivan Hlinka tournament". Sportsnet. 2017-08-12. Retrieved 2018-03-08.
- ^ Kennedy, Ryan (March 24, 2016). "Why a Top Quebec Goalie Prospect Played in the Toronto Suburbs". The Hockey News. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
- ^ 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.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database