“Wasn’t as bad as it looked” – Xavier Bourgault recovering from injury, considers WJC before Edmonton Oilers training camp

“Wasn’t as bad as it looked” – Xavier Bourgault recovering from injury, considers WJC before Edmonton Oilers training camp

Xavier Bourgault

Canadian junior ice hockey player Xavier Bourgault did not skate during the Edmonton Oilers development camp earlier this month as he is recovering from a core muscle injury. However, the 19-year-old centre prospect is still planning a busy off-season in his quest to reach the National Hockey League (NHL).

Selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, Bourgault is figuring out his next move, which could be playing for his country at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta, Canada from August 9-20 if healthy enough. The tournament was earlier postponed in December due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

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“It wasn’t as bad as it looked,” Bourgault said during the development camp, as quoted by NHL.com. “I felt good after a day or two and would have kept playing if they didn’t cancel the tournament.”

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“Have to be ready for a big year”

Xavier Bourgault
Xavier Bourgault

The Quebec native Bourgault, who was named to the World Junior Championships team in December, sustained an upper-body injury in Canada’s opening game of the tournament against Czechia on December 26. This incident took place after a hit to the head by defenseman Stanislav Svozil in the third period of a 6-3 win.

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“It’s a short summer, I’ll have a chance to rest, I’ll get some treatments here and I’ll get a chance to work out,” Bourgault said. “I have the choice to make pretty soon whether to play at the world junior. I have a big summer of working out going into my first year pro (season) and I want to be ready for it. I’m going to have to be ready for a big year.”

“I look at the Oilers lineup and they have good veteran players,” he said, “but I think there is some opportunity for me and younger guys to push for a spot. It’s good for our team to have some young players and to get some experience for the future.”

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