FUTURE WATCH: Bourgault bursts out of the gate in QMJHL

EDMONTON, AB - An X-cellent start to the QMJHL season for Xavier Bourgault.
The 2021 first-round, 22nd-overall Oilers draft pick has scored seven goals and seven assists in nine games with the Shawinigan Cataractes, who currently lead the Western Conference.
The forward celebrated his 19th birthday in style on Friday, picking up a goal and a helper in a 3-1 win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Bourgault's tally was the game-winner that night and capped off a streak of three consecutive victories in which he scored the deciding marker.
Bourgault buried 20 goals with 20 assists in 29 games during the abbreviated 2020-21 QMJHL season, following up his sophomore campaign in 2019-20 that saw him put up 33 goals and 38 assists in 63 appearances.
The L'Islet, Que., native also scored during his NHL pre-season debut on Sept. 26 as part of Edmonton's 4-0 victory over the Flames in Calgary.
Bourgault was invited to Hockey Canada's National Junior Team summer development camp and will look to parlay his strong start to the QMJHL season into an invite to the main selection camp for the squad that will suit up at the World Junior Championship to be held in Edmonton and Red Deer.
The Cataractes will take on the Eastern Conference leading Quebec Remparts on Thursday.