# Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (born October 22, 2002) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 22nd overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

## Playing career
### Junior career

Bourgault was drafted by the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in the second round of the 2018 draft as a centre. However, the Cataractes chose to move him to the wing to play alongside Mavrik Bourque. Making his QMJHL debut with the Cataractes in 2018–19, Bourgault recorded 7 goals and 20 points in 62 games. In 2019–20, he increased his offensive output to 33 goals and 71 points in 63 games, for a 1.13 points per game rate. His points per game rate was raised yet again to 1.38 in 2020–21, as he recorded 20 goals and 40 points in a pandemic-shortened 29 games. Recording only six penalty minutes that season, he was named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the QMJHL's award for sportsmanship. During the 2021–22 season, he had his best year with the Cataractes, scoring 36 goals and 75 points in 43 games. In the playoffs, Bourgault finished second on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 22 points, behind only Bourque, as the Cataractes won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champions. The Cataractes made the 2022 Memorial Cup, but finished third in the four-team tournament, losing to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League in the semi-final.

### Professional career

On July 23, 2021, Bourgault was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL) 22nd overall in the first round of 2021 NHL entry draft. Bourgault was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract on March 31, 2022. He was assigned to the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, for the 2022–23 season. In his AHL rookie season, he scored 13 goals and 34 points. He returned to Bakersfield for the 2023–24 season, but saw his offense decline, scoring only 8 goals and 20 points in 55 games.
On July 15, 2024, Bourgault was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with forward Jake Chiasson for forward Roby Järventie and a fourth-round draft pick in 2025. He was assigned to Ottawa's AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, to begin the 2024–25 season.

## International play

Bourgault was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in December 2021. He played in the opening game against Czechia and was struck in the head, causing him to leave the game. However, the tournament was cancelled shortly afterwards before its completion due to the pandemic and the results were annulled. The tournament was restarted in August 2022, but Bourgault chose to skip it, preferring to focus on making the Oilers.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2017–18 | Lévis Chevaliers | QMAAA | 38 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Shawinigan Cataractes | QMJHL | 62 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019–20 | Shawinigan Cataractes | QMJHL | 63 | 33 | 38 | 71 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | Shawinigan Cataractes | QMJHL | 29 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 2021–22 | Shawinigan Cataractes | QMJHL | 43 | 36 | 39 | 75 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 10 |
| 2022–23 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 62 | 13 | 21 | 34 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023–24 | Bakersfield Condors | AHL | 55 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 117 | 21 | 33 | 54 | 40 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2018 | Canada White | U17 | 6th | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |