Belzile played as a junior in the QMAA within the Rivière-du-Loup Midget AA program before he was selected in the 11th round, 192nd overall, at the 2009 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Draft by Rimouski Océanic. In his rookie season in 2009–10, Belzile appeared in 31 games recording 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points. He showed offensive potential in posting 11 points in 12 playoff games.
In his first full season in the QMJHL in 2010–11 season, Belzile led Rimouski in setting a personal best 27 goals in 64 games. Establishing himself as a skilled, attacking forward, Belzile notched new career high to lead the club in scoring in posting 70 assists and 92 points in the 2011–12 season. Despite placing second in the QMJHL in assists and fourth in points, he was passed over in each draft eligible season.
Professional
Opting to turn professional, Belzile signed a one-year contract with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL for the 2012–13 season. He recorded ten goals and 20 assists in 40 games with the Gladiators. Belzile also signed a professional try-out with the American Hockey League's (AHL) Hamilton Bulldogs. In his first game with the club on 22 March, he scored the game-winning goal in a 1–0 win over the Syracuse Crunch.[1] He finished his tenure with the team with eight points in 14 games.
Belzile remained with the Gladiators for the following 2013–14 season, but played a mere three games due to injury. On 28 February 2014, he was traded to the Alaska Aces. Belzile finished the season with 12 points in 19 games before scoring ten points in 18 postseason games. The Aces defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones in six games to win the Kelly Cup.[2]
On 16 October 2014, Belzile was traded to the Idaho Steelheads. He recorded a career-high 28 goals and 41 assists for 69 points during the 2014-15 season.
On 1 September 2015, Belzile was traded to the Fort Wayne Komets. On 22 September, he signed a contract with the Komets' AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.[3] He split the 2015–16 season between both clubs, finishing with 31 points in 29 games for the Komets and ten points in 25 games for the Rampage.
On 15 July 2016, the Rampage re-signed Belzile to a one-year contract extension.[4] He split the subsequent season between the Rampage and their new ECHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. Belzile recorded a team and ECHL-best 26 points in 18 games to help the Eagles claim their first Kelly Cup.[5]
Belzile returned to the Rampage for the 2017–18 season, signing a one-year contract extension on 8 August 2017.[6] In his first full AHL season, he recorded 34 points in 61 games.
On 1 July 2018, Belzile signed a one-year contract with the Laval Rocket.[7] He represented the club at the 2019 All-Star Classic on 3 January 2019.[8] He finished the season with 54 points in 74 games.
On 25 May 2019, Belzile signed his first National Hockey League (NHL) contract, agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract with the Rocket's affiliate, the Montreal Canadiens.[9] On 19 March 2020, the Canadiens signed Belzile to a one-year, two-way contract extension.[10] He totalled 14 points in 20 games for the Rocket during the 2019–20 season before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continuing with the Rocket with periodic callups to play for the Canadiens, Belzile scored his first NHL goal on February 12, 2023, in a 6–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. At age 31, he was the oldest player to score their first career goal for the Canadiens since 35-year-old Herb Gardiner in 1926.[11] He played 31 games with the Canadiens during the 2022–23 season, ultimately registering six goals and eight assists, before being injured in an April 1, 2023 game against the Carolina Hurricanes. He was the Canadiens' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the year, awarded to "the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey."[12]
After five seasons within the Canadiens organization, Belzile left as a free agent to sign a two-year, $1.55 million contract with the New York Rangers on July 1, 2023.[13]
David Schlemko is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Dale Kenton Weise is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, and Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 111th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.
Adam Cracknell is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and alternate captain for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Joel Armia is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 16th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Armia has also previously played for Porin Ässät of the SM-liiga as well as the Winnipeg Jets.
Byron Froese is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Henderson Silver Knights of the American Hockey League (AHL), for whom he serves as an alternate captain, while under contract to the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). Froese was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fourth round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
David Broll is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He last played with the Coventry Blaze in the EIHL. Broll was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Charles Simard-Hudon is a Canadian professional ice hockey Winger who is currently playing for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was drafted 122nd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Lias Andersson is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, seventh overall, by the New York Rangers in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Andersson has also previously played for the Los Angeles Kings.
The Laval Rocket are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) based in Laval, Quebec. The team began play in the 2017-18 season, with home games held at Place Bell. They are affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) and Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL.
Jean-Sébastien Dea is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently under contract with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Ryan Poehling is an American professional ice hockey center for the Philadelphia Flyers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Poehling was drafted 25th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Victor Joseph Mete is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Mete was selected 100th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Gustav Lindström is a Swedish ice hockey defenceman for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 38th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Lindström has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens.
Brandon Gignac is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round, 80th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
Jean-Christophe "J.C." Beaudin is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for Grizzlys Wolfsburg in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was selected 71st overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Jan Myšák is a Czech professional ice hockey centre for the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the second round, 48th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Justin Barron is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 25th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Mattias Norlinder is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round, 64th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Corey Schueneman is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Originally undrafted by teams in the NHL, Schueneman has also previously played for the Montreal Canadiens.
Cameron "Cam" Hillis is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He was selected in the third round, 66th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Media related to Alex Belzile at Wikimedia Commons
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
