Cournoyer Drafted By Canadiens In NHL Draft

Former Truro Bearcats goaltender Alexis Cournoyer has been drafted in the 5th Round, 145th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in Saturday’s NHL Draft.

The 19-year-old from Trois-Rivières, Quebec joined the Bearcats after the 2023-24 trade deadline from the QCHL’s Collège Laflèche Dragons and went 6-4-1-0 for Truro down the stretch with a 3.04 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. He was named to the Eastlink South Team of the Week three times.

Cournoyer started the 2024-25 season 8-11-0-1 to the Christmas Break on December 18th, but had a league-leading .927 save percentage and a 2.83 goals against average, which ranked third-best. He was named the league’s Top Goaltender in November and December and made the Eastlink South Team of the Week four times during that eight-week period of play.

His QMJHL rights were traded from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar to the Cape Breton Eagles on December 19th, with general manager Sylvain Couturier saying the team needed someone for the time being while Jakub Milota is away at the World Junior Hockey Championships. Cournoyer excelled with this new opportunity, posting a shutout in two of his first three starts with the Eagles and finishing the regular season with a 13-7-0 record, 1.82 goals against average, and a .942 save percentage with three shutouts.

The Bearcats announced earlier this month that Cournoyer has committed to Cornell University to play NCAA Division I hockey this fall.

The organization would like to congratulate Alexis on this incredible achievement. We are very proud to have been a part of your journey.