At the Montreal Canadiens, when we think of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication, a name quickly appears as a must. Alex Belzile is the Habs’ candidate for the Bill-Masterton Trophy.
This honor is the only one in the NHL to feature a representative from each team, chosen by a vote of local journalists assigned to cover the club. A new vote will take place over the next few weeks to elect the big winner for the 2022-2023 season.
Belzile succeeds Carey Price, who won the Masterton last season.
The Quebecer has certainly embodied one of the most inspiring stories of this difficult season for the Habs. The Rivière-du-Loup native started the campaign with the Laval Rocket, of which he was also named captain. Those who wear the C in the American League are usually veterans associated with the minor leagues, whose NHL careers are behind them or have remained only a dream.
Belzile had this profile. At 31, and despite a few recalls from the Habs in recent years, he had never managed to establish himself “at the top”. However, last January, a massacre in the training gave him a chance that he seized head on.
Before breaking a leg blocking a shot a few days ago, he managed to play 31 games, collecting 14 points, including 6 goals.
On February 12, against the Edmonton Oilers, he scored his very first NHL goal, becoming one of the oldest players in club history to achieve the feat.
First employed mainly on a fourth line, he gained the trust of his coach and obtained additional mandates, notably on the penalty kill. We even saw him a few times on the power play.
This accession to the NHL came at the end of a decade spent in the minor leagues. Never drafted, he played 319 games in the American League and 168 in the ECHL. His professional career took him to the four corners of America, including Alaska, Georgia, Indiana and Idaho.
He settled down in 2018 when he signed an American League contract with the Laval Rocket. A year later, he landed his first NHL contract with the Canadiens, an agreement that has since been renewed three times. After his encouraging performances this season, he will try to obtain a first contract with only one part, which would guarantee him an NHL salary even if he is assigned to the minors in the future.
Beyond his work on the ice, Belzile is renowned for being appreciated by his peers, especially for his enthusiasm on the bench during games. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who rubbed shoulders with him in Montreal and Laval, described him as “one of the best captains” he had in his career. More recently, number 60 took under his wing the young Sean Farrell, freshly arrived from the university ranks and launched into the fray before even having shared training with his new teammates.
It’s hard to know what the future holds for him, in Montreal or elsewhere. But what is certain is that Alex Belzile left an indelible mark on the Canadian’s 2022-2023 season. Whether or not he wins the Bill-Masterton Trophy next June, being nominated for this honor today is highly deserved.