Tagged: Victoriaville Tigres

yanni-gourde

Small 2nd year left wing Yanni Gourde(18) somewhat surprisingly signs for one-year with ECHL Kalamazoo Wings after spending his entire rookie season under an AHL contract with Worcester Sharks.

In 54 games the 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward scored 8 goals with 6 assists adding to his first pro goal and a pair of helpers he posted at the end of the previous year signed with the team to an ato.

He did get reassigned for a brief spell with affiliate San Francisco Bulls and lit the lamp for 4 goals and 6 assists in 8 games.

The young 21-year old will probably continue on a tear through the lower league and it would not be surprising to see him get called up somewhere for the long-term.

In four years of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres he was a 1.11 point per game guy in 199 games and won the most valuable player and scoring titles in his final campaign.

See related: 4/17-12

joel-chouinard

4th year defenseman Joel Chouinard(2) signs a one-year AHL contract to skate with Hamilton Bulldogs or ECHL affiliate Wheeling Nailers in the 2012/2013.

Originally a Colorado Avalanche 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#187 overall), he was left unqualified after three seasons in the their prospect system, where he played in 98 games with minor league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters but only 10 last year.

Instead he was reassigned for most of the campaign to the Central Hockey League appearing in 42 contests with Denver Cutthroats.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner posted career highs in assists and points in the lower league.

He had similar strong marks in his rookie season, putting up a team leading 8 goals and 9 assists in only 35 AHL games.

This first year pro performance extended what he was able to accomplish in his final run of junior hockey with Victoriaville Tigres. He struck for phenomenal 23 tallies, good for first in the league and 35 helpers, which made him a more than point per game guy as a d-man.

The 23-year old will need to step it up again to spend the full season with the Bulldogs.