BY JONATHAN BRAZEAU – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
Get use to hearing the term “Montreal Canadiens prospect” during MasterCard Memorial Cup broadcasts.
A trio of future Habs are making an impact in the premiere junior hockey tournament: Michael Bournival (Shawinigan Cataractes), Nathan Beaulieu (Saint John Sea Dogs) and Jarred Tinordi (London Knights). They could find themselves as teammates on the Canadiens in the near future, but for now they’re on opposite sides in their teams’ quest for the Cup.
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Let’s take an in-depth look at the three of them:
Michael Bournival, Shawinigan
Born: May 31, 1992, Shawinigan, Que.
Position: Forward
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 195 pounds
Acquired: Trade with Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 11, 2010.
Bournvial was a third-round pick by Colorado in 2010 before Montreal acquired him a few months later in the Ryan O’Byrne deal. He’s known for his two-way play, which shined as a member of Team Canada during this year’s World Junior Hockey Championship, earning himself a bronze medal. A shoulder injury limited him to only 41 games this season but he managed to set a career-high with 30 goals. The Shawinigan native has become the poster boy for the team, literally there are posters around the city featuring him, and he has played all four seasons of his junior career in his hometown. The Cataractes captain scored a goal and added an assist in the team’s huge 6-2 win against the London Knights on Sunday. Also, Bournival’s Shawinigan teammate Morgan Ellis was a fourth-round pick by Montreal in 2010.
Nathan Beaulieu, Saint John
Born: Dec. 5, 1992, Strathroy, Ont.
Position: Defenceman
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 191 pounds
Acquired: Drafted 17th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft
Beaulieu has established himself as one of the core components of the Sea Dogs, already helping them win the Memorial Cup in 2011. Saint John is looking to become only the ninth team to win back-to-back titles. Beaulieu is a smart, puck-moving, offensive defenceman with 11 goals this season — four on the power play — along with 41 assists for a career-high 52 points. Like Bournival, Beaulieu also won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2012 WJHC. And let’s not forget his highlight-worthy Hawkeye goal celebration. He’s hoisted the Memorial Cup once before. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he did it again.
Jarred Tinordi, London
Born: Feb. 20, 1992, Burnsville, Minn.
Position: Defenceman
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 218 pounds
Acquired: Drafted 22nd overall in the 2010 NHL Draft
The son of former Minnesota North Stars captain Mark Tinordi, Jarred has also established himself as a leader on the blueline and in the locker room too. The gargantuan Knights captain is a force to be reckoned with, logging 140 minutes in the penalty box in 63 regular season games in 2010-11, although he spent less time in the sin bin this season with only 63 PIMs in 48 games. He’s a true defensive defenceman in the mold of Hal Gill, with just three goals in his two seasons in London. Still, his size is his greatest asset and he’s key at delivering punishing hits and protecting the net, skills that don’t show up on the scoresheet. With a young team up front, Tinordi provides the veteran presence and is capable of guiding the Knights all the way.