11 décembre 2015 – Times & Transcript (D1) Alex Saulnier gets his chance to shine

UdeM standout playing for CIS men’s hockey all-star team SEAN HATCHARD TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

This may be the heart of university exam season, but Alex Saulnier has hockey on his mind.

Off since his Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus completed their first-semester schedule on Nov. 27, Saulnier will suit up for a Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s hockey all-star team in Toronto this weekend.

Saulnier and the rest of the CIS all-stars play a pair of exhibition games against Canadian national junior team prospects tomorrow and Sunday. The exhibition series serves as part of the Canadian squad’s preparation for the world junior hockey championship tournament Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Finland.

Saulnier, a 23-year-old forward from Cap-Pelé, was one of six players from the

Atlantic University Sport conference named to the CIS all-star team.

“I’m excited to be one of the players selected across Canada that they thought was good enough to make the team. It’s a great feeling,”he said.

“I’ve had a lot of help along the way from my teammates and linemates, who have made it so easy for me so far this season. It’s exciting for me and it’s going to be a great experience to match up against Team Canada.”

Saulnier enjoyed a stellar first semester for the Aigles Bleus in the AUS. He’s second in team scoring and fourth in the conference with 22 points, including 12 goals, in 15 games.

He’ll take to the ice at the MasterCard Centre in Toronto to face a Canadian junior team selection camp roster that features several first-round NHL draft picks, including Mitch Marner (), (Arizona Coyotes), Lawson Crouse () and Michael Dal Colle (New York

Islanders).

Saulnier is a former standout with the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He played one game for the QMJHL in the Canadian

Hockey League’s Canada-Russia Series in 2010, scoring a in a loss.

“This is a chance to compete against Team Canada – they’re some of the best players in the world,” said Saulnier, a third-year forward at UdeM. “Most of the players are going to be in the NHL for a long time, so it’s going to be a great experience.”

The 23-player CIS lineup – including 20 with CHL experience – is comprised of 11 players from the University Athletics conference and six each from the

AUS and Canada West conferences.

University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds defenceman Jordan Murray, a native of Riverview, is on the CIS team. He has three goals and 11 points in 14 games for UNB this season.

The CIS roster also includes Dalhousie Tigers goaltender Corbin Boes, Acadia Axemen defenceman Matthew Pufahl, St. Francis Xavier X-Men forward Eric

Locke and Saint Mary’s Huskies forward Stephen MacAulay.

“I know the guys from our league and a couple of other guys from Quebec and Ontario that I played against in the Q. We have some good, skilled players,”

Saulnier said.

“I’m excited to meet the other guys from out west – they have a lot of good university teams, like Alberta and those teams – and I’m sure we’ll get some good players from over there.”

Saulnier said there will be challenges to overcome in Toronto.

“First of all, we haven’t played in almost two weeks now because of the break in CIS hockey in December. Team Canada has been playing all throughout

December, so that’s one big adjustment,”he said.

“The other is getting used to linemates. I’ve only played four or five games without my twin brother (Aigles Bleus linemate and leading scorer Allain Saulnier) in my life, so it’s going to be different for me adjusting to new players, but hopefully we can find some quick chemistry.”

Besides preparing Canada for the world junior tournament, the exhibition series will also showcase CIS hockey – and its top players.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of scouts there to see Team Canada and I’m sure if you stand out, it’s not going to hurt you, but I’m not going to think too much into that,”Saulnier said.

“I’m just going to play my game, have some fun and really enjoy it.”

Alex Saulnier PHOTO: UdeM ATHleTics