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Prospect William Dufour Named MVP of the QMJHL

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William Dufour

New York Islanders prospect William Dufour had himself a tremendous season with the St. John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It ended with him being named the league’s Most Valuable Player as he was awarded the 2022 Michel-Briére Trophy on Wednesday.

 

The 20-year-old Dufour notched 56 goals along with 60 assists for 116 points in 66 regular-season games. His 56 goals were a franchise record for St. John, as he passed Danick Gauthier who scored 47 goals back during the 2011-12 season. He was also the first QMJHL player to hit 50 goals since 2018.

William Dufour’s 116 points were the most ever by a Seadog, as he passed Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who held the club record for most points in a season with 105, which he set back in 2010-11. Dufour averaged 1.76 points per game.

His 116 points were good for second in the QMJHL, only trailing Montreal Canadiens prospect Joshua Roy by three (119) in that category. His 56 goals led the league, with 20 of them coming on the power play, a league leader in that category as well.

Thirteen of Dufour’s 56 goals were credited as game-winners.

Back in the 2020 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders selected William Dufour in the fifth round, with the 152nd pick. In his 2020-21 season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Dufour notched 17 goals and 12 assists in 23 regular-season games.

Prior to the 2021 QMJHL Draft, Dufour was dealt to the St. John Sea Dogs along with a 2022 fourth-round selection in exchange for the Sea Dogs’ first-round selection,  a fifth-round selection in 2023, and forward Simon Hughes. And with his new team, as you can see, he absolutely flourished.

On April 21, the New York Islanders and William Dufour came to terms on his three-year entry-level contract. Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello had until July 1st to sign the prospect before losing out on his rights.

It is difficult to gauge how a career will go based on Junior numbers, given the closeness in age amongst the competition, not having to play against full-grown men on a nightly basis, etc. But winning MVP of the league is something incredibly special, and Dufour should be proud of his accomplishments.

Dufour should be suiting up for the Bridgeport Islanders in 2022-23 as his first year in the American Hockey League will be an important one in order to see just how high his ceiling is.

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