William Dufour: Memorial Cup Champ, Most Valuable Player

“It’s the biggest tournament probably in Canada right now in Junior hockey. I mean, it’s just unbelievable to be in the Finals right now,” New York Islanders prospect William Dufour said before the start of the Memorial Cup Finals.”

“We are going to give everything tonight to bring the [Memorial] Cup home for sure.”

A few hours later, William Dufour and his St. John Sea Dogs teammates hoisted the Memorial Cup Trophy, as they defeated the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-3. Dufour notched a goal and an assist in the Finals, as he was named “First Star” of the game.

“I mean we worked so hard the last month and today we just earned what we did the last couple of months,” Dufour said in his postgame interview with TSN. “It’s just crazy.”

“We had a great season this year. And we earned everything.”

William Dufour was not only named First Star of the contest, but was also awarded the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the MVP of the tournament.

In four games, the 20-year-old forward scored seven goals with an assist for a tournament-leading eight points.

William Dufour, Memorial Cup MVP 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Pk9BUFGEaQ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 30, 2022

William Dufour’s goal came off a heck of a play by teammate Ryan Francis, as he found Dufour open from behind the Bulldogs net, to give the Sea Dogs a 4-1 lead in the second period.

Beauty of a setup pass from Francis and Dufour finishes! 🚨

4-1 SJ#CityofChampions @NYIslanders pic.twitter.com/4OeERQJQiJ

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) June 29, 2022

That was Dufour’s seventh and final goal of the tournament.

Dufour’s assist on the Sea Dogs’ fifth goal of the game showcased strong vision, as he skid-stopped behind the Bulldog net and found teammate Josh Lawrence in front.

Dufour ➡️ Lawrence

5-2 Sea Dogs#CityofChampions pic.twitter.com/oO0RIHaeCG

— Saint John Sea Dogs (@SJSeaDogs) June 30, 2022

Barzal-esque, don’t you think?

It was a magical 2021-22 year for William Dufour. In 75 total games between the QMJHL season (65), the QMJHL postseason (6), and the Memorial Cup (4), Dufour scored 65 goals with 63 assists for 128 points.

He was awarded MVP of the QMJHL, with 56 goals and 60 assists for 116 points in 66 regular-season games.

Dufour, a fifth-round selection of the New York islanders back in 2020, has already signed his three-year entry-level contract as he will be skating with the Bridgeport Islanders in 2022-23.