Xavier Bernard Player Profile, Roster Update, Most Lopsided ECHL Championship Winning Games and More

Not much new to report this morning. I will attend practice today to get the latest on the roster. Try to get the answers to the following:

• Liam Finlay – will he be back for the game tomorrow
• Aiden Brown – how long will he be out after getting injured on his penalty shot on Sunday (goalie took his feet out)
• Grant Hebert – will confirm his equipment finally arrived in Allen
• Mikael Robidoux – Status on his suspension.

XAVIER BERNARD PLAYER PROFILE

Defenseman Xavier Bernard was loaned to Allen last week by the Belleville Senators. Here are some facts on Bernard:

• Age: 23
• Height: 6’4″
• Weight: 205 pounds
• Shoots: Left
• Birthplace: Mercier, QC, Canada
• Draft choice: 2018 4th Round, New Jersey Devils

– Bernard played his junior hockey in the QMJHL and totaled 103 points (23G, 80A) in 275 career games. He also represented Canada at the World Under 17 Hockey Championships in 2016-17. In August of 2021 Bernard signed a two-way AHL/ECHL deal with Belleville. Last season he spent 21 games in Belleville (0G, 2A) and 25 games (3G, 8A) in Atlanta (ECHL). In July of 2022 Belleville re-signed Bernard to a one-way AHL deal. Here is the Belleville press release on his signing:  https://bellevillesens.com/senators-sign-defenceman-xavier-bernard-one-year-one-way-ahl-contract-extension/

– Bernard was drafted #110 overall in the 2018 NHL draft. Here are some of his strengths you see repeated in scouting reports from his junior days.

• Very good skater
• Lateral movement and agility very strong
• Dependable in all three zones
• Good at reading and adjusting
• Defender with solid and steady game
• Good passer
• Big body

– Bernard played 16 games with Belleville before being loaned to Allen and had one assist. Here is an interview with Bernard from July, right after he signed his new deal with Belleville: https://youtu.be/N2ulSHhYmeY

DID YOU KNOW: After Georgia’s lopsided win in the national championship game last night, I researched the most lopsided wins in ECHL history in Riley/Kelly Cup championship games. Found some interesting facts I was not aware of. Here is the ECHL Stats post for today:

Georgia beat TCU 65-7 last night, the largest margin of victory ever in the national championship football game. It got me to wondering about the largest margin of victory in a Riley/Kelly Cup championship winning game. Just four times in the history of the ECHL the margin of victory in the championship winning game was five or more goals.2013: Reading beat Stockton 6-02015: Allen beat South Carolina 6-11996: Charlotte beat Jacksonville 6-11992: Hampton Roads beat Louisville 8-3Future Hall of Fame goalie Riley Gill was in goal for Reading in 2013 and Allen in 2015. Gill also won the Kelly Cup in 2016 with Allen, beating Wheeling 4-2 in the championship winning game. Three Kelly Cups for Gill while allowing just four goals in three championship winning games.