Joël Chouinard

Joël Chouinard
Chouinard with the Colorado Avalanche in 2009
Born April 8, 1990
Longueuil, QC, CAN
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 186 lb (84 kg; 13 st 4 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
ECHL team
Former teams 		Toledo Walleye
Lake Erie Monsters
Hamilton Bulldogs
Grand Rapids Griffins
Iowa Wild
NHL Draft 167th overall, 2008
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2010–present

Joël Chouinard (born April 8, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.

Playing career

Chouinard played junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Victoriaville Tigres. He was drafted 167th overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. In the 2009–10 season, after leading the QMJHL with 23 goals scored among defensemen and helping the Tigres to an equal franchise best season of 46 wins, he was selected to the QMJHL First All-Star Team and named as a finalist for the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the league's best defenseman.[1] Off the ice Joel was awarded the Paul Dumont Trophy as the Leagues personality of the year.[2]

Chouinard was signed by the Colorado Avalanche to a three-year entry level contract on May 26, 2010.[3] After attending the Avalanche's 2010 training camp, he was then assigned and began his professional career with their affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League in the 2010–11 season.

With his first two professional seasons hampered by injury, Chouinard again had a disrupted pre-season and began the 2012–13 season familiarly on the sidelines. Upon returning to health, Chouinard was reassigned by the Avalanche from the Monsters to second tier affiliation, the Denver Cutthroats of the Central Hockey League.[4] In 42 games with the Cutthroats, he place second amongst blueliners in scoring with 6 goals and 20 points.

At the conclusion of his contract Chouinard's right's were relinquished with the Avalanche, and on August 20, 2013, he was signed as a free agent to a one-year AHL deal with the Hamilton Bulldogs.[5] In the 2013-14 season with the Bulldogs, Chouinard appeared in a career high 67 games with 2 goals and 9 points.

On September 11, 2014, Chouinard signed a one-year contract with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL.[6] On January 5, 2015, the Grand Rapids Griffins signed Chouinard to a professional try out. Prior to signing a professional try out with the Griffins, Chouinard led all defenceman in scoring, recording five goals and 15 assists in 31 games with Toledo this season.[7]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2006–07 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 23 3 3 6 20 6 0 1 1 0
2007–08 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 69 7 28 35 95 6 2 0 2 4
2008–09 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 64 12 23 35 65 4 0 1 1 6
2009–10 Victoriaville Tigres QMJHL 65 23 45 68 56 16 3 10 13 6
2010–11 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 35 8 9 17 14 2 0 0 0 0
2011–12 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 53 0 10 10 43 — — — — —
2012–13 Denver Cutthroats CHL 42 6 14 20 28 5 0 0 0 8
2012–13 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 10 0 0 0 11 — — — — —
2013–14 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 67 2 7 9 33 — — — — —
AHL totals 165 10 26 36 101 2 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
QMJHL
First All-Star Team 2009–10
Paul Dumont Trophy 2009–10 [2]

References

  1. ↑ "Hoffman is MVP, Straka is Rookie of the Year". insidehockey.com. 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hoffman named MVP of the QMJHL". Sportsnet.ca. 2010-03-31. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
  3. ↑ "Avalanche signs Chouinard, Holos". Colorado Avalanche. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Cutthroats shuffle roster; Assigned D-man from AHL". Central Hockey League. 2012-10-31. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  5. ↑ "Bulldogs sign Joel Chouinard". Hamilton Bulldogs. 2013-08-20. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
  6. ↑ "Walleye sign defenseman Joel Chouinard". BCSN. September 11, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Three Join From Toledo". Grand Rapids Griffins. January 5, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.

External links