The Blackhawks reassigned goaltender Alexis Gravel to the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL on Thursday.
Gravel dressed for Chicago’s 2-1 win over the Red Wings on Wednesday, but did not play. He posted a 2.49 goals-against average and .913 save percentage as he helped Halifax reach the QMJHL President’s and Memorial Cup finals last season.
Gravel was 2-0 at the NHL Prospect tournament in Traverse City, Michigan, and led all goaltenders with a 2.49 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Gravel will play for his fourth head coach and goaltending coach in as many years in Halifax. The Mooseheads will have J.J. Diagneault and Joey Perricone in those respective roles, with the latter having held the same position with Moncton (2017-19) and Rouyn-Noranda (2014-17). Halifax’s season begins Friday in Saint John.
The 2018 sixth-round pick will likely see Edmonton’s Olivier Rodrigue and Minnesota’s Hunter Jones as his stiffest competition on the Canadian national team this year at the World Junior Championship.
With this move, the Blackhawks training camp roster has 54 players: 32 forwards, 17 defensemen and five goaltenders.