Alex Belzile Bio
Alex Belzile (born 31 August 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger and alternate captain for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 183 cm tall and weighing 87 kg, the right-shot forward has built a long professional career through the minor leagues before reaching the NHL.
A late-bloomer at the top level, Belzile scored his first NHL goal at age 31, making him the oldest player to achieve that milestone for the Montreal Canadiens since Herb Gardiner in 1926. He has served in leadership roles with Laval, including a stint as captain in 2022–23 before returning as alternate captain for the 2025–26 season.
Early Life and Background
Alex Belzile was born on 31 August 1991 in Saint-Éloi, Quebec, Canada. He grew up in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec and developed his hockey skills through local minor hockey programs. As a teenager, he progressed to the Rivière-du-Loup Midget AA program of the QMAA, where his scoring touch began to attract attention from major-junior scouts.
His path through Quebec’s junior system shaped his identity as an attacking, playmaking forward. Those early years in Rivière-du-Loup provided the foundation for his offensive game and helped set the stage for his selection in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft.
Path to Hockey
Belzile was selected in the 11th round, 192nd overall, by the Rimouski Océanic at the 2009 QMJHL draft. In his rookie season of 2009–10, he appeared in 31 games, recording 10 goals and 14 assists for 24 points, and added 11 points in 12 playoff games, signaling his offensive upside.
During the 2010–11 season, his first full QMJHL campaign, Belzile set a personal best with 27 goals in 64 games. The following year, 2011–12, he exploded offensively, posting 70 assists and 92 points to lead Rimouski in scoring. Despite finishing second in the QMJHL in assists and fourth in points, he was passed over in every NHL draft-eligible season, which pushed him toward the professional route in North America’s minor leagues.
Alex Belzile Career
Early Career (2012–2015)
Opting to turn professional, Belzile signed a one-year contract with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL for the 2012–13 season. He produced 10 goals and 20 assists in 40 games and also earned a professional try-out with the American Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs, scoring the game-winning goal in his first AHL appearance on 22 March in a 1–0 win over the Syracuse Crunch.
After a 2013–14 season shortened by injury, Belzile was traded to the Alaska Aces on February 28, 2014, and helped the club capture the Kelly Cup that spring. On October 16, 2014, he was dealt to the Idaho Steelheads, where he set a career high with 28 goals and 41 assists for 69 points in 2014–15.
ECHL and AHL Development (2015–2018)
On September 1, 2015, Belzile was traded to the Fort Wayne Komets, and shortly afterward signed an AHL contract with their affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. He split 2015–16 between Fort Wayne and San Antonio, and then split 2016–17 between the Rampage and their new ECHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, recording an ECHL-best 26 points in 18 games to help the Eagles win their first Kelly Cup.
Belzile returned to the Rampage for 2017–18, his first full AHL season, and recorded 34 points in 61 games, establishing himself as a reliable two-way winger at the second-tier level.
Laval Rocket and Montreal Canadiens Era (2018–2023)
On July 1, 2018, Belzile signed a one-year contract with the Laval Rocket and represented the club at the 2019 AHL All-Star Classic, finishing the year with 54 points in 74 games. On May 25, 2019, he signed his first NHL contract, a one-year, two-way deal with Montreal, and was later extended on March 19, 2020.
After several seasons shuttling between Laval and Montreal, Belzile scored his first NHL goal on February 12, 2023, in a 6–2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. At 31, he was the oldest Canadien to score a first career goal since Herb Gardiner in 1926. He finished 2022–23 with six goals and eight assists in 31 NHL games before suffering an injury on April 1, 2023, against the Carolina Hurricanes, and was Montreal’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
New York Rangers and Return to Montreal (2023–2025)
After five seasons within the Canadiens organization, Belzile left as an unrestricted free agent and signed a two-year contract worth $1.55 million with the New York Rangers on July 1, 2023. Two years later, on July 1, 2025, he returned to Montreal on a one-year deal before being placed on waivers for AHL reassignment.
Heading into 2025–26, Belzile was named alternate captain of the Laval Rocket, a role he previously held as team captain in 2022–23, underscoring his continued leadership within the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Belzile is recognized as a smart, two-way winger whose offensive game is built on playmaking and hockey sense. He excels at distributing the puck, as evidenced by his 70-assist QMJHL season and his steady contributions at the AHL level, while also being willing to play a physical, responsible brand of hockey in all three zones.
Notable Events and Milestones
Belzile’s signature moment came on February 12, 2023, when he scored his first NHL goal for the Montreal Canadiens against the Edmonton Oilers, becoming the oldest Canadien to achieve that feat since 1926. Earlier in his career, he captured two Kelly Cup championships with the Alaska Aces and the Colorado Eagles.
Alex Belzile Career Wins
Across his professional career, Belzile has won two Kelly Cup championships in the ECHL, first with the Alaska Aces in 2014 and then with the Colorado Eagles in 2017. He has also been a steady point-producer at the AHL level, with multiple 50-plus point seasons for the Laval Rocket.
Laval Rocket Highlights
Belzile joined the Laval Rocket in 2018 and quickly became a core member of the franchise. In 2018–19, he registered 54 points in 74 games and represented the team at the AHL All-Star Classic, and he later served as team captain in 2022–23 before being named alternate captain for 2025–26.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond Laval, Belzile’s minor-league résumé includes a Kelly Cup with the Alaska Aces in 2014 and another with the Colorado Eagles in 2017, along with a 69-point campaign for the Idaho Steelheads in 2014–15 that marked his single-season career high.
Alex Belzile Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Belzile’s parents and extended family is limited. He grew up in Saint-Éloi, Quebec, where he began his hockey journey before progressing through the Rivière-du-Loup Midget AA program and into the QMJHL.
Personal Life
Belzile’s personal life has remained largely private. He is Canadian by nationality and has spent most of his professional career based in Quebec and other parts of North America.
2025 Season Performance
Belzile returned to the Montreal Canadiens organization on July 1, 2025, signing a one-year deal before being placed on waivers for AHL reassignment. He rejoined the Laval Rocket, where he had spent the bulk of his late-career resurgence, and was named alternate captain ahead of 2025–26.
His leadership presence is expected to be a steadying influence on a young Laval roster, while his two-way experience gives the Rocket a reliable veteran winger in all situations. Should injuries or performance open a path, he remains an option for Montreal at the NHL level.
Heading into 2025–26, Belzile continues to provide the kind of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication that defined his late-career breakthrough with the Canadiens. His story remains one of the more compelling journeyman-to-NHL arcs in recent Montreal history.