Alexis Gravel Bio
Alexis Gravel is a German-born French-Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Belfast Giants of the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing roughly 99 kilograms, he brings a sizable frame to the net and a résumé built across junior, university, and professional ranks. Selected 162nd overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Gravel has carved out a career that has carried him through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), U Sports, the ECHL, and the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Beyond his club career, Gravel has represented Canada in international competition, highlighted by a gold medal at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. His junior and university careers have been decorated with major individual honors, including the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy and the Major W.J. “Danny” McLeod Award, both of which cemented his standing as one of the top goaltending talents of his draft class.
Early Life and Background
Alexis Gravel was born on March 21, 2000, in Berlin, Germany, while his father was playing professional hockey overseas. He grew up in Asbestos, Quebec, a small town in the Eastern Townships region, and is the son of François Gravel, a former professional goaltender who was selected 87th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft and later represented France at the 1998 Winter Olympics. With hockey woven deeply into his family background, Alexis was introduced to the goaltending position at around five years old while living in Italy, where his father played professionally for twelve years.
Before entering major junior hockey, Gravel spent two seasons developing with the Mississauga Senators of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). That foundation in one of Canada’s most competitive minor-hockey circuits helped prepare him for the next step in his career. He was selected 20th overall in the second round of the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Halifax Mooseheads.
Path to Hockey
Gravel began his major junior career with the Halifax Mooseheads in the 2016–17 QMJHL season, appearing in 50 regular-season games and earning a nomination for the Raymond Lagacé Trophy as the league’s best defensive rookie. After a more difficult second season in which he started fewer games and saw his save percentage dip, Gravel committed to a summer of enhanced training and worked directly with Blackhawks developmental goaltending coach Peter Aubrey. That renewed focus produced a major bounce-back year and led to his selection by Chicago in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Following his junior career, Gravel chose to pursue a university education and joined the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes, where he competed in U Sports from 2021 to 2023. The decision allowed him to continue developing while earning a degree, and it also produced one of the defining moments of his career when the Patriotes captured the 2022 U Sports University Cup national championship.
Alexis Gravel Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Gravel’s first full season with the Halifax Mooseheads in 2016–17 saw him post 17 wins and one shutout across 50 appearances, while also playing six playoff games before Halifax was eliminated in the first round by the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. His production slipped in his second season, a stretch he later described as a period when he was no longer enjoying the game, but the Blackhawks still saw enough long-term potential to use a sixth-round pick on him in 2018.
After refocusing his preparation with Peter Aubrey, Gravel returned to Halifax for the 2018–19 season and reclaimed his starter’s role. He finished the regular season with 33 wins and a .913 save percentage, helping the Mooseheads finish first in the QMJHL’s Eastern Conference. He then backstopped Halifax through 23 playoff games, winning 14 of them before the team fell 4–2 to Rouyn-Noranda in the league final.
QMJHL and Memorial Cup Breakthrough (2018–2019)
The Mooseheads entered the 2019 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, setting up a championship rematch with Rouyn-Noranda. Although Halifax dropped a 4–2 decision in the final, Gravel was recognized as the tournament’s top goaltender. He was awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy after posting a .918 save percentage and a 2.78 goals-against average across the event, and he was also named to the Memorial Cup all-star team.
That performance marked the high point of Gravel’s junior career and provided a strong foundation heading into his next chapter. It also reaffirmed his reputation as a technically sound, mentally tough goaltender capable of delivering on the biggest stages.
University Career at UQTR (2021–2023)
Gravel joined the UQTR Patriotes for the 2021–22 U Sports season and immediately became a central figure for the program. The Patriotes captured the 2022 U Sports University Cup national championship, defeating the University of Alberta Golden Bears in double overtime. Gravel was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, receiving the Major W.J. “Danny” McLeod Award after a 66-save performance in the gold-medal game. He continued to play for UQTR through the 2022–23 season before resuming his professional path.
Professional Career (2021–Present)
After going unsigned by the Chicago Blackhawks, Gravel signed with the Allen Americans of the ECHL on October 13, 2021, launching his professional career. He later joined the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL ahead of the 2024–25 season, agreeing to terms on July 29, 2024, after three seasons at UQTR. Following a stint with Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Gravel committed to the Belfast Giants of the EIHL in July 2025, where he continues to play at the present time.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although hockey goaltenders are not typically described in terms of a driving style, Gravel’s strengths on the ice are clearly defined. He relies on his large 6-foot-3 frame to cover the lower portion of the net, uses efficient lateral movement to track pucks across the crease, and has shown a steady ability to rebound from difficult stretches. His partnership with coach Peter Aubrey during his junior years sharpened his technical detail, and his comfort in high-pressure moments has been a defining feature of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Two milestones stand out above the rest. The first came at the 2019 Memorial Cup, where Gravel earned the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the tournament’s top goaltender despite Halifax’s loss in the final. The second came at the 2022 U Sports University Cup, where his 66-save effort in the championship game earned him the Major W.J. “Danny” McLeod Award as the tournament MVP and delivered UQTR a national title.
Alexis Gravel Career Wins
Across his junior, university, and professional career, Alexis Gravel has built a résumé highlighted by major individual awards rather than a single tallied win total. His most celebrated victories include a QMJHL Eastern Conference first-place finish in 2018–19, the 2022 U Sports University Cup championship, and a gold medal with Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
QMJHL Highlights
Gravel played three full QMJHL seasons with the Halifax Mooseheads from 2016 to 2019, registering 17 wins in his rookie year and 33 wins in his breakout 2018–19 campaign. He helped lead Halifax to the QMJHL President’s Cup final and to the 2019 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts, earning the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the event’s top goaltender.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the QMJHL, Gravel starred for the UQTR Patriotes, winning the 2022 U Sports University Cup and taking home Major W.J. “Danny” McLeod Award honors. On the international stage, he represented Canada at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics and won gold with Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Alexis Gravel Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Gravel family. Alexis is the son of François Gravel, a former professional goaltender who played in Italy for twelve years and represented France at the 1998 Winter Olympics. François was also drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1987, making the Gravels one of the more recognizable goaltending families in French-Canadian hockey circles.
Personal Life
Although born in Berlin, Germany, Gravel grew up in Asbestos, Quebec, and identifies as French-Canadian. He chose to represent Canada in international competition rather than Germany or France, reflecting his upbringing in Quebec. Beyond his family connections to the sport, Gravel has kept his personal life largely private while continuing to focus on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Alexis Gravel entered the 2025 season with a fresh chapter, having agreed to terms with the Belfast Giants of the EIHL in July 2025. The move followed a professional stint with Adler Mannheim in Germany’s top flight and gave Gravel a leading role with one of the United Kingdom’s most successful franchises.
The 2025–26 EIHL campaign marks Gravel’s first full season in the UK after several years spent moving between North American and European leagues. With the Belfast Giants, he is expected to serve as a primary option between the pipes and provide veteran stability behind a competitive roster.
Looking ahead, Gravel’s outlook in Belfast will hinge on adapting to the smaller international ice surface and building chemistry with a new defensive group. His track record of strong tournament performances, including the 2019 Memorial Cup and the 2022 University Cup, suggests he is well equipped to handle the transition as he seeks to establish himself as one of the EIHL’s top goaltenders.