Hurricanes claim import forward Braillard off waivers from QMJHL Shawinigan
Lethbridge, AB – The Lethbridge Hurricanes Hockey Club announced Thursday they have claimed 2005-born import forward Leo Braillard from the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League off Canadian Hockey League waivers.
Braillard, 18, was originally selected by the Cataractes in the first round (36th overall) of the 2022 CHL Import Draft. The Switzerland product is in his second CHL season having collected four points (2G-2A) along with two penalty minutes in seven games this season with Shawinigan. Over parts of two seasons, Braillard skated in 48 regular season games with the Cataractes totaling 26 points (10G-16A) with eight penalty minutes. He added one goal in five post-season games in 2023.
The 5-foot-10, 172-pound forward appeared in 16 games with the Biel-Bienne U20-Elit team in Switzerland collecting 19 points (15G-4A) along with eight penalty minutes before joining Shawinigan during the 2022-2023 campaign. Braillard racked up a combined 69 points (40G-29A) with 31 penalty minutes at the U20 and U17 levels for Biel-Bienne during the 2021-2022 season where he served as the captain for the U17 team. He totaled 28 points (10G-8A) in 10 playoff games at the U17 level in 2022.
Braillard becomes the second import player on the Hurricanes roster joining 2005-born forward Elias Knoester.
The Hurricanes continue a two-game homestand on Friday when they welcome the Red Deer Rebels at the ENMAX Centre at 7 p.m. MT before visiting the Calgary Hitmen on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. MT at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Tickets for the game can be purchased by visiting the ENMAX Centre Ticket Centre, by calling 403-329-SEAT (7328) or online at www.enmaxcentre.ca.
The @WHLHurricanes have acquired Swiss import Leo Braillard off import waivers from QMJHL Shawinigan.
📰 | https://t.co/OVU2ZK52cc pic.twitter.com/u3aecmcv2H
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 19, 2023