Gilbert Brulé

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
nickname = Creme Brule
position = Centre
shoots = Right
height_ft = 5
height_in = 10
weight_lb = 180
team = Edmonton Oilers
league = NHL
prospect_team = Springfield Falcons
prospect_league = AHL
former_teams = Columbus Blue Jackets
nationality = Canada
birth_date = Birth date and age|1987|1|1|mf=y
birth_place = Edmonton, AB, CAN
draft = 6th overall
draft_year = 2005
draft_team = Columbus Blue Jackets


career_start = 2005

Gilbert Brulé (born January 1, 1987 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. He grew up in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

Playing career

Brulé was drafted 1st overall in the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft by the Vancouver Giants. In his first season as a Giant, Brulé tallied 60 points in 67 games, earning him the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL rookie of the year. The following season, Brulé finished third in WHL scoring and was generally considered at one point in the season to be among the CHL's top prospects of that draft year, behind only Sidney Crosby. [citeweb|last=Int'l Scouting Services|title=Brule shines brightest at Top Prospects game|url=http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/7506/iss_report_brule_shines_brightest_at_top_prospects_game/|publisher=Hockey's Future|accessdate=2008-03-06]

After two successful seasons in the WHL, Brulé was drafted 6th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In 2005-06, Brulé started the season in the NHL with the Blue Jackets, but after two stints on the injured reserve list, he was returned to the WHL for the remainder of the season, in which he led the Vancouver Giants to a President's Cup (now known as the Ed Chynoweth Cup) as WHL champions, also earning the airBC Trophy as WHL playoff MVP. In the subsequent Memorial Cup - although eliminated in the semi-final - Brulé managed 12 points in 5 games, earning him the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as Memorial Cup leading scorer.

In 2006-07, Brulé played his first full season with the Blue Jackets, appearing in 78 games and tallying 19 points. His sophomore season, however, saw him sent down to the minors on multiple occasions. Failing to live up to the expectations of being a sixth overall draft pick, he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for Raffi Torres on July 1, 2008.

Awards & achievements

CHL
*CHL All-Rookie Team - 2003-04
*CHL Scholastic Player of the Year - 2004-05
*CHL Second Team All-Star - 2004-05
*CHL Top Prospects Game MVP - 2005
*CHL Memorial Cup All-Star - 2005-06
*Ed Chynoweth Trophy (Memorial Cup leading scorer) - 2005-06WHL
*Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year) - 2003-04
*Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy (WHL Scholastic Player of the Year) - 2004-05
*WHL First Team West All-Star - 2004-05
*WHL Second Team West All-Star - 2005-06
*airBC Trophy (WHL Playoffs MVP) - 2005-06
*Top Scorer WHL Playoffs - 2005-06

Career statistics

International play

Brulé represented Team Canada in the 2004 U-18 Junior World Cup as an alternate captain. Brulé helped lead Team Canada to Gold and scored the game winning goal in the championship game. Team Canada U-18 finished 1st by defeating Czech Republic 4-1 in the gold medal game.

References

External links

*hockeydb|72051
* [http://brickhockeyhighlights.com/content/view/42/27/ Gilbert Brule Minor Hockey Video]