It is clear that few around the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League can match Notre Dame Hound Elliot Dutil’s instincts to put the puck in the back of the net.
Through the first half of the 2021-2022 campaign, the 2003-born forward has consistently been around the top of the goal leaders in the league and had a five-tally edge ahead of the next closest rookie by the Christmas break.
After 31 games, in fact, he had put up 24 goals and 41 points in 31 games.
A resident of Rosemere, QC near Montreal, Dutil split his youth hockey career between his home province and just west of Toronto, Ontario, and completed his final U18 season in 19-20, ironically, with College Notre-Dame Albatros.
Ever focussed on playing Division I NCAA hockey, he passed on an invitation to main camp with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Gatineau Olympiques ahead of the shortened 2020-2021 season, electing to spend time with the Quebec Junior A loop’s Cegep Beauce-Appalaches Condors to maintain his eligibility before the campaign was shut down.
Dutil’s hands around the net and effectiveness near the opposition crease has meant the 5-foot-10, 165-pounder has had only very few goal droughts in his first true junior season, and at one point in late September and early October, he compiled a league-high streak of at least one goal in five straight contests, amassing seven goals and 11 points over that span.
The Quebec-native also has been a key part of ND’s fearsome power play and sits second in the league in power-play goals with 11 behind Canadian Hockey League veteran and 20-year-old Mark Rumsey of the Estevan Bruins.
Regularly on the wing with Princeton University, commit and team-captain Kevin Anderson and SJHL veteran Connor Nolan, Dutil and his line have been as consistently dangerous as any in the league this year.
A mature, friendly individual with a very strong competitive streak, Dutil demonstrates his desire to be a great teammate and NCAA Division I candidate off the ice by maintaining very high standards for himself first, and his team around him.
Dutil’s connection with the league goes beyond his success this year, as his father Christian made the journey west as a goaltender for the Yorkton Terriers between 1990 and 1992.
