Desruisseaux returns to Nailers

Action photo of Cédric Desruisseaux of the Wheeling Nailers

WHEELING, W.Va. - The Wheeling Nailers, ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced the team has re-signed forward Cédric Desruisseaux to a contract for the 2023-24 season.Desruisseaux, 23, led Wheeling in scoring last season with 59 points (30g-29a), and was one of three players who played in all 72 games. In addition to being the team's scoring leader, he also paced the squad with 15 multi-point games, 211 shots on goal, 14 power play points, and was the ECHL's leader with nine first goals.The native of Warwick, Québec first joined the Nailers late in the 2021-22 season, after starting that year in Montréal's organization with the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket and ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions. As a rookie, Desruisseaux amassed 32 points (10g-22a) in 53 games between the two levels.

Prior to turning pro, Desruisseaux played five seasons of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Victoriaville Tigres, Drummondville Voltigeurs and Charlottetown Islanders. His best season came in 2020-21, when he won the Michel Brière Trophy as the QMJHL's Most Valuable Player and the Jean Beliveau Trophy as the QMJHL's leading scorer, as he exploded for 78 points (42g-36a) in 40 contests.