In a pair of 4-on-4, 25-minute intrasquad scrimmages two summers ago at the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp, University of Maine right winger Josh Nadeau notched three goals and an assist.
He will now join the Canadiens organization immediately after signing a professional tryout contract Wednesday with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket, for the rest of the season.
Under a professional tryout contract, the Saint-Francois-de-Madawaska, New Brunswick, native cannot be called up to the parent Canadiens.
The 22-year-old Nadeau said it was “definitely a tough decision,” but he felt it was time to “move up to the next level” after three years in Orono.
“I’m happy for the opportunity,” Nadeau said. “It’s close to home, I’m familiar with them and it’s a great organization. I’m super excited to get started.”
Nadeau was a first team All-Hockey East selection this past season after garnering 30 points in 30 games on 17 goals and 13 assists. He was the team’s second-leading point-producer behind senior defenseman Brandon Holt, who had 32 points on six goals and 26 assists.
“Josh had three great years and we couldn’t be happier for him,” UMaine head coach Ben Barr said. “The impact he had on our program is hard to measure and we look forward to following him for many years to come.”
Nadeau’s average of 0.57 goals per game is 14th best in the country among players at 63 Division I schools.
“Josh will always be a Black Bear,” Barr added.
His 106 shots on goal led the Black Bears, and he had five power play goals and two shorthanded goals. He was second on the team in power play goals and tied for first in shorthanded goals.
He was plus-six in plus-minus.
Players receive a plus-one if they are on the ice when their team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal and a minus-one if the opponent scores one.
In Hockey East games only, Nadeau led the league in points per contest at 1.19 and in goals with 15.
He had 25 points on 15 goals and 10 assists in 21 Hockey East games. He missed three games due to illness.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Nadeau ended the season on a tear with linemates Owen Fowler and Sully Scholle as he tallied seven goals and six assists in his last six games.
He was a third team All-Hockey East as a freshman when he was on a line with his younger brother Bradly Nadeau, a first-round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes who is currently playing for their Chicago Wolves franchise in the AHL where he has amassed 57 goals and 52 assists in 110 games over two seasons.
Bradly Nadeau has also appeared in 11 games over three seasons for the Hurricanes with two goals and an assist. He appeared in one game for Carolina after he signed following the 2023-24 UMaine season.
The brothers won’t have a chance to square off against each other during the regular season this year but could meet in the playoffs. Laval has already qualified for the playoffs but Chicago hasn’t yet.
Laval has eight games left beginning with road games at Bridgeport on Friday night and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday evening.
Josh Nadeau had 18 goals and 27 assists in 37 games to finish second on the team in scoring by one point behind his brother that year in Orono. Bradly had one more goal.
Josh Nadeau had 10 & 19 a year ago in 37 games. He registered 104 points on 45 goals and 59 assists in 104 career games at UMaine and is a plus-32.
He enjoyed his three years at UMaine and is hoping his play over the remainder of the season with Laval will land him a pro contract for next season.