Laval Rocket
The Laval Rocket (French: Rocket de Laval) are a Canadian professional ice hockey team. They began playing in 2017. The team plays in the American Hockey League (AHL). They play their home games in Laval, Quebec at the Place Bell. They are the AHL affiliate for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (AHL). Their ECHL affiliate is the Trois-Rivières Lions.
| Laval Rocket | |
|---|---|
| City | Laval, Quebec |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Home arena | Place Bell |
| Colours | Red, white and blue |
| General manager | John Sedgwick |
| Head coach | Jean-François Houle |
| Affiliates | Montreal Canadiens (NHL) Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL) |
| Website | Official website |
| Franchise history | |
| 1969–1971 | Montreal Voyageurs |
| 1971–1984 | Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| 1984–1990 | Sherbrooke Canadiens |
| 1990–1999 | Fredericton Canadiens |
| 1999–2002 | Quebec Citadelles |
| 2002–2015 | Hamilton Bulldogs |
| 2015–2017 | St. John's IceCaps |
| 2017–present | Laval Rocket |
| Championships | |
| Division titles | 1 (2020–21) |
The team originally played in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador as the St. John's IceCaps from 2011 to 2017. On July 11, 2016, the Canadiens announced that the team would be moving to the Montreal suburb of Laval.[1] The team name Rocket was chosen in a fan poll as a tribute to Canadiens legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard.[2]
On October 6, 2017, the team would play their first game as the Laval Rocket. They would defeat the Belleville Senators 3–0. It was also Belleville's first game in the league.[3]
In the 2019–20 season, the Rocket would win the Canadian Division championship. They would finish the season with 23 wins, 9 loses, and 50 points. However, the 2020 Calder Cup playoffs would be cancelled by the league because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rocket would play their home games at the Bell Centre with the Canadiens during this season.[4][5]
References
change- ↑ "Canadiens moving AHL affiliate to Laval in 17-18". American Hockey League. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ "Laval's AHL team nickname unveiled". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ "Laval beats Belleville in Rocket's first AHL game". The Sports Network. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ "The Laval Rocket to Play Its Home Games at the Bell Centre for the 2020-21 Season". American Hockey League. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ↑ "Rocket secure Canadian Division title". American Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
Other websites
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