Given that the Lions’ season is not what we wanted, let’s add a little positive and look at our representatives’ performance in the AHL with the Laval Rocket.
Olivier Galipeau
Give credit where credit is due; we start with our defensive general, Olivier Galipeau. The one who was our pillar of defense managed to carve out a regular position with the Laval Rocket. The one who had amassed 15 points in 19 games with the Lions was recalled early in the season. Thanks to his defensive reliability, he could impress the Rocket’s significant state, which no longer wanted to leave him aside. He has two goals and four assists in 34 AHL games this year—good proof of the success and what the ECHL can bring in the short and medium term. While we’d love to see him back with the team, we wish he’d made a good enough impression to earn himself a full-time contract next year with the Rocket.
A monster called John
Let’s continue with the youth. Our giant-size forward, John Parker Jones, goes back and forth between the line-up and the press gallery. The 6’7″ giant had unblocked in the last six or seven games with the team. This production, mainly on the power play, allowed him to obtain his bus ticket for Laval. With this formation, he got two goals in 19 games and collected 34 penalty minutes. A promising future awaits John; let’s hope he continues his progress.
Riley “the fan favorite” McKay
We transfer to one of the crowd’s favorites in Trois-Rivières, our #89 Riley McKay. The young wolf, who had become a natural pest in the ECHL, managed to get back on the right track with Marc-André and the Trois-Rivières staff. We saw a facet full of potential for this youngster. With the Rocket, we found the little plague that we knew. He accumulated the points but also the penalty minutes. He even received the cleaver from the AHL’s prefect of discipline. Race results for Riley, two goals, three assists, and 86 penalty minutes in 12 games with Laval.
The Frenchman in Canada
Last but not least, I present to you Pierrick Dubé. The one who was all fired up during his stay with the Lions with a harvest of nine goals and five assists in nine games is now a centerpiece for the attack of the Rocket. He currently has a record of eight goals and twelve assists in 30 games. He makes his way between the 2nd and the 3rd line. Very disciplined and responsible on the ice, he is solidifying his position for next season with the Rocket.
I will end by giving an honorable mention to our two goaltenders, Joe Vrbetic and Philippe Desrosiers, who both showed great things during their call-ups with the Rocket. Joe Vrbetic even did a splendid performance, thus reaping his first victory, probably not his last, with Laval.
