ECHL: Trois-Rivieres Lions Announce Kelly Cup Roster

The Trois-Rivieres Lions have announced their 24-man Kelly Cup Playoff prior to their first-round match-up vs Norfolk Admirals, which begins tomorrow night at Colisse Videortron. Here’s the entire 24-man roster per the ECHL Site:

Trois-Rivières Lions – Zachary Bouthillier, G; Zachary Emond, G; Miguel Tourigny, D; Cory Thomas, D; Jacob Paquette, D; Chris Merisier-Ortiz, D; Brycen Martin, D; Kirby Proctor, D; Charles-Antoine Paiement, F; Alex-Olivier Voyer, F; Mason Kohn, F; John Parker-Jones, F; Cedric Montminy, F; Jonathan Yantsis, F; Nolan Yaremko, F; Anthony Beauregard, F; Jakov Novak, F; Nicolas Guay, F; Justin Ducharme, F; Tyler Hylland, F
 
Reserve List – Joe Vrbetic, G; Lukash Matthews, D; Nicolas Lariviere, F
Playoff Eligible List – Chris Jandric, D; Strauss Mann, G

Goalies, Goalies, and More Goalies

The Trois-Rivieres Lions are the only team in the Kelly Cup Playoffs to have four eligible goaltenders in: Zachary Emond, Zachary Bouthillier, Joe Vrbetic, and Stauss Mann; Vrbetic was recently recalled to the Laval Rocket. Trois-Rivieres heads into the playoffs after a weekend where goaltending was on display as Emond would notch back-to-back shutouts over the Worcester Railers and would be named the ECHL Goaltender of the Week. Emond went 9-7-1 with a 2.81 GAA, .907SV%, and three shutouts in 17 games during the regular season; he should be the clear-cut starter for game one.

Zachary Bouthillier and Strauss Mann had almost identical numbers this year, with six wins and a shutout each during the regular season. I would expect both of them to dress, if not during the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, as the two teams will play three-in-fours in both of their home rinks.

Lion Leaders Continue To Roar Heading Into Kelly Cup Playoffs

Trois-Rivieres will be led by 30-goal scorer Jakov Novak, who was in his first full season with the Lions after spending 14 games with the Allen Americans last season after finishing up his collegiate career at Northeastern University. As teams will try to contain Novak, they will also have to look out for Alex-Olivier Voyer, who put up 20 goals in 61 games, and Cedric Monminy, who is the captain of the Lions, finished the season with 19 goals in 66 games.

On the blueline, the Lions have Chris Ortiz and Brycen Martin, who were the only two Lions to play in all 69 games this season. Ortiz put up four goals and 33 assists for 37 points, which was second behind Miguel Tourigny, who had nine goals and 29 assists for 38 points in 61 games. Martin has four goals and 14 assists for 18 points. One player teams can’t ignore is the 6’7 John Parker-Jones who has the ability to play either upfront or on the blueliner for the Lions and could be a big difference maker in the team’s opening round against the Norfolk Admirals.