The Trois-Rivieres Lions have announced that they have signed a three-year extension with Laval Rocket and Montreal Canadiens to continue as the team’s ECHL affiliate. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as the three teams have been affiliated with each other for the past three seasons. Prior to getting the deal done in 2021, the Canadiens had gone three seasons without a main ECHL affiliate however, they did have a working agreement with the Brampton Beast and Maine Mariners during the 2018-19 season and a working agreement with the Mariners and Adirondack Thunder during the 2019-20 season, they didn’t have an ECHL affiliate during the COVID season in 2020-21. Earlier this year, when the team was sold to Spire Sports, it was reported that one of the things they wanted to get done this Summer was the affiliation.
“You’d have to be living under a rock to not know what the Montreal Canadiens mean to this province and this region and all of Canada, and it’s an iconic brand known around the world. When we first took over the team, this was a priority for us, and I’m glad to announce today that we are continuing on the partnership, the growth between the NHL and ECHL, now all teams are affiliated, and we’re proud to be a cognitive road on putting these players on a path to Laval and Montreal”
Jeff Dickerson of Spire Sports on the affilation extension
Just last season, the Lions had multiple players get called up to Laval, including Jakov Novak, John Parker-Jones, and Joe Vrbetic, who all made appearances at the AHL level last season. Over the course of the first three seasons, they were affiliated with the Rocket and the Canadiens. Former members of the Lions have contributed 49 goals and 91 assists for 140 points while playing in 455 games with the Laval Rocket and Montreal Canadiens.
