Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Life in Montreal. It’s intense for a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Some of that love extends to their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. Playing outside the nearby Place Bell, the Rockets’ players must face intense scrutiny. It’s a special experience, if you’re passionate about it. The two-part series will explore the experience from both a playing and coaching perspective. Part 1 breaks down life as a Laval Rocket player.
Life was a little quieter for the Laval Rocket two weeks ago.
The outside noise around them will increase this week as they return from a six-game season-long road trip. A five-game home stand opens tonight when the Utica Comets come to Place Bell. A more than solid 4-1-1-0 performance on that road trip has the Rockets, last season’s defending champions, holding a six-point edge in the North Division lead.
The grind of the AHL regular season is in full swing, but the pressure and hype that comes with the hopes of the Montreal Canadiens diminishes only slightly when the team packs its bags and hits the road. Their trip started on the West Coast against the Abbotsford Canucks, ended with an overtime win in Toronto last Saturday, and had plenty of time on the plane and bus along the way.
That trip means an unusual silence for a team that plays its home games 25 minutes away from the Bell Center, where every play, coaching decision, and roster move involving the Montreal Canadiens draws the attention of the city, the province, and a small part of Canada. That scrutiny extends to the Rockets, who have all 36 home games broadcast across Canada on RDS. They pack an average of 9,740 fans per night at Place Bell, a number that should only grow as the regular season enters its most intense months.
That’s life playing with Laval, whether as a Canadian player or one of the veterans brought in to help guide that young talent hoping to skate at the Bell Center one day.
This is, after all, a team that takes its name from a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, a Habs legend, and a provincial icon. Maurice “Rocket” Richard when the Habs returned their AHL affiliate to Quebec for the 2017-18 season. If anyone needs a reminder, the team is wearing special Richard Jan themed jerseys. 16 against the Manitoba Moose. The Rockets are in their ninth season, and Richard’s number 9 is prominent in the look of the special jersey. Habs singer Diane Bibaud you’ve played Place Bell before. Richard’s younger brother, Henri, is credited with the art on display at the Place Bell. Play at Place Bell, and the Habs’ bleu-blanc-et-rouge influence is clear.
Most AHL prospects learn the pro game at least some way removed from their parent NHL team. Not so in Montreal or Laval. All the anger surrounding Canadiens parents – even on a quiet day – is just a matter of fighting local traffic from Place Bell. Better yet, step outside Place Bell, walk across the street to Montmorency station, and it’s a short walk downtown. There will likely be plenty of people decked out in Habs gear on that trip, especially on Canadiens game nights.
Turn on sports radio, and it’s Habs talk. In two languages. Television brings that same scrutiny. The social media and messaging of the Habs is always talking. Even when the Rockets hit the road last month, they got a reminder of how much attention they get when the hit in Jan. 24 Calgary first round pick. David Reinbacher out of the list. Last week it was the Rockets goaltending coach Marco Marciano stepping up to take that role with the Canadiens.
Along with the programs, having their prospects learn early on how to handle life in such a tough hockey market was partly what motivated the Habs to bring their AHL franchise closer to home in 2017. It was the first time since 1971 that the Canadiens had their AHL organization in the Montreal area.
“[Laval] good introduction,” the Rocket coach Pascal Vincent he said, “because if you’re going to play for the Montreal Canadiens, you’re under a lot of scrutiny. I think our guys really enjoy playing in front of a sold-out building. The fans are crazy about the team, and it gives us energy.”
Of course, throughout the years word has gotten around the AHL that Laval is a great place to play. A trip to Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals puts the intensity of the market on display. The 2023 AHL All-Star Classic brought players from all 32 AHL teams to sample the market and Place Bell to take a closer look. It is also a source of productive talent for the Canadiens. Rocket players Owen Beck, Jared Davidson, Adam Engström, Jacob Fowler, Joshua Roy again Florian Xhekaj all played games with the Canadiens this season. Samuel Blais again Sam Montembeault they are with the Canadiens after a while in Laval this season.
Laval also proved attractive in bringing Quebec-born players back home, close to family and friends so they could see them play regularly. Repenigny’s Laurent Dauphinthe AHL’s leading scorer this season, is back for his second game with the Rockets. Here it is Alex Belzile (Saint-Éloi), who is back for another chance with Laval. Vincent Arseneau (Québec City) and Tobie Bisson (Rosemère) are Quebec products. Blais has moved up to the Habs after a stint with the Rockets. After a stellar performance last spring in Abbotsford’s Calder Cup run, he had no shortage of options as a free agent. But coming out of Montmorency, just outside of Quebec City, he couldn’t pass up the chance to sign with the Canadiens. He is now on the Canadiens team fighting for first place in the Eastern Conference past the midway point of the NHL season. Roy (St-Georges-de-Beauce), forward Xavier Simoneau (Saint-André-Avellin), and protector William Trudeau (Varennes) were the Habs’ pick.
“If you get the chance to sign yours [provincial] team,” said Blais, “I think it’s an easy decision, and I’m glad I made it.”
Just like Jeff Gorton–Kent Hughes Management has prioritized player development, something that has been a weak point in the past, bringing character leadership to those prospects has also been prioritized. And the captain Lucas Condottathe team has Bisson and Belzile each wearing a book. A number of other players qualify as leaders, book or no book.
Habs management has made it clear that they want a strong character, potential and veterans brought in to guide them and help win games. All that fan support and attention? It also comes with high expectations and scrutiny. There is no hiding in this market.
“That’s part of having a great team,” said Vincent. “They lead and come out of the snow, because [the coaching staff has] see, what, four hours a day? [That is] 20 hours alone, and the influence of our old boys is amazing. “
All that focus on the ice goes on the ice, too.
“You quickly realize that when you’re away from the rink, you have to behave yourself, because you’re a Montreal Canadien or a Rocket 24/7,” Vincent continued.
But a player doesn’t have to be from Laval to get what the Rockets have to offer. Goalkeeper Kaapo Kähkönen he saw it up close last year when he led the Charlotte Checkers to Place Bell in the Eastern Conference Finals. He gave the Checkers two goals back to open what ended up being a four-game stretch, but he was drawn by the spirit of the playoffs. A free agent like Blais last summer, he also chose to sign with the Canadiens.
Fowler is a blue-chip who could be Montreal’s number one for the future. He joined the Rockets late last season following a stellar career at Boston College and gained more experience deep into the Calder Cup Playoffs. And when Fowler’s recall from the Habs came earlier this season, it made headlines right away.
But he is still young, only 21 years old. So the Habs went ahead and offered Kähkönen a one-year, one-way deal last July. It was goaltending insurance, both for the Habs and the Rockets. It was Kähkönen’s calm, even demeanor that made him a good fit in a market where there can be a lot of outside noise about someone like Fowler. A rough night on the rink can be picked apart. A good mentor and complement like Kähkönen can blur many of those distractions.
It is also a competitive environment. In the post-1967 era, the Montreal organization has won the Calder Cup five times and been to the finals four times. Patrick Roy and Carey Price both won the Calder Trophy before going on to illustrious NHL careers. Plus, this is the Habs. The chance to wear the famous CH is the only NHL one left.
“You sign with an organization as famous as that, that opportunity doesn’t present itself very often,” said Kähkönen.
This Laval team’s hold on first place could mean another long postseason battle in May or June. A win and a chance to successfully compete in the postseason is attractive.
“It’s great to be part of this team,” said Kähkönen, “and to win games, that’s the main reason why I play.”
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
