(Laval) Gabriel Bourque became the fourth captain in the history of the Laval Rocket on Monday.
Head coach Jean-François Houle confirmed the appointment in a press release. Bourque’s deputies will be Mitchell Stephens, Lucas Condotta and Tobie Paquette-Bisson, who will alternate in this role at home and abroad.
Bourque wore the “C” late in the season last year, when Alex Belzile moved to the National Hockey League. Aged 33, Bourque joined the Rocket for the 2021-2022 season. He was named assistant captain upon his arrival with the Laval team.
In 133 regular season games with the Rocket, Bourque scored 25 goals and added 34 assists.
Bourque made his debut in the American Hockey League with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2010-2011. In 321 career games in the league, he scored 63 goals and added 95 assists for a total of 158 points.
Bourque also played in 413 regular season games in the National Hockey League with the Nashville Predators, first, during his first five campaigns. He subsequently joined the Colorado Avalanche, then the Winnipeg Jets in 2019-2020.
Stephens joined the Rocket last season and Condotta played his first professional game with the Laval team during the 2021-2022 season.
As for Paquette-Bisson, he is making a return with the Rocket after playing with the Ontario Reign, the Los Angeles Kings’ farm club in the American League, last year. He had worn the Laval uniform during the two previous seasons.