The Laval Rocket has just had an unprecedented year. Motivated by a growing and loyal fan base, the contribution of Quebecers to the organization was possibly the most determining factor during this unforgettable season.
Posted at 6:39 p.m.
Of the 28 players listed in the official Rocket roster, 15 are Quebecers. Among them, only Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has a contract for the next season.
Even if the face of the team is likely to change drastically over the next few weeks, it was time to take stock, Thursday, at Place Bell in Laval, the day after the team’s defeat in the seventh game of the final. of association. Fifteen players spoke to the media.
With Quebec sauce
The Laval club has just experienced a thunderous season, punctuated by a first participation in the playoffs that will remain etched in our memories for a long time. With a fifth-place finish in the East thanks to a 39-26-7 record, no one could have bet that the Rocket would finish in the semi-finals. No one except the group of players. A united group driven by the desire to do more and better for what all the players described as the best fans in the league.
This growing and intimidating support for the opponent has been fundamental in the eyes of the players throughout the year, but especially during the playoffs. For Jean-Sébastien Dea, there is no secret, Quebec players want to play for Quebecers. The attacker even admitted that the general staff of the Canadiens should focus more on this way of doing things: “Personally, I think that the Canadiens should take an example from that. You put a gang of Quebecers together who represent the Canadiens. There isn’t a night where the guys weren’t tempted to play with pride and honor. »
Archival photo Denis Germain, special collaboration
Jean-Sebastien Dea
“When you look at the time when they won a lot, there were a lot of Quebecers, was that a coincidence? The fact of being Quebecers and playing at home, you cannot understand it if you are not Quebecers, ”he added.
The striker also spoke about the seventh player. He gave him a lot of credit because without the overwhelming support of the crowd, none of this beautiful course would have been possible: “We are the only Quebec team in the league and I think that was probably a factor. People felt connected and closer to the players. It’s fun as a fan to feel part of the team. »
Head coach Jean-François Houle also spoke of the Quebec fact as having been a driver of success. “It was exciting for them [les Québécois] to play at home. I think it allowed us, maybe, to go a little further in the playoffs, because of the team spirit and the feeling of belonging. »
Photo Graham Hughes, archives The Canadian Press
Jean-Francois Houle
Goaltender Kevin Poulin also remarked that he had never played with so many Quebecers since his junior years and that playing at home had been extremely pleasant.
As for him, Tobie Paquette-Brisson also regrets that the team’s journey has come to an end, not only because he would have liked to go to the final, but also because he is aware that important players will have to leave the ship. “It’s an incredible group and that’s what hurts a little, it’s that we know that it happens very rarely a group like we had this year,” said the defender.
Rocket Culture
Alex Belzile, originally from Bas-St-Laurent, underlined that being surrounded by so many compatriots allowed him to get back to basics.
It will also have laid the foundations of a real enthusiasm around the organization. The 2021-2022 edition of the Rocket will have succeeded in establishing a culture that is not about to crumble: “To go far in the playoffs can open a lot of eyes. Place Bell in the season is exceptional, but I still remember the first game against Syracuse, with the people all in white, how something was happening. »
Photo Dominick Gravel, LA PRESSE archives
Many spectators were present at Place Bell during the Rocket-Americans series
The head coach also added that the interest and the deep love of the fans for the club was incomparable and that it also came to confirm that the Rocket project was viable and that it was about one of his greatest pride in retrospect of the season. “It created a really interesting frenzy and it comes a lot with the work ethic. If the guys work and play with passion, it carries over to the fans. »
This frenzy, players would like to relive it. They all confirmed, without hesitation, that they would like to play with the Rocket again next year.