The Laval Rocket concluded its 2023-2024 season with a 2-1 defeat against the Belleville Senators in front of a packed house of 10,243 spectators Saturday evening at Place Bell.
Defenseman William Trudeau (8e), during the last minute of play of the first period, scored the Rocket’s only goal against goaltender Leevi Merilainen.
After the heartbreaking setback the day before in Belleville, head coach Jean-François Houle and defender Tobie Paquette-Bisson had promised that the Rocket would give their all for this last outing in front of their fans. This is what the Laval squad did to the point of largely dominating in terms of shots on goal, 39-23.
However, Tarun Fizer and Wyatt Bongiovanni beat Kasimir Kaskisuo in an interval of less than two minutes at the start of the third period, and the Rocket failed to score the equalizer despite constant encouragement from a crowd that did not never abandoned his favorites.
After the match, captain Gabriel Bourque and goalkeeper Jakub Dobes took the microphone to thank the spectators for their support throughout the season. The players then greeted their spectators before returning to the locker room for one last time this season.
The Rocket therefore ends its season with a record of 33-31-8 for a total of 74 points. The team will deliver its season report Sunday morning at Place Bell.
Besides Dobes, four players who faced the Senators Friday night did not participate in the game. They are forwards Joshua Roy and Mitchell Stephens as well as defensemen Jayden Struble and David Reinbacher.
Roy received a one-match suspension for an elbow he delivered to a rival on Friday. Stephens, Struble and Reinbacher were all bothered by what the team called “minor injuries.”
An undeniable enthusiasm
The full house recorded on Saturday evening was the 17e in 2023-2024, out of a grand total of 36 games at Place Bell, a testimony to the enthusiasm around the team throughout the campaign, despite a difficult start to the season.
In total, the Rocket attracted more than 333,000 spectators, a record for the organization since it moved to the charming Laval amphitheater. This is an average of approximately 9,250 spectators per game.
And listening to certain season or half-season season ticket holders on Saturday afternoon – several of whom occupied the entrance hall of the amphitheater four hours before the start of the match – this popularity is rather easily explained.
“What makes it more attractive is that the players are accessible, they don’t count on time for autograph signings and photos. It’s creating a buzz,” mentioned André Lesage, a half-season season ticket holder for three years.
“The spectators appreciate that the players are accessible and I think they are well rewarded with an electrifying atmosphere in the crowd,” added this Terrebonne resident.
Despite the heartbreaking elimination the day before, Mr. Lesage and other ardent Rocket supporters believed the team had had a positive campaign.
“We expected a slightly more difficult season, considering that there were a lot of new players coming out of the junior ranks or arriving from the university level. All in all, we were still satisfied with our season. We fought until the end,” analyzed Pierre-Luc Garand, while adding that he noticed improvement in the players as the season progressed.
According to Kevin Robillard, a season ticket holder from Saint-Félix-de-Valois, the Rocket did themselves harm at the start of the campaign.
“If we had had a better start, we would be in the playoffs right now. There were still good sides because we had a lot of young people and fewer veterans than last year. This suggests good things for next year. »
Half-season season ticket holder, Stéphane Messier, from Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, still wanted to attend this last local match with his young son, as he did several times in 2023- 2024.
“We are happy to be here because we know that the guys will give it their all in the last match. It is important. The guys are not going to give up, we come to encourage them, we have encouraged them all season.
“They still had a good season. With an American League team, there are ups and downs,” recalled Mr. Messier.