Laval Rocket Sweep the Weekend with Grit, Veteran Leadership, and a Glimpse into the Future
After a long layoff, the Laval Rocket returned to action with a pair of road games against Atlantic Division opponents-and they didn’t waste any time making their presence felt. Both contests were tightly contested, back-and-forth battles, but the Rocket emerged with two gritty wins, driven by timely veteran production and a few clutch performances that could have a lasting impact as the season rolls on.
Game Recaps: Veterans Lead the Way
Nov. 29 - Laval 5, Lehigh Valley 4 (SO)
This one was a rollercoaster. In a league known for its youth and development, sometimes it's the veterans who have to grab the wheel-and that’s exactly what happened here.
Alex Belzile, one of Laval’s most experienced forwards, stepped up in a big way with two goals, including one that gave the Rocket a second-period lead. That lead didn’t hold, but Samuel Blais made sure it didn’t matter.
With time winding down in regulation, Blais buried his second of the night to tie the game with under a minute left. Then, in the shootout, he was the only player to find the back of the net-sealing a dramatic win and capping off a three-point night. Jacob Fowler stood tall in the shootout, stopping all three attempts he faced.
Nov. 30 - Laval 4, Hershey 3
The second game of the back-to-back had a familiar script-strong middle frame, shaky third, but ultimately, a clutch finish. Laval poured in three goals in the second period to take control, only to see Hershey claw back and tie it in the third.
But again, the Rocket had a response.
This time, it was Xavier Simoneau-part of Laval’s standout third line over the weekend-who netted the game-winner midway through the final frame. It was just his second goal of the season, but it came at a critical moment and capped off a weekend where his line brought consistent energy and offensive push.
StatPack: Who Stood Out
Let’s break down some of the key performances from the weekend:
- Samuel Blais: 2 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, +5. Claimed off waivers and immediately made an impact.
His physicality and finish were on full display.
- Alex Belzile: 3 goals in 2 games, including the shootout winner.
When the Rocket needed a steady hand, Belzile delivered.
- Xavier Simoneau: 1 goal, 1 assist, +3.
Quietly effective, and his game-winner against Hershey was the exclamation point on a strong weekend.
- David Reinbacher: 2 assists, +2.
The young blueliner continues to show poise beyond his years.
- Jacob Fowler: Stopped all three shootout attempts vs.
Lehigh Valley. Not a perfect stat line (.895 SV%), but he came through when it mattered most.
Meanwhile, Laurent Dauphin continues to lead the team in just about everything-points (23), assists (14), plus/minus (+17), and shots (56). He’s been the Rocket’s engine all year, and that didn’t change this weekend.
Roster Moves & Notes
- Joshua Roy rejoined Laval after the Canadiens added Alexandre Texier to their NHL roster. Roy immediately slotted into a top-six role and picked up a pair of assists over the weekend.
- Adam Engstrom was called up to Montreal for depth on the Canadiens’ road trip. In his place, Ryan O’Rourke was brought in from ECHL Trois-Rivières to help bolster Laval’s blue line.
- Samuel Blais, after being claimed on waivers, was assigned to Laval. The Rocket wasted no time putting him to work-and he rewarded them with a standout weekend.
- In a corresponding move, Riley Kidney was sent back to Trois-Rivières.
Line Combinations (Nov. 30)
Forwards:
- Farrell - Dauphin - Belzile
- Roy - Beck - Mesar
- Blais - Condotta - Simoneau
- Tuch - Dineen - Thorpe
Defense:
- Trudeau - Reinbacher
- Paquette-Bisson - Didier
- Del Gaizo - Clurman
Looking Ahead
Tuesday vs. Providence
Laval will host Providence in a rare Tuesday night matchup-just one of two on the schedule this season. The Rocket shut out the Bruins in their first meeting, but this will be a tall task.
Providence sits atop the Eastern Conference and boasts two goalies with sub-2.00 GAAs and save percentages north of .930. While they’re missing some top scorers who are currently with Boston, veterans like Patrick Brown and rising talent Fabian Lysell are still leading the charge.
Friday & Saturday at Belleville
It’s déjà vu all over again.
Laval will face Belleville for the fourth and fifth time in less than a month. The Rocket have taken the first three meetings, racking up 14 goals in the process.
Belleville has reinforcements this time around, with Stephen Halliday and Olle Lycksell back from NHL stints. The Sens are also running a rare three-goalie rotation, which could create some unpredictability in net.
Final Thought: Tyler Thorpe’s Quiet Developmental Grind
Tyler Thorpe’s first full pro season isn’t lighting up the box score-just two assists in 19 games-but that doesn’t mean there isn’t progress happening beneath the surface.
The big-bodied winger has been used sparingly, mostly in a fourth-line role, and hasn’t seen much offensive zone time. His 24 shots suggest he’s not generating a ton, but he’s shown flashes in puck battles and plays with a bit of an edge. Defensively, he’s been steady enough that the coaches don’t need to shelter him, which is a good sign for a rookie still adjusting to the AHL pace.
The biggest hurdle? Skating.
Right now, Thorpe looks a step behind at this level, and that’s something Laval and the Canadiens will need to work hard to improve. There’s a foundation here-size, some skill, defensive awareness-but without a step up in speed, it’s tough to project him as an NHL option down the line.
Still, the organization seems content to let him learn the pro game slowly, much like they did with Florian Xhekaj a year ago. Xhekaj also started in a limited role before breaking out in the second half. Whether Thorpe can follow a similar path remains to be seen-but the Rocket are giving him the reps, and that’s the first step.
Bottom Line:
The Rocket came out of the weekend with two hard-earned wins, driven by veteran leadership and key contributions from their depth.
With a tough stretch ahead-including a showdown with the conference-leading Bruins and a pair of rivalry games in Belleville-this group is showing signs of cohesion and resilience. And while the stars are doing their part, the development of players like Thorpe and Simoneau will be just as important in shaping Laval’s long-term outlook.