Montreal Canadiens: What new Laval Rocket forward Phélix Martineau brings
By Omar L
There’s a new face in the Montreal Canadiens organization as Phélix Martineau signs an AHL contract with the Laval Rocket.
The Montreal Canadiens are continuing to give their organization a chance to add more young talent. Free agents such as Alexandre Alain and Hayden Verbeek have gotten a look for next season, and there’s a new name added to that list.
The Laval Rocket announced the singing of Phélix Martineau to an AHL-deal Friday afternoon. The 20-year-old came off a career-year in the QMJHL with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Martineau served as captain this season scoring 34 goals and 32 assists. Martineau had previously signed a letter of intent to join the Concordia Men’s Hockey Program for next year but instead chose to move on to the AHL.
The Quebec native is a player with a lot of underlying skill and most importantly, drive. His size has made it difficult to make his way through major junior, however, he’s pulled through. Martineau’s qualities as a leader also made centre stage this season after serving as captain of Cape Breton.
Ahead of their first-round playoff series against the Drummondville Voltigeurs, head coach Marc-Andre’ Dumont said:
"They’ll look up to him every moment of the week and every moment of the playoffs to know what to think, what to do and how to react positively and negatively to certain situations."
Add on to the fact Martineau is a versatile player who can play either centre or wing, and Laval has itself a quality acquisition.
Martineau jumped to the next level seeing time with the Fort Wayne Komets. His agent Mathieu Curadeau, who played there in his career, made the suggestion. Seeing how well he played there, it proved to be a good one.
The young forward scored two goals and put up a single assist in the Komets’ final three games. He made a greater impact in the ECHL Playoffs. Fort Wayne got through the Cincinnati Cyclones in five games and Toledo Walleye in six. Their playoff series against the Colorado Eagles is on-going and tied at two.
Martineau has four goals and four assists across those 10 games. This play in the post-season will do nothing but good for him ahead of next season. Whether that is in the AHL or ECHL again is the question.
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It’s still up in the air as to whether the Montreal Canadiens and Brampton Beast renew their affiliation. If so, Martineau could report to either the Laval Rocket or the Beast next season. However, he looks like a player ready to break out of his limits to the next level.