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Montreal Canadiens AHL Affiliate, Laval Rocket to Play in Canadian Division Too

By Ken MacMillan

LAVAL, QC - DECEMBER 28: Head coach of the Laval Rocket Joel Bouchard looks on from the bench against the Toronto Marlies during the first period at Place Bell on December 28, 2019 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Toronto Marlies 6-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - DECEMBER 28: Head coach of the Laval Rocket Joel Bouchard looks on from the bench against the Toronto Marlies during the first period at Place Bell on December 28, 2019 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Toronto Marlies 6-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens prospects in AHL will play in Canadian division.

Montreal Canadiens players will play in an All-Canadian Division for the upcoming season. The schedule and game times have already been announced and it will start in just eight days.

The NHL isn’t the only league that will be hosting a Canadian division.

The American Hockey League announced yesterday that they have come to terms on the framework of a 2021 season. Three teams, the Milwaukee Admirals, Charlotte Checkers and Springfield Thunderbirds have opted out of the season, and the remaining 28 teams will form five divisions.

Like the NHL, one of those divisions will be made up of just Canadian teams. There are only four teams based out of Canada in the AHL, as the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames have farm teams based out of the United States. That means the Laval Rocket will be joined by the Belleville Senators, Toronto Marlies and Manitoba Moose in the Canadian Division.

Interestingly, teams will not play a balanced schedule. The minimum number of games played by some teams is rumoured to be just 24, while others will play more than 40.

With only four teams in the Canadian Division and travel restricted to the United States, it would make sense if the Laval Rocket were among the teams that only play 24 games this season. With only three teams to play against, that would be eight games against Belleville, Toronto and Manitoba. That would give them sufficient games played in the standings, while not forcing teams to play each other a dozen times or more in the regular season to keep up with the other divisions.

The schedule has not been announced yet, but it will be interesting to keep an eye on how the AHL decides to handle the Canadian Division. Their target start date in February 5, so we should be getting an announcement in the near future about schedules.

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Thankfully, the Canadiens prospects who are eligible and ready to play pro hockey will have the opportunity to do so this season.

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