Montreal Canadiens: Numerous Additions Make up Busy Week on the Farm

I wouldn’t blame you for missing any news related to the Laval Rocket over the past week or so. You know, what with the Montreal Canadiens playoff run and all.

Regardless, life on the farm has been quite busy for the Habs whilst they prepare for their semifinals series against the Vegas Golden Knights, which kicks off on Monday. Needless to say, Montreal is once again the underdog in this series, with Vegas having made Expansion Team history by making the final four in three of their first four seasons. However, the Canadiens should have their fair share of supporters following what has been a magical playoff run thus far.

In that same sense, the Laval Rocket pleasantly surprised many this season with a 23-9-3 record and the Canadian Division title. Ryan Poehling showcased his previously unseen offensive potential with team-leading 11-14-25 totals over 28 games. Undrafted picks like Joel Teasdale and Raphael Harvey-Pinard stepped up in big ways, and even AHL contracted players, like Yannick Veilleux, proved near invaluable by elevating their respective games tremendously. So yeah, there’s quite a lot to be excited about regarding the Canadiens’ affiliates’ future, and with that being said, here’s a recap of what has been a busy past couple of weeks for Montreal’s AHL affiliates.

Canadiens ECHL Affiliate to be Named the Lions de Trois-Rivières

Well, after months of deliberation and anticipation, the Canadiens’ new ECHL affiliate has finally gotten their name and logo. Introducing, the Trois-Rivières Lions (or Lions de Trois-Rivières). Following Montreal’s last ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, jumping ship due to lack of support (before ultimately folding), the Habs dealt with their roster through a number of loans to other ECHL clubs, before eventually getting their very own this past offseason.

President Mark Weightman, and GM and former Hab Marc-Andre Bergeron will have quite a few tools at their disposal as they prepare to enter an ECHL continually punctuated by development rather than its tough, enforcer-driven approach of the past. While Montreal managed to get through the past few seasons mostly unscathed, this past campaign produced its fair share of difficulties as the Rocket juggled a crowded and talented lineup, especially in goal.

With the addition of the Lions, it will hopefully clear the air a bit, and above all else, give Canadiens fans another team to cheer for. When deciding upon the name and logo, it was decided to borrow the name from the only other professional hockey team to have represented Trois-Rivières, who played in the Quebec Hockey League and Eastern Professional Hockey League from the mid-50s to early 60s. As an avid fan of the ECHL myself, I am excited to see another Canadiens ECHL affiliate take the ice, especially one in such a city as Trois-Rivières.

Justin Ducharme Signed to AHL Deal

Speaking of undrafted players, Justin Ducharme is yet another homegrown QMJHL graduate who brings a solid mix of skills to the table. A product of the small town of Mirabel, Quebec, Ducharme has spent the past four and a half seasons with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, and Val d’Or Foreurs respectively. A third-round pick of the Quebec Remparts in the 2016 QMJHL draft, Ducharme struggled to find his footing over the course of his time in the junior league, but regardless, managed to put together the occasional solid season. Along with a 30-goal, 44-point performance in 2018-19, Ducharme was playing at an expected point-per-game pace in his over-age season in 2020-21, with 18-11-29 totals over 28 games.

Much like similar QMJHL addition Cedric Desruisseaux, Ducharme has a tremendous amount of upside to his game regarding his AHL potential and will serve as a solid offensive option in Trois Rivières if nothing else. With a solid 6’ frame and shoot-first mentality, Ducharme had previously spent time at the Anaheim Ducks’ development camp and should look to prove himself at the professional level in his first season with the Rocket.

Anthony Beauregard Named ECHL MVP

Now, for a bit of ancillary content, Beauregard is a player whom I, like Desruisseaux, had written about previously, and well, he’s only gotten better since then. In spite of missing nine games due to injury, the former Rocket farmhand and Concordia University alumnus led his Wichita Thunder in scoring by a 15-point margin, with 22-49-71 totals over 62 games. In spite of finishing second in the ECHL in scoring to fellow former Rocket farmhand, Aaron Luchuk, Beauregard was named ECHL MVP. For a player who had previously struggled to find his footing at the professional level, a season spent overseas in the EIHL seemed to have done wonders for Beauregard’s confidence, and in my mind, there’s nowhere to go but up for the 25-year-old forward.

With the Rocket looking to continue to add to their depth, I think Beauregard would be a perfect fit on a one-year AHL deal, and above all else, would give the Lions their first true superstar, being yet another homegrown project from Saint-Damase to boot.

Even if he doesn’t sign, I think the ECHL might have found their next true star in a player who, at one point, had abandoned his professional ambitions for Usports, before ultimately deciding to give the pro circuit another shot. I think it’s safe to say that decision paid off.