The Lions de Trois-Rivières, the ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, are anxiously awaiting the start of their second season. The first season was filled with lots of highs and some hard-to-believe lows, but the team’s inaugural season culminated with a thrilling seven-game playoff series against the Newfoundland Growlers.
Since then, the Lions have been busy off the ice building their roster for the coming season, but it’s not come without challenges.
As expected, many players used the high-profile opportunity of playing for the Lions to improve their financial prospects. Four of the team’s five top forwards have crossed the Atlantic as Anthony Nellis (Slovak Extraliga, HK Spisska Nova Ves), Olivier Archambault (ICEHL, HL Pustertal), Alexis D’Aoust (HockeyAllsvenskan, Vasterviks IK), and Shawn St-Amant (ICEHL, Black Wings Linz) have all signed with teams in Europe.