The Montreal Canadiens and Laval Rocket dealt with significant adversity this season, with injuries and departures from the organization. But with the adversity also came opportunity. As players were recalled from Laval to Montreal, many players from the ECHL’s Brampton Beast were also elevated on professional tryouts to the AHL.
Among them was Luc-Olivier Blain, the only Quebec-born player who started the season on an ECHL contract with the Canadiens’ affiliate. It was his second taste of AHL hockey with the farm team, but the first time he was able to play in front of his family in his home province.