Laval Rocket
| Laval Rocket | |
|---|---|
 2017–18 AHL season | |
| City | Laval, Quebec |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Operated | 2017– |
| Home arena | Place Bell |
| Colours |
Red, white and blue |
| Owner(s) |
Molson family (majority owner) (Geoff Molson, chairman[1]) |
| General manager | Marc Bergevin |
| Affiliates | Montreal Canadiens (NHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1969–1971 | Montreal Voyageurs |
| 1971–1984 | Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| 1984–1990 | Sherbrooke Canadiens |
| 1990–1999 | Fredericton Canadiens |
| 1999–2002 | Quebec Citadelles |
| 2002–2015 | Hamilton Bulldogs |
| 2015–present | St. John's IceCaps |
| 2017– | Laval Rocket |
The Laval Rocket (French: Rocket de Laval) is a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL) announced to begin play for the 2017–18 season as the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Montreal Canadiens. Based in Laval, Quebec, the Rocket will play their home games at Place Bell.
Currently, the franchise is playing based out of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador as the St. John's IceCaps.
History
On July 11, 2016, the AHL and the Montreal Canadiens announced that they would be moving their affiliate to the Montreal suburb of Laval for the 2017–18 season.[2] A name-the-team contest was held from July 11 until August 31, with Patriots, Rapids and Rocket as the final three. On September 8, the winning Laval Rocket name was announced, a tribute to Canadiens' legend Maurice "Rocket" Richard which got a 51% majority of the fan votes.[3] The Rocket will actually be the second hockey team in Greater Montreal to use that nickname, after the QMJHL's Montreal Rocket (1999–2003, currently playing as the Charlottetown Islanders).
References
- ↑ "Montreal Canadiens Team - Montréal Canadiens - Team: Administration". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
- ↑ "Canadiens moving AHL affiliate to Laval in 17-18". AHL. 11 July 2016.
- ↑ "Laval's AHL team nickname unveiled". Montreal Canadiens. September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
