The Montreal Canadiens ECHL affiliate began their first round playoff series
by Chris G, Rocket Sports, Montreal Canadiens blogger
The Trois-Rivieres Lions began their best-of-seven series against the Reading Royals (Philadelphia Flyers) at Colisee Videotron on Friday and Saturday.
Friday: Reading Royals 2 - Trois-Rivieres Lions 4
The home team got on the board early during a power play when Xavier Cormier found Jakov Novak in the slot, and his shot went through the netminder for the goal. The Royals answered back and took the lead with a goal before the first intermission and another early into the second period. Alex Beaucage brought the teams back even when he tapped in a rebound into a wide open net. In the opening moments of the third period, Justin Ducharme went top corner for the go-ahead goal. Beaucage sealed the victory with an empty netter in the final minute.
Saturday: Reading Royals 1 - Trois-Rivieres Lions 5
The Lions jumped ahead early on into the contest when Isaac Dufort found Anthony Beauregard slip between two defenders to tap the puck behind the goal line. Later in the period, Beaucage used the screen in front of the goaltender to beat him with a shot from the faceoff dot. On the opening shift of the second period, Novak took advantage of the goalie being out of position to put in a rebound and increase the lead. Reading got on the board moments later to reduce the lead, but Nicolas Guay restored the three-goal lead on the power play with a shot from the slot. Logan Nijhoff added an empty net goal late in the third period to wrap up the evening.
New President
Spire Holdings, owners of the club, appointed Alex Cousineau as the team’s new president. He becomes the franchise’s second president, and the youngest person to hold that position in ECHL’s history. Cousineau joined the franchise from its inauguration in 2021 and held several positions over the years, up to his most recent role as executive vice president.
“It is a tremendous privilege to be named president of the Lions de Trois-Rivières,” Cousineau said via statement. “Becoming the youngest president in ECHL history is both a great honour as well as additional motivation to push boundaries and move our organization forward.”
“From the first trip our group took to Trois-Rivieres, Alex Cousineau has been an impressive leader. His knowledge, work ethic and growth trajectory are exactly what we look for in a President. Alex has worked through the good times and the bad and has continued to fight to make this organization one of the best in the ECHL on and off the ice,” added Todd Mackin, president of Spire Holdings.
Up Next
The series heads to Reading with games on Monday and Wednesday. If necessary, game 5 will be on Thursday, and game 6 at Colisee Videotron on Sunday.
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