Photo Courtesy of the Trois-Rivieres Lions
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Jun 27, 2025/vol. 78, issue 12
GOOD AS GOLD
TROIS-RIVIERES RODE THE HOT HAND OF GOALTENDER LUKE CAVALLIN EN ROUTE TO THE FIRST KELLY CUP IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
BY STEPHEN KERR
THE UNITED STATES Bullion Depository at Fort Knox, Ky., is one of the most heavily guarded structures in the world.
Electrified fences, armed guards, U.S. Army tanks and attack helicopters protect somewhere between two-and-a-half and four percent of all the gold ever refined, along with other historical treasures.
The Trois-Rivieres Lions’ net became a similarly impenetrable fortress in its own right when guarded by 6-foot-1, 195-pound goalie Luke Cavallin during the post-season.
In 20 playoff games, Cavallin went 15-5 with three shutouts, leading the ECHL with a 1.53 goals-against average and a .948 save percentage – earning the 24-year-old from Swindon, England playoff MVP honors in the process.
The Lions took down the Toledo Walleye in five games to capture the Kelly Cup in Trois-Rivieres’ first trip to the final in club history, having joined the ECHL in 2021-22. Over those five games, Cavallin posted a .958 SP, the best in a Riley/Kelly Cup final in ECHL history, and his 1.41 GAA in the final ranked fourth all-time.
Some teams are reluctant to talk about a title throughout the season, but not Cavallin and his teammates. “We talked about it the whole time,” he said. “There was a common belief in the whole group. We knew what we had was special, and it was mainly because of the group of guys we had in the room.”
Cavallin’s hockey influence came from his father, Mark, a goalie who played in England and Germany before relocating his family to Ottawa in 2007. Luke’s younger brother Adam also plays, suiting up at left wing for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs from 2022 to 2024 before spending 2024-25 with QMJHL Drummondville.
The Lions became just the second Canadian team in league history to win the title, joining the 2019 Newfoundland Growlers. They captured the North Division regular-season crown, swept Reading in the opening round of the playoffs, then downed Norfolk and three-time defending champion Florida each in six games before taking down Toledo.
After dropping Game 1 of the final 3-1, the Lions reeled off four straight victories, allowing just five goals during that span. They scored first in every game of the series and outscored the Walleye 16-8 overall.
In Game 5, Cavallin stopped 48 of 49 shots, including 22 in the second period. Matt Anderson scored Toledo’s lone goal to tie the score 1-1 at 5:17 of the third, but Cavallin shut the door from there. “Our ‘D’ did an unreal job boxing out and making sure I didn’t have to deal with a lot of traffic,” he said. “The guys in front of me made it so easy.”
A goal by Chris Jandric and empty-net markers from Wyatt McLeod and Alex Beaucage sealed the 4-1 win, sending the home fans at Colisee Videotron into a frenzy. “When that buzzer went off, it was a feeling of relief,” Cavallin said. “It was pure elation, celebrating with my teammates. It’s the best feeling ever.”