The Trois-Rivières Lions, ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, announced several changes to their hockey operations department while reports swirl about their sale.
The Trois-Rivières Lions, ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, announced several changes to their hockey operations department while reports swirl about their sale.
On Tuesday, the Trois-Rivieres Lions, ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, announced that Pascal Rheaume would be stepping down from his position as head coach and general manager. Rheaume is set to join an American Hockey League (AHL) team in a yet-to-be-disclosed role.
Dean MacDonald, president of Deacon Sports and Entertainment (DSE), commented via statement, “When an AHL team comes knocking for a member of our organization, it indicates that we did a good job in recruiting him."
Rheaume joined the organization as an assistant coach since the franchise's inauguration for the 2021-22 season. On June 22, he was promoted to the role of head coach and general manager following the sudden departure of Marc-Andre Bergeron.
The 50-year-old Rheaume played 318 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) and 271 AHL matches during his career. He began coaching in 2010 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and spent time behind the bench for several years before joining Trois-Rivieres.
Restructuring
As a result of the departure, Ron Choules was promoted by the Lions to the role of head coach and general manager. Choules was hired in July as an assistant coach for Rheaume.
Prior to joining Trois-Rivieres, he spent the last two seasons as the head coach of Lac St. Louis Lions in the QM18AAA. Between 2005 and 2021, the 60-year-old held several coaching positions in the QMJHL. His most recent experience as a general manager was with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles during the 2012-13 season.
As part of the restructuring process, Alex Cousineau will step into the role of assistant general manager. Cousineau has been a part of the Lions since the franchise's inception, originally serving as goaltending and video coach. He will continue these responsibilities alongside his new position.
Mathieu Brodeur will join Trois-Rivieres as an assistant coach. Brodeur, who played 107 games for the Lions before retiring in January due to his wife's health concerns, was drafted 76th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008. With 318 AHL games and 340 ECHL games under his belt, the 33-year-old also won the ECHL's Kelly Cup in 2020-21 with the Fort Wayne Komets.
“These changes represent a watershed moment for the team, and demonstrate our commitment to growth and excellence both on and off the ice. We congratulate Pascal on this new chapter in his life and we wish him all the best in his new adventure,” MacDonald added.
Imminent Sale?
Questions regarding the ownership of the Lions are beginning to be clarified. Le Nouvelliste reported on Tuesday that DSE appears to have reached an agreement to sell the club to two separate groups.
One of the prospective buyers is Steven Leal, the owner of Quebec-based company Fix Auto. Leal's interest in acquiring the team has been circulating since May. The sale requires approval from the city before being finalized, given the club's financial challenges, including a nearly $600,000 debt with Trois-Rivieres.
In July, the ECHL approved the sale of the Iowa Heartlanders from DSE to Heartlanders Hockey, LLC.
Should the sale of the Lions proceed, DSE will continue its involvement in the ECHL as the owners of the Newfoundland Growlers