Add the Laval Rocket To Your Season's Bucket List

September has arrived and fans are clamoring for hockey action once again. The Montreal Canadiens open the season with their annual Rookie Camp, beginning on September 13th, which includes a trip to Buffalo to participate in the 2023 Prospect Challenge.

While those young prospects hope to make a good impression at both the rookie camp and NHL training camp, a select number will compete for a coveted spot on the Canadiens' opening night roster. Many of those not chosen will find themselves in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing for the organization's AHL affiliate: the Laval Rocket.

Playing in the AHL should not be considered a setback, however. Instead, it's role as the primary development league for the NHL offers high-level, competitive hockey. The AHL provides a place for a team's young prospects to learn, grow, and adjust to the professional game, while adapting to the franchise's systems and coaching methods.

This year, with the Canadiens' prospect cupboard bursting at the seams, fans attending Rocket games will be treated to exceptional entertainment while getting a close look at the Habs' future standouts. It's been a big draw for Habs and Rocket fans alike in recent years, with Place Bell packed with a raucous crowd on most nights.

So maybe this is the season you're considering a trip to Laval to take in a game yourself for the first time? Our staff writer, Gustave Pinault-Masson, has come to that conclusion himself and wrote the following piece detailing why the Rocket are a must-do item on his bucket list.

Don't Miss the Laval Rocket!

There's a lot of excitement around what this new season will bring for the Montreal Canadiens, especially with new players coming in, like Alex Newhook, and fan favorites returning from injury, like Cole Caufield.

And with a bevy of young talent ready to break loose on the Canadiens' roster, many are beginning to feel hopeful about the current rebuild the team is enduring. Part of that rebuild is a refocus on the development aspect of the organization, and much of that development takes place with the Laval Rocket in the AHL.

It's no secret that taking in a live NHL game, particularly in Montreal, isn't easy on the wallet. So what if you want to watch game action in person, but in a more budget-friendly way? Checking out the scene at Place Bell in Laval can be a perfect solution.

The Experience

In full transparency, I haven't yet had the opportunity to attend a Laval Rocket game in person myself, but I absolutely plan to do so this season! I did, however, talk to some of my colleagues at Rocket Sports Media who have been to Place Bell for Rocket games and they offered up plenty of positive feedback.

According to them, the level of hockey is very competitive, the atmosphere is electric, and the in-game presentation is on par with that of an NHL game. They also remarked how beautiful the Place Bell building is, and it's very easily accessible from anywhere in Montreal.

The Young Talent

As mentioned earlier, this year's crop of young talent will be very exciting to watch. Indeed, many analysts and media commentators agree that, due to internal competition for spots, young players like Jan Mysak, Sean Farrell, Joshua Roy, Riley Kidney, Filip Mesar, Emil Heineman, and Logan Mailloux will likely play in Laval. Other exciting prospects could also fill in on the roster as cuts are made from the Canadiens' training camp in late September and early October.

It's still too early to try to predict what line combinations could look like on the the Rocket's opening night, but recently Chris G. detailed the potential makeup of Laval's roster in an article titled, "Laval Rocket Expected to Feature Plenty of Montreal Canadiens Prospects."

No matter what the line combos end up looking like, this season promises to feature some really exciting hockey by a group of very talented young players.

The Value

Finally, fans should grab some tickets to see the Rocket at Place Bell because it's terrific sports entertainment for an affordable price. Tickets in the AHL typically start around $20, concessions are generally more reasonably priced, and in an arena built to resemble the Bell Centre, every seat feel close to the action. All of that combines to give you an NHL-like experience, but at a fraction of the cost.

AHL rinks are also typically very family-friendly, with many more opportunities for families and young fans to get involved and interact with players and the team's promotional staff. It's a great alternative for families, friends, and groups to take in top-level hockey without breaking the bank.

Listen to The Press Zone podcast

On the most recent episode of The Press Zone podcast, Amy Johnson, Rick Stephens, and Patrick Williams took a close look at an important task every AHL team faces: finding the right balance between developing their prospects and winning games.