After an all-in 2025-26 season, a rebuilding year is in order for the Armada.
The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada sure went for it last season.
With a core of Justin Carbonneau, Xavier Villeneuve, Bill Zonnon, Spencer Gill, Mateo Nobert and William Lacelle, the Armada took the Moncton Wildcats to game seven of their semifinal series, but came home empty-handed in the end.
It wasn't the end to the season they'd envisioned, but it was a fairly successful year all in all considering some of the injury issues the team dealt with.
With key players such as Xavier Villeneuve (left) departing for 2026-27, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada will likely be heading into rebuild mode. (Photo: Alex Garneau)Now, after pushing a lot of draft capital and future assets into their 2025-26 run, the Armada will be shifting into a rebuilding mode, looking to accumulate assets and stockpile for the next time they think they have a real shot at a championship.
Carbonneau and Zonnon will be turning pro this fall, while Lacelle and Villeneuve are off to play collegiately in the NCAA.
Blainville has also dealt other key pieces such as Nobert to the Halifax Mooseheads, and Olivier Lemieux to the Saint John Sea Dogs.
In return, they've picked up a few cheap veterans like Nick Cirka to play in goal, as well as Logan Brennan and Benjamin Lalievre, who were deemed excess to parts on a Quebec Remparts team that's loading up.
There's also been a few younger players the Armada have been picking up in trades, most notably Camden Jackson from the Moncton Wildcats, who will have a much clearer path to meaningful minutes in Blainville.
In all, the rebuild truly begun this summer for the Armada. It probably won't be the prettiest season in the standings, but this is the price you pay after going all-in, and the first building blocks to creating the next great team.
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