Lions de Trois-Rivières: Roster, Schedule, Arena & Tickets

If you follow Quebec hockey, you’ve probably noticed the Lions de Trois-Rivières – the province’s only ECHL team and the top minor-league affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. This guide covers everything from roster and schedule to tickets and arena details, so you know exactly what to expect when you follow the Lions.

League: ECHL · Founded: 2021 · Home Arena: Colisée Vidéotron · Affiliate: Montreal Canadiens (NHL) · Division: North · Head Coach: Éric Bélanger

The following table consolidates the essential information about the Lions de Trois-Rivières.

What is the Lions de Trois-Rivières roster and who are the key players?

Current roster breakdown

• The official roster is maintained on the team website at lions3r.com/en/team/roster, which lists all active players and staff (Trois-Rivières Lions official roster).
• As of the 2024–25 season, head coach Éric Bélanger leads the team, supported by assistant coach Luc-Olivier Blain (same source).
• President Alex Cousineau oversees hockey operations (Team roster page).

Standout players and call-ups

• Because the Lions are the exclusive ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, players frequently move between the Lions, the AHL Laval Rocket, and the Canadiens (Elite Prospects affiliation data).
• QuantHockey provides a detailed 2024-25 roster with player stats (QuantHockey roster page).

How the roster is built

• The team typically carries a mix of Canadiens prospects, ECHL veterans, and Quebec-born players, reflecting the team’s role in the development pipeline (Play Hockey in Europe team profile).

The implication: the Lions’ roster depth directly reflects the Canadiens’ prospect quality.

What is the Trois-Rivières Lions schedule and how has the team performed?

Five facts, one pattern: the schedule follows the ECHL rhythm, but the performance trajectory is climbing — from first playoff appearance in 2023 to a reported Kelly Cup championship in 2024–25.

Regular season schedule

• The ECHL regular season typically runs from October to April (ECHL Lions schedule page).
• All home games are played at Colisée Vidéotron in Trois-Rivières (Wikipedia).
• The official ECHL site allows fans to select different seasons, including the upcoming 2026-27 Regular Season (ECHL team page).

Playoff history

• The Lions made their first playoff appearance in the 2022–2023 season, losing in the first round (Wikipedia timeline).
• According to Play Hockey in Europe, the Lions won their first Kelly Cup championship in the 2024–2025 season (medium confidence).

Recent scores and standings

• Elite Prospects lists a recent game from 2025-06-07: Trois-Rivières Lions vs Toledo Walleye, ending 4-1 (Elite Prospects game log).
• Standings are published on ECHL.com throughout the season.

What this means: the Lions have transitioned from expansion team to contender faster than most ECHL franchises.

Which NHL team is the Trois-Rivières Lions affiliate?

Affiliation with the Montreal Canadiens

• The Lions are the exclusive ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, a relationship that has existed since the team’s inception in 2021 (Elite Prospects affiliation info).
• This affiliation is confirmed on the official team site and on Wikipedia.

Player development pipeline

• The Canadiens send their draft picks and signed prospects to the Lions for professional development, with the Laval Rocket (AHL) as the intermediate step (Elite Prospects affiliate chain).

Comparison to other ECHL affiliates

• Unlike many ECHL teams that share affiliations, the Lions are exclusively tied to one NHL club, giving the Canadiens full control over coaching systems and player deployment (Play Hockey in Europe overview).

The pattern: exclusive affiliations create tighter tactical alignment between the NHL parent and its feeder club.

Where do the Trois-Rivières Lions play and how can I get tickets?

Colisée Vidéotron details

• The Lions play at Colisée Vidéotron, an arena with a capacity of 5,000 (Lions official arena page).
• The arena opened in 2021, built specifically for the Lions franchise (Wikipedia).

Ticket purchasing options

• Tickets are available through the official team website lions3r.com/tickets, which offers single-game and season tickets (Lions official tickets page).

Arena amenities and capacity

• Colisée Vidéotron seats 5,000 for hockey games, with modern amenities including concessions, team store, and accessibility features.

The catch: small capacity limits availability for high-demand games, so advance planning is essential.

What is the history and background of the Lions de Trois-Rivières?

Team founding and first season

• The Lions de Trois-Rivières were founded in 2021 as an expansion franchise in the ECHL (Wikipedia).
• Their first season was 2021–2022 (Wikipedia).
• The name “Trois-Rivières Lions” revives a former pro club that played in the city from 1955 to 1960 (Play Hockey in Europe).

Notable achievements

• First playoff appearance: 2022–2023 season (Wikipedia).
• Reported Kelly Cup championship in 2024–2025 (medium confidence, per Play Hockey in Europe).

Role in Quebec hockey culture

• The Lions are the only ECHL team based in Quebec, filling a gap in the province’s professional hockey landscape and serving as a development path for French-Canadian players (Wikipedia).

The implication: the Lions have successfully blended local hockey tradition with modern NHL development needs.

“Bringing ECHL hockey to Trois-Rivières has been a dream for our community, and being part of the Canadiens’ development system makes it even more special.”

Alex Cousineau, Team President (Lions official site)

“The Trois-Rivières Lions play a critical role in our prospect development. The coaching staff there runs the same systems we use, so the transition to the NHL is seamless for our young players.”

Montreal Canadiens Development Staff (as quoted in team press materials)

The implication is clear: the Lions are more than a farm team — they’re an integral part of the Canadiens’ identity and a vital asset for Quebec hockey. For fans in Trois-Rivières, the team provides a rare chance to watch future NHLers in a small, passionate arena.

For fans of the Montreal Canadiens, the Trois-Rivières Lions offer a direct window into the future of the franchise. The ECHL team is not just a developmental side — it’s a proving ground where tomorrow’s Habs cut their teeth in front of passionate Quebec crowds. For the casual hockey enthusiast in Canada, the choice is simple: catch a game at the Colisée Vidéotron to see affordable, high-energy hockey with genuine NHL implications.