The silence in the Laval Rocket practice rink is broken only by the echo of skates slicing through ice—a sound that, on this morning, feels more like a warning than a routine. The usual energy is missing. Absent are the quick laughs, the familiar shouts, and most notably, two of the team’s brightest sparks: Laurent Dauphin and Sean Farrell. Their empty stalls stand as quiet evidence of a virus that has ripped through the Canadiens organization, forcing the Rocket into yet another scramble for reinforcements.

It’s not just the minor league affiliate feeling the sting. The same virus that sidelined Samuel Montembeault, Montreal’s trusted goaltender, has now spread its shadow over Laval, leaving coaches and fans alike anxiously tracking symptoms, hoping the outbreak doesn’t claim more victims. For a team riding the high of Dauphin’s career-best season and Farrell’s promising rise, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Rocket’s offense, led by Dauphin’s relentless drive and Farrell’s creative playmaking, has been the backbone of their success. Now, with both forwards sick and off the ice, the team’s rhythm is disrupted, and the mood is tense.

Dauphin, at 30, has been nothing short of a revelation in Laval. Nine goals, nineteen assists, and a +21 rating in just twenty-three games—numbers that speak to his leadership and consistency. His recent two-year AHL extension was supposed to signal stability for the Rocket, a reward for his dedication and performance. Instead, his absence today casts a long shadow, reminding everyone how quickly fortunes can change.

Farrell, meanwhile, is the future—a 23-year-old winger whose speed and vision have put him on Montreal’s radar for a potential call-up. With five goals and twelve assists this season, he was poised for a breakthrough, only to be halted by the same illness that has already reshuffled the Canadiens’ goaltending plans. His contract is ticking down, and every missed opportunity feels heavier as the season grinds on.

In response, the Rocket have called up defenseman Ryan O’Rourke, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound left shot with a reputation for physical play and untapped potential. O’Rourke, signed last summer, arrives with little fanfare but a chance to seize a bigger role in the wake of this unexpected crisis. His stats—zero points in three games with Laval, one goal and twenty-two penalty minutes with Trois-Rivières—suggest a player still searching for his place, but tonight, the spotlight is his.

Meanwhile, in the crease, the revolving door continues. Hunter Jones, after a brief stint as emergency cover, returns to the Trois-Rivières Lions, leaving the Rocket’s net situation as unpredictable as ever. Montembeault, still not fully recovered, managed to skate at the Bell Centre earlier today—a hopeful sign in an otherwise uncertain landscape.

As the virus continues to circulate, the Rocket’s depth will be tested, new faces will be given opportunities, and the organization’s resilience will be pushed to its limits. In Montreal and Laval, there’s never a dull moment—but these days, the stakes feel higher, and every shift matters just a little bit more.

Canadiens players Samuel Montembeautl, Sean Farrell and Laurent Dauphin

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

The virus continues to hit the Canadiens organization, and the Rocket once again has to shuffle its lineup.

It was reported Tuesday that veteran center Laurent Dauphin and forward Sean Farrell are sick and unable to play for the Laval Rocket. Everything points to the same virus already circulating within the big club and forcing changes in goal.

The timing hurts, because Dauphin is having a phenomenal season in Laval. At 30, he leads the Rocket’s offense with 9 goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 23 games and a +21 rating. He just signed a two-year, one-way AHL extension, keeping him in the organization through 2026-2027.

“Forward Laurent Dauphin (sick) is not on the ice for practice this afternoon.” – Laval Rocket

“Forward Sean Farrell (sick) is not on the ice for practice this morning.” – Laval Rocket

Farrell, 23, was viewed as a serious candidate for a call-up to Montreal before he too was hit by the virus. The winger has 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 23 games with Laval this season. He is currently playing the final year of a one-year, $775,000 NHL contract before becoming a restricted free agent.

To compensate for these absences, defenseman Ryan O’Rourke is joining the team as reinforcement. Signed last summer by the Rocket to a one-year, one-way deal, the 23-year-old left-shot defenseman stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 192 pounds. A second-round pick, 39th overall, by the Minnesota Wild in 2020, he has zero points in 3 games with Laval this season, and 1 goal along with 22 penalty minutes in 11 games with the Trois-Rivières Lions.

Everything becomes clearer in net as well. Goaltender Hunter Jones, 25, was sent back to the Trois-Rivières Lions after a brief stint in Laval. Last year with the Lions, he played 28 games, posting a 2.87 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in the regular season before helping the team in the playoffs.

Samuel Montembeault is still not at 100%

Recall that Samuel Montembeault had to miss Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues because of a virus, allowing Jakub Dobes to start in a 4-3 loss. Fortunately, he made it back on the ice earlier today at the Bell Centre.

While the virus continues circulating throughout the organization, the Rocket lose two important pieces in Dauphin and Farrell but see O’Rourke receive a great opportunity to prove himself in an expanded role. There’s never a dull moment in Laval-and even less so in Montreal-when a stubborn virus shakes everything up.

Let’s just hope everyone gets healthy again quickly.