Under the harsh glare of arena lights, chaos erupted in front of the Laval Rocket bench—helmets flew, fists clenched, and the roar of the crowd was drowned out by the thunderous collision of bodies. In a single, unforgettable moment, the game between the Rocket and Toronto Marlies transformed from a tense hockey showdown into a scene of pure pandemonium, leaving fans and officials scrambling to make sense of what had just unfolded. Now, the fallout has arrived with the force of a freight train: the Rocket have dropped a bombshell announcement, suspending four key players in the wake of the explosive altercation.

It began with a hit—controversial, punishing, and instantly questioned by everyone in the building. Michael Pezzetta’s challenge on Marc Del Gaizo set off a chain reaction that no one saw coming. Florian Xhekaj, refusing to let the moment pass, retaliated, and within seconds a massive scrum broke out, engulfing the ice in a frenzy of pushing, shoving, and raw emotion. The officials struggled to restore order, but by then the damage was done. Players poured off the bench, lines blurred, and the boundaries of the game itself seemed to vanish.

The consequences have been swift and severe. Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin, and Joshua Roy—three forwards at the heart of Laval’s success this season—have each been handed three-game suspensions for leaving the bench during the melee. Samuel Blais, another rising star, faces a one-game ban. The timing couldn’t be worse: Roy, just 22 years old and enjoying a breakout season with 12 points in 16 games, will be sidelined as the Rocket fight to maintain their grip on the top spot in the division.

For the Marlies, the night was no less brutal. Toronto racked up 58 penalty minutes, a season high, and saw one of their own suspended. But the spotlight remains fixed on Laval, where the repercussions are rippling through the lineup. Belzile’s 15 penalty minutes and the string of major infractions have forced the Rocket to scramble, recalling Joe Dunlap, Riley Kidney, and Israel Mianscum from the Trois-Rivières Lions to fill the void. Nate Clurman, Josh Jacobs, and Hunter Jones are also set to join the roster, as the team attempts to steady itself in the aftermath of the chaos.

Lost in the uproar is the fate of Marc Del Gaizo, who is expected to miss several games due to the injury sustained from Pezzetta’s hit. The Rocket, battered and short-handed, now face a critical stretch that could define their season. The suspensions have not only shaken the locker room—they’ve sent shockwaves across the league, raising questions about discipline, leadership, and the razor-thin line between passion and recklessness.

As the dust settles and the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the events of Friday night will not be forgotten anytime soon. The Rocket’s resilience will be tested, and every decision, every shift, will carry the weight of a team fighting to prove that its spirit can survive even the most turbulent storm. The full story is only beginning to unfold, and the next chapter promises to be as unpredictable as the game itself.

Photo of scrum between Rocket and Marlies

Photo credit: NHL

The Laval Rocket have just confirmed a major announcement involving suspensions for multiple players.

According to an announcement from the Rocket on X, forwards Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin, and Joshua Roy have each been handed three-game suspensions. The stated reason is clear: they allegedly left the players’ bench during an altercation. Samuel Blais is also expected to receive a suspension, but for just one game.

On Friday, the game against the Toronto Marlies was already heavy with emotion. Following a questionable hit by Michael Pezzetta, Florian Xhekaj retaliated and a big scrum broke out in front of the Laval Rocket bench.

We also learned that Marc Del Gaizo is expected to miss several games following the hit he received.

Four Laval Rocket players suspended

Here is the official announcement:

“Forwards Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin, and Joshua Roy have been suspended for three games due to the consequences of their actions during yesterday’s game (leaving the players’ bench during an altercation). Forward Samuel Blais has also been suspended for one game.”

– Laval Rocket

At 22 years old, Roy is listed at 6 feet and 187 pounds, and he is off to a strong start to the season in the AHL. After 16 games, he has recorded 12 points, with 6 goals and 6 assists, along with 10 penalty minutes. What makes the news even tougher is that his three-game suspension would come at the worst possible time, with the Rocket sitting atop their division with 35 points in 25 games.

Several players were involved in major penalties, and Toronto finished the game with 58 penalty minutes, a season high for them. Alex Belzile was assessed 15 penalty minutes in that game, while other names were also kept busy in the penalty box.

Vincent Demuy reported that only one Marlies player would have been suspended, compared to four on the Laval side. He also mentioned a three-game suspension for Michael Pezzetta, related to an illegal hit to the head.

As if that were not enough, due to injuries the Rocket have called up multiple players:

“Forwards Joe Dunlap, Riley Kidney and Israel Mianscum have been recalled from the Trois-Rivières Lions. They will all play today. Nate Clurman, Josh Jacobs and Hunter Jones will also be joining the lineup.” – Rocket

More details to follow.