Lucas Condotta named Laval Rocket’s 2023-24 IOA/American specialty AHL Man of the Year
Lucas Condotta is one of 32 nominees eligible to win this award
LAVAL (April 11, 2024) – The Laval Rocket is proud to announce that Lucas Condotta has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Laval community during the 2023-24 season.
Lucas Condotta has been playing with the Laval Rocket since the end of the 2021-2022 season. His leadership on and off the ice has really made an impact with his team but also in the community. He participated in four community programs this season (for a total of nine activities).
Blood drive
Lucas Condotta welcomed the blood donors at Place Bell. Each donor received tickets for a Rocket game and a Rocket gift bag. In partnership with Héma-Québec and the town of Laval, this event welcomed more than 500 donors (that represents more than 1500 lives saved).
Read for Fun
The Read for Fun program aims to encourage reading among young elementary students in Laval, Montreal, and North Shore regions. Rocket players promoted the benefits of reading, while also addressing various themes, including the importance of practicing sport, which contributes to the well-being of the students.
Lucas Condotta went to Saint Vincent Elementary School in Laval (December 5, 2023) to talk about his academic experience in elementary school, high school and in college. More than 200 students benefited from this activity. Lucas also played hockey with the students in the school gym.
Rocket Hockey Tour
The Rocket Hockey Tour gives five teams a typical Rocket practice experience with Rocket assistant coach Martin Laperrière and a few players.
Lucas Condotta participated in four practices for the Rocket Hockey Tour. He participated in a practice with the Laval Avalanches, girls’ hockey (January 15, 2024), with the Laval Vipers (January 29, 2024), with the Laval/Montreal Rebelles, girls’ hockey (February 26, 2024) and with the Delta Ducs (March 11, 2024). Lucas helped all four teams learn some new tricks on the ice. He also demonstrated what a typical Rocket practice looks like, while telling the children about the Rocket values.
Hospital visits
Lucas Condotta visited two hospitals and one rehabilitation center this year. The first hospital visit was on October 30, 2023. The visit was at CHU St-Justine (children hospital in Montreal). Lucas and other players visited children and their families. Lucas and some of his teammates visited more than 200 kids during this visit. Several children were invited to a Rocket game during the season, including young Tchad who won his battle against cancer.
The second hospital visit was on December 12, 2023. The visit was at Cité-de-la-Santé which is a hospital in Laval. He gave gifts to the kids. These gifts were board games and teddy bears (the one from our teddy bear toss game). The Rocket did this hospital visit with the Laval police department, who helped organize our teddy bear toss game.
The rehabilitation center visit (Centre de réadaptation Marie-Enfant) was on February 13, 2024. Lucas and some of his teammates visited 20 kids.
Lucas Condotta is one of 32 finalists for the AHL’s 2023-24 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupré Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League later this month.
