United with Laval, on and off the ice
The Rocket has donated over $150 000 to the Laval community this season
LAVAL (May 7, 2024) – Have you had the chance to see the Laval Rocket players in person? Whether in the arena or outside its doors, the Rocket is proud to be a part of Laval’s flourishing community.
Since its inaugural season, the Rocket has been committed to Laval. On the ice, players work to be a team the city is proud to root for; off the ice, our mission is the same. Whether at Place Bell, local hospitals, or schools, the Rocket plays for their fans.
During the Rocket’s seven seasons, the team donated more than $800,000 to several non-profit organizations in Laval and the surrounding areas. Donations are made possible through the 50-50 lottery on game days, as well as the ticket and merchandise donation program. Several school boards in the region, as well as several organizations such as Moisson Laval, the Fondation de la Cité-de-la-Santé and the CHU Sainte-Justine are just a few examples of organizations associated with the Rocket.
The Rocket’s partnership with the Service de police de Laval (SPL) remains a source of great pride for the team. Together, the organizations picked up teddy bears during the Teddy Bear Toss game on December 9. A few teddy bears were then given by the Rocket players to the patients of the Cité-de-la-Santé in Laval. The union of Rocket and SPL furthers their shared mission: to create a safe and welcoming environment for all. More than 25 local non-profit organizations received the 12 402 teddy bears that were thrown onto the ice during this game.
The Rocket also teamed up with the Procure organization, which fights against prostate cancer, as part of its Hockey fights cancer game which took place on November 17. Each player and coach wore a Procure bow tie and fans had the chance to purchase bow ties during the game as well. Part of the profits from the 50-50 and the “chuck a puck” activity were donated to Procure.
The Rocket hosted a major event at Place Bell on November 7, when the Laval team hosted the 50th Laval blood drive. Thanks to the help of Héma-Québec and the city of Laval, the Rocket welcomed 527 donors. This blood drive ranks third among the largest blood drives in Quebec this year.
During the 2023-2024 season, the Rocket visited three schools as part of its Read for Fun program. Players such as Tobie Bisson, Jakub Dobeš, Logan Mailloux and Lucas Condotta had the chance to visit young elementary school students to talk to them about their academic journey and read them a story. The Rocket’s collaboration with local schools is an integral part of the team’s commitment to future generations.
More than 10 Rocket players visited the Centre de réadaptation Marie-Enfant du CHU Sainte-Justine (CRME) in February to visit 20 kids. The players were able to talk and play with the kids and provide them with support. Nine Rocket players also visited 200 kids at the CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal. The players gave gifts to all the kids and spent a lot of time playing with them.
The Rocket visited three local arenas to skate with young hockey players as part of the Rocket Hockey Tour program presented by Tim Hortons. The goal of the program is to give teams a typical Rocket practice. In addition, two winning teams also had the chance to live an incredible experience at Place Bell. Our assistant coach Martin Laperrière, as well as several players were able to share their knowledge and show the Rocket values.
The Rocket also organized two community events associated with games, a food drive, and a book drive. The players’ spouses participated in the food drive which took place before the game on February 24. Sixteen spouses helped collect 297 kg of food and $1,027 with the help of Moisson Laval. The book drive took place on January 13. The Rocket and its fans donated 321 books to the Centre de services scolaire de Laval.
The players’ spouses also got involved with the Opération Père-Noël organization. More than 10 Rocket spouses and staff purchased gifts for local children in need. More than $1,000 in gifts were given to the children.
The Rocket was in the first year of its partnership with Hockey Laval, as four AAA teams from Hockey Laval wore jerseys and represented the Rocket during their hockey season. The team also represented the Rocket at the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament.
The Rocket launched its first year of partnership with the Club de la médaille d’or. The Rocket welcomed a scholarship recipient during a Rocket game, giving her an extraordinary experience. The athlete visited the Rocket facilities before the game and received a standing ovation from Rocket fans as she was shown on the jumbotron.
After the 2023-2024 season, assistant captain Lucas Condotta decided to donate $4,000 to Moisson Laval (food bank). The Rocket and Moisson Laval have created a great partnership over the years. The Rocket, in addition to organizing a food drive with Moisson Laval, decided to volunteer at their offices with all the members of the administrative staff before Christmas.
The team is inspired by core values of teamwork, mutual respect, and inclusion. As the Rocket’s seventh season approaches, the goal remains the same: continue to work they began in 2017 and grow alongside Laval’s community. Of course, none of our efforts are without great aid from the community members we seek to help.
