The Laval Rocket has announced that Quebec forward Alex Belzile will be its new captain for the 2022-2023 season.

This was announced by the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens school club, Jean-François Houle, on Monday.

“[Je suis] Extremely proud to be the next captain of the Laval Rocket, the prime prospect announced in a short video broadcast by the Rocket. It’s going to be another very good season and we can’t wait to get on the ice Can’t wait to see you all.”

The 31-year-old athlete will enter his fifth season with Rocket, playing a total of 143 games and blacking out the scorer list 104 times. He also had the chance to play his first career National League game with the Canadiens during the 2020-2021 season. He currently has 13 games experience at Bettman Circuit, he has one point.

Belzile, who was assistant captain in the past, will succeed defender Xavier Ouellet, who wore the ‘C’ from 2018 to 2022. The latter left the Montreal organization last off-season, however, he who will continues his career in Pennsylvania after agreeing to the terms of a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

One signing and 10 players strike out

Additionally, the Rocket continued their training camp by axing 10 players.

Five forwards were sent to the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL, namely Conner Chaulk, Ryan Francis, Cameron Hillis, Émile Poirier and Brett Stapley. Defenders John Parker-Jones and Olivier Galipeau and goalkeepers Philippe Desrosiers and Joe Vrbetic will also join the Lions.

Parker-Jones also received a two-part contract with the Rocket earlier in the day before the cut.

Defenseman Miguël Tourigny is the other skater axed, though he will return to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.