Sherbrooke Phoenix to honour previous season on opening day

The Sherbrooke Phoenix kick off their 2020-2021 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) campaign on Oct. 2 at the Palais des sports with a special opening ceremony honouring last year’s historic club record. Sherbrooke finished with the best record in the QMJHL in 2019-2020. On Friday the team will hoist the Jean Rougeau Trophy, awarded to the regular season champions, and the Luc-robitaille Trophy, awarded to the team with the most goals.

The team also amassed a number of individual awards and they sat at the top of Canadian Hockey League standings for most of the year. Several veteran Phoenix players from last season will be honoured at centre ice.

Sherbrooke is also raising the regular season champion banner for the first time in franchise history. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 health and safety measures the Phoenix organization has opted to play the season without any fans in the stadium.

However, club supporters can get their local hockey fix at Ciné-parc Orford. The outdoor cinema is going to broadcast the game on the big screen in partnership with Hamster Megaburo and the Sherbrooke Phoenix organization.

“Despite the distance, we really want to share this moment with our supporters. They were with us all last season cheering us on from game to game […] We may be at the Palais des sports, and they may be at the Ciné-parc, but we’ll feel them supporting us,” said team captain Samuel Poulin.

People can purchase tickets to the event on the Ciné-parc Orford website. According to a press release, the rate is $20 per car and the site opens at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Marc Bryson will be calling the game as the Phoenix take on the Blainville-boisbriand Armada.