Sorel-Tracy: LNAH Champions

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They took to the ice Friday night and didn’t leave until Saturday morning. They left, however, with the Cup. The 6 Overtime win in game 6 of the finals gave Sorel-Tracy its first league title since 2019 and solidified the story of a team that played with a steady, championship pedigree all season. The Eperviers earned their championship during every step of the season from October through May. 

They didn’t enter the playoffs as the number one seed, but it seemed like that’s what they were. When Saint-Georges was eliminated in the first round, it was apparent what was going to happen. It wasn’t because Saint-Georges was gone, it was simply a shifting of the spotlight to a more capable team. The CoolFM had the best record thanks to a stellar first half of the season, but they had slowed significantly in the second half. Still, their impressive record overshadowed the steady, high performance of the Eperviers. With the CoolFM out of the picture, clarity occurred: despite Saint-Georges having the best record, Sorel-Tracy was the best team. 

Even during the league-wide team gelling that occurred during the first weeks of the season, the Eperviers were consistently good. Only once in the season did they experience a losing month, and they were never blown out. Conversely, they never went on long win streaks or put up lopsided wins. A few 4 game win streaks, and a pair of 5 goal differentials against Saint-Hyacinthe and Laval were the closest things to them looking like a powerhouse all season. Being good and consistent was their formula. 

Star power isn’t a term often used for teams in provincial leagues, and it wasn’t one fitting of the Eperviers. They didn’t win based on a small handful of star players, but rather a lot of all-around good players. Even Philippe Desrosiers, who won the league’s best goaltender award and finals MVP, was more consistent-good than great. His regular season save percent was 2nd overall, and a mere 0.06 % better than the team’s other goalie, Dominic Graham. Top scorers? Nope. The team's leading goal scorer, Shawn Boudrais didn’t crack the league’s top 10. However, the fact that 4 of his teammates were within 5 goals of him further illustrates the all-around good vs individual great nature of the team that contributed to its success.

All of that is in the books now, along with a record for winning the longest game in league history. That flashy stat almost seems ironic for the 2025-26 Eperviers, but it's irrelevant compared to what the win signified; that they were the best in the league. A fitting end for a team based on being consistently good over flashy stats and individual greatness.