Sunny skies ahead for Lions

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

The Chronicle

For knowledgeable observers, the Lac St. Louis Lions’ 2006-07 Quebec Mid-

get AAA Hockey League season will be remembered for three very important achievements.

A solid regular season that featured 27 wins, 16 losses and one overtime defeat, a tremendous playoff run that saw the club reach the Jimmy Ferrari Cup final, only to lose four games to one against a more rested Séminaire Saint-François Blizzard side, and perhaps most importantly, finally putting to rest the disappointment, turmoil and seemingly lost hope that had enveloped the club only a few years ago.

With the 2007-08 regular season having recently started — the Lions split their opening two games this past weekend in Jonquière, losing 5-2 on Friday night but bouncing back with a 6-5 victory on Saturday afternoon — optimism seems to be the key word once again around the Lions’ dressing room. With no less than five returning players from last year’s squad on his roster, infused with what looks like one of the strongest rookie crops in many years, it’s no wonder Lions head coach Danny Dupont is walking around with a bit of gusto in his step these days.

“This team looks like it will play a different style from last year,” said Dupont, who is entering his third season as head coach. “I believe we’re going to get more offence this year, but we still have to prove we can match last year’s character.”

Leading the veterans and someone who should provide plenty of offence will be forward Louis Leblanc. Other returning players include forwards Mathieu Gingras, defencemen Alan Klebanskyj and Adam Strumas along with goaltender Alexander Peck. Key rookies include Stefan Fournier, Ryan Kavanagh, Kyle Armstrong, Yasin Cisse, Alex Stephenson, Sébastien Gingras, Ryan Collier, Ken Matheson, Derick Fafard and Simon Ghilarducci.

If you’d like a first-hand look at this year’s edition of the Lions, the club plays its home opener on Friday night at the Dollard Civic Centre. The Rousseau Sports of Laval-Bourassa will be the visitors. Game time is 7:30 p.m.