The Jonquiere Marquis have wasted no time in putting together the pieces that could very well become a third straight championship; something that has not been done in LNAH league history. After two years of consistent attack on the ice, the Marquis and Coach Dean are shaping up to continue that reputation that is following them.
At the beginning of the summer, Jonquiere announced a couple of what some say odd signings. The original “sheriff” Sean McMorrow will be suiting up for the big green in the league that he is not a stranger too. After spending two years with St. Hyacinthe, McMorrow headed across the pond and donned the teal and red of the Elite league’s Belfast Giants. He managed 201 penalty minutes in 25 games. At 6’4 and over 200 pounds, McMorrow will be a rock on the ice.
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Back on his home continent, McMorrow was charged with smuggling marijuana into the U.S. after being stopped at the Niagara Falls border in 2012. Canadian border guards seized $27,000 in cash and a hockey bag full of marijuana. This will be McMorrow’s first return to the ice after spending close to two years in an American prison. What a moment it would be for McMorrow to capture and be a part of a Marquis three-peat.
Returning to the ice alongside Gaby Roch, captain Bruno St. Jacques and Hugo Carpentier is the feisty madness of Alex Penner. Penner had himself a hell of a tangle in Cornwall last season, climbing the bench into the stands after some unruly fans got the better of him. Always entertaining to watch, Penner is a key fit to this Marquis squad and he’s definitely in a strong mode.
Right winger Patrick Bernier is set to come to training camp this fall. An alumnus of the QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes, Bernier held his own throughout the last half of the season and into the playoffs. Joining him on his return is defenseman Mike Novosad. Novosad is a towering six feet on the blue line with one bullet of a point shot.
The Marquis know how to build a team from year to year. With the right pieces building on the same model, we might see LNAH history this season.
marchhockey.com 