Laval Rocket fan dies during game forcing contest to end early

The Laval Rocket announced that a fan died during the team's game in the AHL on Jan. 17, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)

The Laval Rocket are sending the team’s condolences to the family of the fan who died during the team’s game on Saturday night.

Fan Michel Pelletier suffered a medical emergency at Place Bell, which caused the game against the Manitoba Moose to end a minute prematurely.

“We would like to offer our most sincere condolences to his family and all his loved ones,” the Rocket said on social media. “Having been part of the members’ community for seven seasons, he has always been there to encourage us and the Rocket family is wholeheartedly with his family.”

The American Hockey League also offered its condolences.

“We are grateful tot he emergency responders at Place Bell who treated him, and our thoughts go out to his loved ones and to the Laval Rocket organization,” the AHL said on social media.

Pelletier’s daughter, Sophie Pelletier, said on Facebook that her father died peacefully at the game “where he liked to go.”

“He was a great fan of the team,” she said.

Under the Rocket’s post, several people who attended the game initially thought the man had fallen asleep in his seat before realizing he was no longer breathing.

With files from RDS.