1955/56 ECHO Regular Season

In their inaugural games, the two expansion teams got welcomed harshly, with Sherbrooke losing 8-2 to Charlottetown and Bathurst losing 5-3 to Trois-Rivières.



St.Lawrence Division: Trois-Rivières dominated the division with ease, thanks to the exceptional performance of their star goaltender, Emmett O'Leary, who secured an impressive 35 wins on the season. The team's success was also driven by their collective efforts on the scoring sheet, with no single player standing out as the top scorer. The Montréal Métros trailed far behind in second place, with center Edouard Lefebvre's 68-point season, center Yvan Roy's 75-point season, and winger Tristan Loubier's 69 points leading them into the postseason. Ottawa narrowly clinched a playoff spot, supported by center Carson MacDonald's impressive 73-point year, coupled with a few crucial ties. The Montreal Beavers missed the playoffs despite their efforts to catch up with Ottawa in the final stages of the season. Surprisingly, Quebec, who had been in the playoff hunt for most of the year, finished next-to-last in the division. Meanwhile, the Sherbrooke Blue Jays emerged as the best expansion team, but their performance was still underwhelming.

Atlantic Division: The Fredericton Stars had a remarkable season this year, clinching a playoff spot and finishing first in the division. Their centers, Hank Rodriguez and Anatole Grenier, along with wingers Sebastian Wilson and Egidus Provencher, had an outstanding performance, contributing significantly to the team's success. The Charlottetown Monarchs were a close second, with Doug Fournier leading the team with a fantastic 76-point season. The defending champions, Halifax Highlanders, secured the last playoff spot despite their aging team, thanks to a 66-point year from center William MacDougall. Moncton, on the other hand, did make some improvements from their disastrous season but fell short of reaching the playoffs. Cape Breton did better this year but still ranks as the worst non-expansion team in the division. In contrast, the Bathurst Phantoms, despite their aggressive wheeling and dealing, didn't have a great season and finished as the worst expansion team.

In-season Trades:
Near the trade deadline, the two expansion franchises made a trade. Bathurst exchanged their first-round pick in 1957 and their third-round pick in 1958 to Sherbrooke to acquire rookie winger Stephen Dawson in a very peculiar trade.

1956 Sound Cup Playoffs Bracket


What did you think of the season? Who will advance to the Divisional Finals? Predictions are very much welcome. Other comments, criticisms and questions about the ECHOverse. are also appreciated.

1956 Sound Cup Playoffs (Divisional Finals)

Trois-Rivières Tigres vs Ottawa Knights
In a display of sheer dominance, the Tigres pounced on the Knights from the very start of Game 1. Led by their young center David McMillan, the Tigres set the tone with a powerful wrist shot that left the Ottawa netminder grasping at air. The crowd erupted in cheers as McMillan celebrated his first goal of the night, and the Tigres never looked back. The onslaught continued into the second period, with McMillan striking again to make it 2-0 for the home team. The Ottawa Knights struggled to find their footing, as the Tigres' relentless pressure and precision passing left them unable to generate any meaningful scoring chances. As the final period got underway, it was clear that the Knights were in trouble. Ted Gagne, the Tigres' star forward, put the finishing touches on the win with a blistering wrist shot that left the Ottawa goalie stunned and helpless. Despite a late powerplay goal from Émile Deschamps, which temporarily lifted the spirits of the Knights, it was too little, too late. With mere seconds remaining on the clock, Gagne iced the win with an empty-net goal, securing a 4-1 victory for the Tigres and sending them into the lead in the series.

In the second match, both teams displayed high levels of energy, immediately capturing the attention of the audience with their aggressive and intense style of play. The game's momentum shifted when Trois-Rivières' center Timmy Overton netted an impressive goal with the assistance of wingers Ephraim Gauthier and Ted Gagne, giving the Tigres a 1-0 lead. Ottawa responded vigorously, and during the second period, Knights' winger Terry Gemmill scored an important powerplay goal, evening the score to 1-1. The two teams continued to battle for every possession and scoring opportunity until midway through the third period when Trois-Rivières defenseman Darby Averill regained the lead for his team with a well-placed shot. The Tigres' defence held strong, thwarting the Knights' late attempt to even the score. As the final buzzer sounded, the Trois-Rivières bench erupted in celebration as they clinched a hard-earned 2-1 victory. The win marked a pivotal moment in the series, as the Tigres secured a 2-0 lead and gained momentum heading into Game 3.

Game 3 was a nail-biter from start to finish, with both teams creating scoring chances and neither able to gain a significant advantage. The Tigres' defence, which had been so strong in the previous two games, was tested to its limits by the Knights' relentless attack. The Tigres finally broke through midway through the third period as Ted Gagne, who had been quiet for much of the game, unleashed a powerful wrist shot that found its way past the Ottawa goalie and into the back of the net to put Trois-Rivières up 1-0. However, the Knights were not about to let the game slip away. With two minutes left in the third period, they finally found the equalizer. Jacques Dubois, the Ottawa winger, picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and took off down the left wing. He beat a defender and then unleashed a slapshot that beat the Tigres' goalie, getting past his blocker and into the top corner of the net. The crowd erupted in cheers as the Knights celebrated their tying goal, and the Tigres' bench was left stunned and frustrated as the game was now tied 1-1. The game would go to overtime, where Tigres center David Olson would be the hero. Just over a minute into the extra period, Olson picked up a pass from defenseman Darby Averill and broke in on the Ottawa goalie. He beat the defender and then snapped a wrist shot past the goalie's glove, finding the back of the net to give the Tigres the win. The Ottawa crowd was stunned as the Tigres celebrated their 2-1 victory, eliminating Ottawa in a sweep. (TRV wins 3-0)

Fredericton Stars vs Charlottetown Monarchs
The highly anticipated matchup between the Fredericton Stars and Charlottetown Monarchs got off to a slow start in Game 1, with both teams trading chances but unable to find the back of the net. But just as the crowd was starting to get restless, Charlottetown winger Richard Bisson changed the complexion of the game, snatching up a loose puck in front of the Fredericton net and unleashing a wicked shot that beat Stanley Fraser clean. The Monarchs' bench erupted in cheers as Bisson celebrated, and the momentum was firmly in their favour. The Monarchs' dominance continued as the period drew to a close, with Gregg Moonberry doubling the lead on the powerplay with a lightning-fast wrist shot that left Fraser grasping at air. And just when it seemed like the Stars were about to regroup, Charlottetown's Stephen Collins struck, rifling a wrist shot past Fraser to make it 3-0 for the Monarchs. The crowd was in awe of Charlottetown's rapid-fire attack, which had left the Stars reeling. Despite being down by three goals, Fredericton refused to give up, and Egidus Provencher sparked a comeback bid late in the second period with a beautiful wrist shot that sailed past Peter Chiasson to make it 3-1. The Stars continued to push for more, but Charlottetown's defence tightened up like a vice in the third period, repelling every attempt to get back into the game. As the clock ticked down, Fredericton pulled their goalie for an extra attacker in a desperate bid to tie the game, but Charlottetown's defence held firm, refusing to yield even an inch. In the end, it was the Monarchs who emerged victorious, claiming a 3-1 win and taking the early series lead.

In Game 2, Fredericton struck first. Late in the first period, winger Earl Barber picked up a rebound in front of the Charlottetown net and beat goalie Peter Chiasson with a quick wrist shot. The Monarchs' goalie had made a spectacular initial save, but Barber was quick to pounce on the loose puck and capitalize on the opportunity. The game remained 1-0 in favour of Fredericton until the dying minutes of the second period. With just 30 seconds remaining on the clock, winger Egidus Provencher pounced on a mistake by the Charlottetown defence, snatching the puck from a defender's stick and racing in alone on Chiasson. Provencher's speed and agility allowed him to evade the goalie's desperate attempt to cut off the angle, and he slotted the puck into the open net to give his team a 2-0 lead. The Fredericton offence continued to pour it on in the third period as they looked to put the game out of reach for Charlottetown. Midway through the period, winger Sebastian Wilson decided to take matters into his own hands, unleashing a powerful slapshot from the point that sailed past Chiasson's glove and into the top corner of the net. As the game neared its conclusion, Fredericton's Gerard Moisan picked up the puck in his end and began to skate down the ice, using his speed and agility to evade the Charlottetown defenders. As he entered the offensive zone, he saw an opportunity to score an empty-net goal, and he took advantage of it. With Chiasson pulled from the net, Moisan skated to the open crease and slid the puck across the goal line, securing an easy goal for himself. The crowd erupted in cheers as the scoreboard flashed 4-0 in favour of Fredericton. Stanley Fraser would collect a 30-save shutout in the win as the Stars tied the series at 1.

Game 3 started very slowly, with neither team wanting to give an inch to the other through the first period. Someone had to break eventually, and that would be Charlottetown. Fredericton would get the first goal early in the second period thanks to a quick wrist shot from winger Gideon Irving, who found twine to put the Stars up 1-0. Midway through the second period, Fredericton center Hank Rodriguez made it 2-0 on a wrist shot that beat Peter Chiasson's glove. Midway through the third period, Charlottetown's Yves Drouin would start a comeback attempt with a blistering slapshot past Stars netminder Stanley Fraser to make it 2-1. Then, on the powerplay a few minutes later, winger Arthur Laroche would score the equalizer to give the Monarchs hope. As the game entered overtime, it seemed as though the momentum had swung decisively in favour of the Charlottetown Monarchs. Yet, with 1 minute remaining on the clock, Fredericton defenseman Robert Leblanc would have the final say. With a wicked wrist shot that fooled Peter Chiasson's glove once again, Leblanc snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, securing a 3-2 win for the Stars and the 2-1 series lead.

As the puck dropped to start Game 4, the tension was palpable. The previous game's thrilling overtime victory had left both teams feeling like they were on a rollercoaster ride, and it was anyone's guess how this game would unfold. But as the clock ticked away in the first period, it was Charlottetown who would strike first, much to the happiness of their home crowd. With just 1 minute remaining in the period, winger Ken Chang would wrist the puck past Stars netminder Stanley Fraser, giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. As the second period got underway, Fredericton was determined to get back in the game. They came out strong, pinning the Monarchs back in their zone and creating scoring chances. But despite their best efforts, they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. Meanwhile, Charlottetown was happy to sit back and absorb the pressure, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. That moment came early in the second period when Ken Chang would strike again. This time, it was an even-strength goal, as Chang's wrist shot beat Fraser once more, giving the Monarchs a 2-0 lead. The Fredericton bench was starting to get frustrated, but they knew they couldn't give up. The third period saw Charlottetown continue to dominate, and they would eventually add two more goals to their total. Early on, Jacques Tremblay would score on the power play, rifling a slapshot past Fraser to make it 3-0. And just 4 minutes later, Steve Wetherell would score on an even-strength chance, finishing off a beautiful passing play and giving the Monarchs a 4-0 lead. As the final buzzer sounded, it was clear that Charlottetown had run away with the game. The Monarchs had played a dominant 60 minutes, and their dominance was rewarded with a convincing 4-0 victory to tie the series at two and set up an ultimate game 5.

The stage was set for Game 5 in Fredericton, with the winner advancing to the Sound Cup Finals. The intensity was palpable as the puck dropped to start the game. Charlottetown, looking to capitalize on their momentum from the previous game, came out strong in the first period. And it was they who would strike first, early in the period. Stephen Collins, playing on the power play, would wrist the puck past Fredericton netminder Stanley Fraser, giving the Monarchs a 1-0 lead. Just as the Fredericton crowd was starting to get back into the game, Charlottetown would strike again. This time, it was center Justin Spring who would get in on the action. With just 6 minutes remaining in the first period, Spring would wrist the puck past Fraser, giving the Monarchs a 2-0 lead. The Fredericton crowd was getting silent, but suddenly, they had a reason to cheer. With just 2 minutes remaining in the first period, winger Earl Barber would strike for the Stars, cutting the deficit in half. Barber's slapshot from the top of the circle would find its way past Charlottetown netminder Peter Chiasson, making it a 2-1 game. The Fredericton crowd had just been given a glimmer of hope, but Charlottetown was not about to let the Stars get back into the game. With just 10 seconds remaining in the first period, Ken Chang would tap in a rebound shot, restoring the Monarchs' two-goal lead. Just 2 minutes into the second period, the Stars would get a goal to cut the deficit in half once again. On the power play, rookie center Cassius Robitaille would unleash a slapshot from the point that would find its way past the Charlottetown netminder. The Monarchs were not about to let up, however and with just 2 minutes remaining in the second period, they would strike again on the power play. This time, center Noah Pierre would be the one to beat the Stars. From the top of the left circle, Pierre would unleash a wrist shot that would find its way past Fredericton goalie Stanley Fraser to give Charlottetown a 4-2 advantage heading into the final period. The Monarchs were not about to let up, and they would continue to pour it on in the third period. Early on, they would strike again on the power play. Ken Chang, who had been a thorn in the side of the Stars all game, would get his second goal. Chang's shot from the top of the circle would find its way past Stanley Fraser, giving the Monarchs a 5-2 lead. Fredericton was not about to give up yet. With just 8 minutes remaining in the game, they would strike again on the power play. This time, it was Sebastian Wilson who would get in on the action. Wilson's shot from the top of the circle would find its way past Charlottetown netminder Peter Chiasson, cutting the deficit to 5-3. 2 minutes later, Wilson struck again to make it 5-4, once again on the powerplay. Unfortunately, the Monarchs wouldn't allow the Stars to score the equalizer and would send Fredericton packing after a hard-fought series, winning 5-4 in the ultimate game. (CHA wins 3-2)



1956 Sound Cup Finals Preview

The 1956 Sound Cup Finals are set to be an epic showdown between the Trois-Rivières Tigres and the Charlottetown Monarchs. The Tigres dominated the Ottawa Knights in their divisional finals, sweeping the series while the Monarchs battled their way to the championship with a comeback series win over the Fredericton Stars. Led by forwards like David McMillan and Ted Gagne, the Tigres will look to use their speed and precision passing, as well as star goaltender Emmett O'Leary's goaltending prowess, to outmaneuver the Monarchs. The Monarchs will look to shut down the Tigres' high-powered attack by utilizing their physicality and disrupting the opposition's flow with their aggressive forechecking. The series is expected to be a closely contested one, with both teams boasting strong goaltending and potent offences. In the end, it will be up to which team can better balance their scoring and defensive efforts to emerge victorious and claim the coveted Sound Cup.

What did you think of the divisional finals? Who will lift the Sound Cup? Predictions are very much welcome. Other comments, criticisms, and questions about the ECHOverse are also appreciated.

Last edited by Kingsfan11 (5/17/2024 10:15 pm)