ECHL: the best defender of the Lions of Trois-Rivières deserts the team

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Already lacking depth on the blue line, the Trois-Rivières Lions will have to deal with the loss of Quebec defender Alex Breton. 

The Beauceron of 25 year-old announced to the Montreal Canadiens' school club in the ECHL that he had accepted a contract offer in Europe on Tuesday.

In order to maintain his rights in the circuit in the event that he makes a return to North America, general manager Marc-André Bergeron suspended Breton.

“Leaving the Lions was not an easy decision, admitted the principal concerned, whose remarks were reported on Twitter by the team playing at the Colisée Videotron.

“I loved my time with the team, but I couldn't ignore such a great offer in Europe. I thank the “fans” and my teammates who made my time in Trois-Rivières very pleasant.”

We don't yet know where Breton will evolve on the Old Continent. He had spent two campaigns in the Slovak first division, between 2020 and 2022, wearing the colors of Banska Bystrica HC 05 and SK Slovan Bratislava.

Last June, the Lions agreed on the terms of a one-year pact with Breton. He was loaned for 11 games to the Belleville Senators of the American Hockey League.

In 30 duels with the Trois-Rivières team, the former Gatineau Olympiques scored seven goals and 25 points, making him the most productive guard in the squad and the team's third-leading scorer.