Édouard Julien and Nathan Landry: role models for LBJÉQ youth

BETTING DAY

Édouard Julien is the most recent player who played in the Quebec Junior Elite Baseball League (LBJÉQ) to reach major league baseball. Long before wearing the colors of the Minnesota Twins earlier this season, he donned the Quebec Diamonds uniform in 2017. He was only 18 years old. 

Obviously, Julien's leap into the big leagues has been inspiring for all young Quebecers who are preparing to start their new season in the LBJÉQ.

“To see a Quebecer enter major league baseball, it gives hope to maybe get there one day,” testifies Liam Marcoux, 17-year-old rookie with the Aigles Junior Élite, in Trois-Rivières.

“A model like Édouard Julien paves the way for the youngest players, confirmed Louis Ager, 22-year-old veteran with the Trois-Rivières team. This is also the case for Nathan Landry, a former teammate with the Eagles who is now in the Red Sox subsidiaries. It comes to prove to the youngest that everything is possible. It's inspiring!”

Marcoux and Ager were present, Tuesday afternoon in Trois-Rivières, at a press conference organized by the circuit bringing together several players who are among the best in Quebec.< /p>

“Often, we tend to say that to develop, you have to go elsewhere, like to American colleges, but the fact remains that the Quebec Junior Elite Baseball League also remains a very good option,” said Ager.

It starts on Saturday!

The 77th season of the elite junior league must therefore take off on Saturday, May 20. Five games are scheduled, including the one between the Laval Pirates and the Orioles, starting at 2 p.m. in Montreal, at Gary-Carter Stadium. A doubleheader is announced in Saint-Eustache as the Bisons host the Coaticook Rocket. Two games are also scheduled in LaSalle, where the Voyageurs de Jonquière will visit the Cardinals. 

The LBJÉQ is made up of a total of 13 regular teams. Charlesbourg, Gatineau, Granby, Longueuil, Quebec, Repentigny and Trois-Rivières are added to the picture, while the CBA 16 and under team plays each team once.

The Eagles at the Canadian Championship

Even before the start of the season, it was also determined that the Trois-Rivières Eagles would participate in the Canadian Championship at the beginning of August, in Manitoba. This project was made possible following an agreement with the leaders of the LBJÉQ.

“The Eagles are a very good team that will represent Quebec well at this tournament,” noted the commissioner of the LBJÉQ, Rodger Brulotte, who is also a colleague at the Journal.

“It adds an additional challenge to our season because we are really aiming for the playoff championship in the LBJÉQ, commented Ager. This is our big goal!”