Posted January 18, 2026 2:19 pm.
Last Updated January 18, 2026 10:13 pm.
A Laval Rocket fan died after suffering a medical emergency during Saturday’s American Hockey League game at Place Bell, prompting officials to end the game early.
The incident occurred late in the third period of the Rocket game against the Manitoba Moose. With just over a minute remaining and Manitoba leading 3-0, play was stopped and the remainder of the game was cancelled.
The team later confirmed the final score as a 3-0 win for the Moose, with the final 1 minute and 12 seconds left unplayed.
Emergency response and hospital transport
Urgences Santé spokesperson Valérie Guerpin told CityNews that emergency crews received a 911 call at approximately 5:31 p.m. for a man who had become unconscious inside the arena.
Paramedics arrived within about three minutes and transported the patient to hospital. Guerpin said first responders performed CPR. She added that the exact cause of the medical emergency remains unknown.
Guerpin said the man’s death was confirmed at the hospital the same evening.
Team confirms death, offers condolences
The Laval Rocket organization confirmed the fan’s death in a statement posted on social media Sunday.
“It is with deep sadness that the Laval Rocket has learned the passing of its fan Michel Pelletier, who attended yesterday’s game at Place Bell,” the statement read.
“We would like to offer our most sincere condolences to his family and all his loved ones. 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.”
League offers condolences
The American Hockey League also issued a statement Sunday, offering its condolences.
“The American Hockey League extends its deepest condolences to the family of Michel Pelletier,” the league said. “We are grateful to the emergency responders at Place Bell who treated him, and our thoughts go out to his loved ones and to the Laval Rocket organization.”
https://t.co/lBpz5WeRec pic.twitter.com/zH8xpBF4Ks
— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) January 18, 2026
Family pays tribute to lifelong fan
Tributes quickly poured in on social media, including messages from Pelletier’s family.
In a comment posted on the Rocket Facebook page, Pelletier’s brother, Yves-Brenda Pelletier, thanked the organization and emergency responders.
“I am the brother of the victim and I want to highlight the class shown by the Rocket organization,” he wrote. “My brother was a huge Rocket fan, and you gave him a lot of joy over the past several seasons. Thank you to the organization and to all the fans of this great club. Thank you as well to all the medical responders who tried to save his life. Thank you for your kind words.”
Pelletier’s daughter, Sophie Pelletier, also shared a message of gratitude.
“Thank you for your messages of sympathy, and thank you to the organization,” she wrote. “I am this man’s daughter — he was my father — and he passed away peacefully at a Rocket game he loved attending. He was a very big fan of the club.”
Messages of condolence from fans continued to appear across social media throughout the weekend.