Kevin Mandolese is finally in Laval for good. On July 1, the Blainville native signed with the Rockets for the upcoming season
By Justin Vézina
If last season represented a missed opportunity for both the Laval Rocket and Kevin Mandolese, their partnership is finally becoming a reality. A year ago, the two sides agreed to a professional tryout, but it never turned into anything concrete.
As a result, the goaltender lived a nomadic existence during the 2025-26 season, which he described as “a bit of a crazy year.” He won both of his AHL starts, one with the Syracuse Crunch and another with the Charlotte Checkers, before packing his bags and playing about 10 games in Slovakia.
“It was the first time I’d gone through a season like that, but it taught me a lot about myself and helped me adapt to situations I probably wouldn’t have experienced if I’d had more stability,” Mandolese said during a video conference.
This coming season, however, the masked man will be much closer to home. The 26-year-old netminder signed a one-year deal with Laval, an agreement he believes can help him take the next step in his career.
“(This contract) is just the first step toward several things I want to accomplish. Long term, I’d like to be in the NHL and play for the Canadiens. But it’s my short-term goals that will get me there. My mission is to be as consistent as possible in practice and get one percent better every day. At the end of the day, if I control what I can control, I’ll give myself the best chance to succeed,” said the former Ottawa Senators goaltender, who has appeared in three NHL games. games.
In Front of Family, Friends and Fans?
For Mandolese, returning to play just a few minutes from his family home is “something special,” especially considering the path he has taken.
The Blainville native has not played for a Quebec-based team since he was 16 years old. Although he spent his junior career in the QMJHL, he suited up exclusively for the Cape Breton Eagles, where he won the Jacques Plante Trophy as the league’s top goaltender in 2019-20.
He then spent four seasons in the Senators organization after being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. The left-catching goaltender also spent one season in the Colorado Avalanche organization with the Colorado Eagles.
“Playing at home is not something I take for granted, especially in front of the Rocket crowd,” he said. “I remember those were always my favorite games when I was in Belleville. It’s going to be even more fun having the fans on my side.”
In addition to being closer to family and local support, Mandolese may also get the chance to reunite with one of his best friends. On July 1, the Montreal Canadiens signed fellow Blainville native Samuel Poulin to a one-year, two-way contract. If the 25-year-old forward does not crack Montreal’s roster, he could find himself with the Rocket.
“We played together with the Bastions (of Blainville), the Conquérants (of the Laurentides), and even in summer three-on-three hockey,” said Mandolese. “Lately, whenever Sam and I talk, we’re just excited about the possibility of playing together again.”
Following in Marco Marciano’s Footsteps:
When told that he owns a perfect 6-0 record in six career starts at Place Bell, the Rocket’s newest goaltender breaks into a smile.
“There’s always extra motivation when you play in Laval because you want to quiet the crowd. There aren’t many crowds like that in the AHL. In my case, there was another reason too, because I know Marco Marciano very well,” he joked. “I wanted to beat him, so there was a little more on the line than usual.”
Marciano, formerly the Rocket’s goaltending coach and now the Canadiens’ interim goaltending coach, remains someone Mandolese holds in the highest regard.
“I don’t think I’d be where I am today without Marco and (his colleague) Maxime Vaillancourt,” the goaltender said. “He demands a lot, but for the right reasons. He wants to bring out the best in you, and he’s willing to invest time in you that other people might not. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a first-round pick, a seventh-round pick, or undrafted. He treats everyone the same.
“And I think that’s why so many goaltenders who have come through Laval or Montreal speak so highly of him.”
So while Marciano will not start a season with the Rocket for the first time in franchise history, his influence and teachings will continue to be felt throughout the organization.
