St-Hilaire agrees to terms with Lions

Trois-Rivières, Quebec - The Trois-Rivières Lions, ECHL affiliate of the Montréal Canadiens, have signed goaltender Samuel St-Hilaire for the 2026-27 season.

A native of Saint-Elzéar-de-Beauce, Québec, St-Hilaire spent last season with the Québec National in the LNAH, appearing in 18 games. St-Hilaire made his professional debut in the ECHL, appearing in one game during the 2024-25 season.

Prior to turning pro, St-Hilaire played three seasons in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League . After spending two years with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, he concluded his junior career with the Rimouski Océanic. In 81 career games, he compiled a 48-24-3 record, along with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.

During the 2023-24 season with the Phoenix, the Beauce, Quebec native enjoyed the best campaign of his junior career, posting an 18-12-1 record, a 2.40 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and five shutouts. He earned a nomination for the Patrick Roy Trophy, awarded annually to the QMJHL's top goaltender. That same year, he also represented Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

St-Hilaire has also attended NHL rookie camps with the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023 before taking part in the Los Angeles Kings' rookie camp the following year.