Trois-Rivières Aigles (2013–)

The Trois-Rivières Aigles (French: Aigles de Trois-Rivières) are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. They are members of the Frontier League, and play their home games at Stade Quillorama.

Trois-Rivières Aigles
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (2020–present) (East Division)
LocationTrois-Rivières, Quebec
BallparkStade Quillorama
Year founded2012
League championships1 (2015)
Division championships0
Former league(s)Can-Am League (2013–2019)[1]
ColoursRed, black, white
     
MascotGrand Chelem l'Aigle
(in English: Grand Slam the Eagle)
Playoff berths
3
2015
2018
2019
OwnershipEmmanuel Turcotte, Michel Côté, Miles Wolff, Marc-Andre Bergeron, Éric Gagné
ManagerMatthew Rusch
General ManagerSimon Laliberté[2][3]
MediaLe Nouvelliste, 106,9FM, CFOU 89,1FM
Websitelesaiglestr.com

The Aigles are named to honour the previous Trois-Rivières Aigles, which called the same ballpark home from 1971 until 1977 as a member of the Eastern League as an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. In addition, a team in the Ligue de Baseball Junior Élite du Québec bore that name, winning the 2007 pennant. The Aigles' mascot is Grand Chelem l'aigle (English: Grand Slam the Eagle).

History

After various attempts to place a franchise in Trois-Rivières (including various exhibition games), the Can-Am League finally announced the Aigles' membership on October 3, 2012. Notable co-owners include 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner Éric Gagné and Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Marc-André Bergeron.[4]

On November 14, it was announced that Pierre-Luc Laforest would serve as the Aigles' inaugural manager. Laforest is best known for his time among the Aigles' provincial rivals the Québec Capitales, winning the Can-Am League MVP award in 2009 and serving as player/hitting coach in 2011 and 2012 (Laforest has been a member of all four of the Capitales' four consecutive Can-Am league pennant winners).[5]

In 2015, the Aigles qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the franchise's history. On September 13, 2015, the Aigles defeated the Rockland Boulders in Game 5 by a score of 7–2 and won the opening series 3 games to 2 and advanced to the championship for the first time in franchise history. They played the New Jersey Jackals and defeated them 3 games to 2 to win the 2015 Can-Am League championship, their first in franchise history.

The team joined the Frontier League for the 2020 season when that league absorbed the Can-Am League in a merger. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended closure of the Canada–United States border, the league announced that the Aigles (along with the Québec Capitales) would be unable to compete for the 2020 season (which was eventually cancelled).[6] The club later announced they intended to organize a separate league in Québec for the summer as an alternative, but these plans were eventually scrapped by both clubs.

In 2021, the Aigles again had their season cancelled due to the ongoing closure of the Canada–U.S. border. Canadian players signed by the Titans and the Aigles had the opportunity to join the Québec Capitales, who started the season as a travelling team, known as Équipe Québec (playing exclusively in the U.S.). While non-Canadian players signed by the Titans and the Aigles were subject to a dispersal draft among the 13 U.S.–based teams. They started the season as a traveling team, and as of July 30, 2021, they have played a total of 21 home games including 10 at Stade Canac, and 11 at Stade Quillorama. On July 30, Équipe Québec hosted the New York Boulders at Stade Canac and won the game 10-8 in front of a full house of 2,800 spectators, the maximum number allowed during sanitary measures. The Aigles intended on returning to competition for their inaugural season in 2022.

Current roster
Trois-Rivières Aigles roster
Active (24-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 34 Gage Feeney
  • 23 Luke Fitton
  • 18 Nick Garcia
  • 34 Frankie Giuliano
  • 50 Osman Gutierrez
  •  8 Tyler Luneke
  • 55 Sam Poliquin
  • 44 Jordan Schulefand
  •  6 Tucker Smith
  • 27 Jacob Stobart
  • 20 Jesen Therrien
  • -- Kyle Thomas ‡
  • 32 Ray Weber



  

Catchers

Infielders

  •  7 Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli
  • 14 Parker DePasquale
  • 21 Sadler Goodwin
  • 29 Juan Kelly
  • 13 Nolan Machibroda
  • 16 Malik Williams

Outfielders

  • 19 Steve Brown
  • 28 Caleb Feuerstake
  • -- Raphael Gladu ‡
  • 15 Rodrigo Orozco
  • 30 LP Pelletier
  • 44 Nate Scantlin
  

Manager

  • 22 Matthew Rusch

Coaches

  • 10 Reed Lavallée (assistant)
  • 26 Carlos Mirabal (assistant)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated June 6, 2023
 Transactions

Notable alumni

Season-by-season records
Trois-Rivières Aigles
Season W–L Record Win % Finish Playoffs
201343–56.4344th/5 in Can-Am LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201437–58.4744th/4 in Can-Am LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201550–46.5214th/6 in Can-Am LeagueWon Opening Round over Rockland Boulders 3–2
Won Championship over New Jersey Jackals 3–2
201635–65.3508th/8 in Can-Am LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201739–61.3906th/8 in Can-Am LeagueDid not qualify for playoffs
201853–49.5204th/8 in Can-Am LeagueLost Opening Round to Sussex County Miners 3–2
201958–37.6112nd/9 in Can-Am LeagueLost Opening Round to New Jersey Jackals 3–2
2020———Season cancelled due to COVID-19
2021Did not play. See note——--
202245–50.4747th/8 in FL EastDid not qualify for playoffs
202338–57.4007th/8 in FL EastDid not qualify for playoffs
Totals450–523.463—12–13

1: In 2021, Équipe Québec, a combination of the Aigles, Quebec Capitales and the Ottawa Titans playing in the Frontier League. With a record of 52–44, they finished first in the Atlantic Division, and lost the Division Series to the Washington Wild Things 3-2.

References
  1. "Can-Am League, Frontier League Merger Announced". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. October 16, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  2. Cossette, Jonathan (December 22, 2020). "Simon Laliberté nommé directeur général des Aigles, René Martin président". L'Hebdo Journal (in Canadian French). Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  3. "Raphael Gladu de retour à Trois-Rivières". Le Journal de Québec (in Canadian French). Agence QMI. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  4. "Can-Am League Expands to Trois-Rivieres". Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  5. "Laforest Tabbed as Trois-Rivieres Manager". Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  6. "QUEBEC CITY, TROIS-RIVIERES ORGANIZING QUEBEC PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP". frontierleague.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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