About Us - History of Our League

The Ligue des as de Saint-Léonard is the oldest intermediate hockey league which is accredited to the city of Saint-Léonard (today, Borough of Saint-Léonard).The League was founded by Mr Guy Ouellette and Mr Léo Proulx with the participation of Mr Emile Béland et Mr Gaston Pelletier. At first the League was called "La Ligue de Dépression" (The Depression League) but since there was already a hockey league  with the same name, the League changed its name to  "LA LIGUE DES AS DE SAINT-LÉONARD".

In 1968, at the opening of the Saint-Léonard Arena (today named Arena Martin Brodeur), the Ligue had it debut and played the first hockey games for the leisure and recreation of the citizens of the City aged 30 years old and over. Since 1968, for more than 36 years, the Ligue has always played these hockey games on Friday nights, from 9pm until midnight, except for a few Fridays when the Ligue has had to accommodate the City who may have needed those hours already reserved for the Ligue.

Since inception, given that all the players in the Ligue are either residents of the City of Saint-Léonard, or employees of the City and/or they have a property or operate a business and are thus taxpayers to the City of Saint-Léonard, the Ligue des As de Saint-Léonard has always paid for the ice time at the same rate and cost as the prices paid by the Minor Hockey Association.

The Ligue has always required from all new players who want to join that they fulfill the requirements stated above. The Ligue has and can provide at all times irrefutable proof of the situation mentioned above on behalf of all active players and members who participate in the Ligue des AS. Therefore the grandfather clause remains in force concerning the hourly rates for ice rental, that is the same as what is paid by the Minor Hockey Association and also this situation protects the right of the Ligue to maintain and reserve the same ice times, on Fridays from 9pm until midnight.

ANTHONY CICIOLA
President Ex-Ufficio, and participating member since 1970