LNAH
A championship-winning hockey team has been expelled by its league after players and staff were filmed destroying the trophy they had just won.
The Pétroliers de Laval, also known as the Laval Oilers, won the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey championship on May 2 after sweeping the Bataillon de Saint-Hyacinthe in the final and claiming the Gilles-Rousseau Cup.
However, the celebration quickly spiraled into controversy after footage spread online showing members of the organization damaging the trophy in the locker room.
One viral clip showed an individual hitting the cup with a professional wrestling-style elbow drop, drawing comparisons to WWE legend “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Shawn Michaels.
LNAH expels Laval Oilers after trophy destruction
The LNAH responded on May 3 by suspending the Oilers indefinitely, saying videos and photos showed the trophy being destroyed by players and staff members. The league called the actions “disgraceful” and said they showed a clear lack of respect for previous champions, as well as the integrity and image of the LNAH.
On May 29, the league confirmed that governors from its member teams had voted in favor of expelling and dissolving the Oilers organization.
📰🏆 La nouvelle : Les Pétroliers de Laval ont remporté hier soir la Coupe Gilles-Rousseau en balayant le Bataillon de St-Hyacinthe (l'équipe de Guillaume Latendresse) en grande finale.
👎🤢 L'éditorial : les joueurs des Pétroliers ont complètement détruit la coupe lors de leurs… pic.twitter.com/q7ndT4zzsg
— DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) May 3, 2026
In its official announcement for the 2026-27 season, the LNAH said the next campaign will begin with seven teams. The league added that the Oilers’ actions had harmed the image, integrity, and traditions of the circuit.
The team, however, has pushed back against the decision. According to Courrier Laval, the organization said it was surprised by the severity of the sanction and argued that the league does not have the power to dissolve the Pétroliers de Laval.
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The club also said it was reviewing its options, including possible legal action, while acknowledging wrongdoing and saying it was open to working with the league to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For now, the LNAH appears to be moving forward without Laval, leaving the newly crowned champions out of the league just weeks after lifting the cup.
Amusingly, this isn’t the first time a trophy was destroyed, albeit it’s rarely done on purpose. Back in 2022, a Pokemon Trading Card Game competitor couldn’t believe his eyes as he stepped up to collect his award, only to find that the trophy crumbled into pieces.
In another case, Shuton, the champion of Evo Japan’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament, was mortified after he dropped his custom controller prize during the award ceremony.
