ECHL's Lions release overager Dube

Trois-Rivieres Lions

Could a marquee overage player be on his way back to the QMJHL?

The ECHL's Trois-Rivieres Lions released 20-year-old forward Pierrick Dube on Monday. The news comes with some intrigue given that it was reported a couple days ago that the Saint John Sea Dogs were looking into bringing Dube back to junior hockey.

Les @SJSeaDogs auraient fait une offre à Pierrick Dubé #Lions pour revenir dans la @LHJMQ.#LHJMQ

— Charles Ouellet (@ouelletcharles1) December 11, 2021

Dube split last season between the Quebec Remparts and Chicoutimi Sagueneens, scoring a combined 17 goals and 11 assists in 24 games. He added nine goals and five assists in nine playoff games.

A native of Lyon, France, Dube spent the three previous seasons with the Remparts. He was selected 18th overall in the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft held in Saint John.

His QMJHL rights were traded to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in June but he opted to turn pro. In 10 games with the Montreal Canadiens ECHL affiliate this year, Dube has a goal and three assists.

While Dube plays international hockey for France, he is considered a dual citizen like Noah Patenaude and Vincent Despont, meaning he does not take up an import spot. He does take up an overage spot though, and Saint John's are currently filled by defenseman Christopher Inniss, forward Ryan Francis and goaltender Jonathan Lemieux.

The Drakkar, who sit 16th overall in the standings, will likely try and move Dube if he does indeed return to the QMJHL. The league's holiday trading period opens on Sunday - although overage players can be moved beforehand.