Quebec Junior Elite Baseball League Final Honors Legacy of Broadcasting Icon Rodger Brulotte

The Ligue de baseball junior élite du Québec (LBJEQ) enters a defining weekend as the Royal Chevrolet hold a 3-2 series lead over the Diamants de Québec in the championship final. This year carries profound emotional weight for the province’s baseball community, marking the first time the postseason champion could lift the newly minted Rodger Brulotte Trophy, named in honor of the late broadcaster and league president who died six months ago.

A Championship Tied to a Storied Legacy

The junior circuit officially adopted the circuit Rodger-Brulotte moniker to honor the beloved former voice of the Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays. For the Royal, based in the Lanaudière region where Brulotte resided during his final years, the series offers a unique local connection. Royal manager Mathieu Granger noted that his close personal relationship with Brulotte adds extra motivation to the club’s title push.

“His spouse Pascale Vallée came to see us a few times and I had a very good relationship with Rodger,” Granger said. “He called me often, we chatted after our games. We are happy with what is happening to us, but it would be a little extra to win for him!”

Loïc Guillemette, acquired by the team in July from the Aigles de Trois-Rivières, reflected on wearing a jersey representing the iconic figure. “We know the name well, we are all ball guys and we all one day or another watched Blue Jays games,” Guillemette said.

Memories Shared Across Generations

Opposing dugout manager Raphaël Prémont of the Diamants de Québec recalled a memorable encounter with Brulotte following the 2023 league finals, when the veteran broadcaster personally sought out the defeated team to offer words of encouragement.

LBJEQ final to present newly minted Rodger Brulotte trophy

“He walked into the bus and told us how impressed he was to see us go, that he was proud of us, that we represented the league well,” Prémont said, adding that Brulotte treated the players to his trademark catchphrase, “Bonsoir, ils sont partis!”

Diamants pitcher Charles Bernard even mastered an impression of Brulotte’s distinctive broadcasting style for TVA Sports, drawing laughs from teammates and coaches who noted the uncanny vocal resemblance.

Félix Morin, a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher for Quebec, emphasized the broader cultural impact of the broadcaster. “He is an icon of Quebec, of Quebec baseball,” Morin said. “We all grew up with his voice. My parents liked to watch baseball in English, but I always pushed for us to watch them in French with Rodger!”

A Fierce Battle on the Field

On the diamond, the championship series has lived up to expectations despite high drama. Game 4 ended in controversy following a 10th-inning balk call, but Repentigny bounced back on Thursday with a 2-0 shutout victory against the Diamants at Stade Canac.

Prémont praised the intensity of the matchup as the teams head into Saturday’s crucial contest in Repentigny. “It’s fun as a series, it’s so tight,” Prémont said. “We are entitled to a duel of pitchers and to face a team that looks like us, I find it challenging and pleasant.”

Granger acknowledged the magnitude of the upcoming game for the Royal organization. “The guys are really excited to be able to pull off an upset against the heavy favorites!” he said.