National honour caps standout season for Concordia captain Simon Lavigne

Blainville native Simon Lavigne has long been a cornerstone of the Concordia Stingers blue line. Now, the veteran defenceman has national recognition to match his impact.

Lavigne, a fourth-year finance student from Blainville, Que., was recently named the 2026 U SPORTS men’s hockey Defenceman of the Year, capping a standout season in which he also earned OUA East Player of the Year and First Team OUA East All-Star honours. 

Serving as captain of the Stingers, Lavigne combined leadership, physical play and offensive production throughout the 2025-26 campaign, recording 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists, which is the third-highest total on his team and one of the top marks among defencemen in the conference. 

But the path that led the Blainville product to the top of university hockey began much earlier, rooted in a childhood spent around rinks and backyard ice.

Like many Canadian players, his introduction to the sport came through family. His father’s passion for the game quickly became his own.

“My hockey journey started a lot with my dad. He was passionate about hockey,” Lavigne said. 

“I started skating around two and a half years old, and started playing as soon as I could. We had a backyard rink at my home, and used to shoot pucks there, that’s where the passion really started.” 

His development wasn’t always linear.

Lavigne played minor hockey in the Montreal area before moving on to midget AAA in Quebec and eventually being drafted into the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he spent four seasons. 

Following his junior career, he briefly signed a professional contract within the Calgary Flames organization before making a decision that ultimately shaped his future.

“I signed a professional hockey contract with the Calgary Flames organization, where I played for a couple months,” he said. 

“Then I decided to go back to U SPORTS and go get my degree before trying to get back to pro hockey after.” 

Concordia proved to be the ideal fit.

Lavigne was drawn to the university’s John Molson School of Business finance program, as well as the opportunity to stay close to home and family.

“For me, I wanted to stay in my hometown,” he said. 

“I decided to go to Concordia, which is a decision that I don’t regret to this day.” 

The decision paid dividends both academically and athletically.

Over the past several seasons, Lavigne has helped guide the Stingers to sustained success, including helping Concordia capture its first-ever OUA championship in 2025. Along the way, his steady presence on the blue line helped anchor a defensive unit that allowed the third-fewest goals in U SPORTS during the 2025-26 season.

Internationally, Lavigne also represented Canada at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games, an experience he described as both unexpected and unforgettable. 

“To represent Canada was special, probably something I wasn’t expecting to do in my life,” he said. 

“It was kind of like a small Olympics… and to win was awesome as well.” 

Much of his and Concordia’s success, he believes, stems from the culture within the team’s locker room.

“For us, it started early,” Lavigne said. 

“The last three years we’ve been doing little trips… so chemistry as a group was built from day one. I think that’s what our success was all about, the group of guys we had.” 

As captain, Lavigne also embraced the responsibility of acting as a bridge between players and coaches, a leadership role he took seriously.

“My role was to bring what the guys want into a coach’s office, and the same thing from the coach’s office to the guys,” he said. 

“As a leader, it’s just to be there for the guys and be a good ear for them.” 

His leadership philosophy was forged after an early playoff exit during his second season, an experience that motivated him to elevate his preparation.

“In our exit meetings with our coaches, I told my coach, ‘I never want to end my season again in February,’” he said. 

“So my summer was really great for me, working hard, a lot of workouts and ice sessions.” 

The commitment paid off. Lavigne returned the following season determined to help the Stingers compete for championships.

“When everybody’s running on the same pace, same speed, you find ways to create good things,” he said. 

Now, with a national award recognizing his dominance at both ends of the ice, Lavigne’s impact on Concordia’s program is undeniable.

Still, the proud Montrealer remains grounded in the same passion that began on a backyard rink years ago.