A championship-winning hockey team has been kicked out of its league after players and staff were caught on video destroying the trophy they had just earned.
The Pétroliers de Laval, also known as the Laval Oilers, captured the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH) title on May 2 by sweeping the Bataillon de Saint-Hyacinthe and winning the Gilles-Rousseau Cup.
What should have been a celebration quickly turned into controversy when videos surfaced online showing members of the team damaging the championship trophy inside the locker room.
One clip that spread widely on social media showed an individual delivering a wrestling-style elbow drop onto the cup, drawing comparisons to iconic WWE finishing moves. Other footage appeared to show players and staff handling the trophy in ways that caused significant damage.
The LNAH responded almost immediately, suspending the Oilers indefinitely and condemning the behavior as disrespectful to the league, its history, and previous champions. League officials said the actions damaged the image and integrity of the competition.
Weeks later, on May 29, team governors across the league voted to formally expel the organization. In an announcement outlining plans for the 2026–27 season, the LNAH confirmed it would move forward with seven teams and that Laval would no longer be part of the league.
The Oilers have challenged the decision, saying they were surprised by the severity of the punishment and arguing that the league lacks the authority to dissolve the organization entirely. The club is reportedly reviewing its legal options while acknowledging that mistakes were made and expressing a willingness to work with the league to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For now, however, the decision stands, leaving the newly crowned champions out of the league just weeks after winning the title. What began as a championship celebration has turned into one of the most unusual disciplinary cases in recent hockey history.