Sat 18 Jul 2026 - 08:00AM
FULL LOWDOWN ON DARICK LOUIS-JEAN
By Jono Bullard
Canadian defenceman Darick Louis-Jean became the latest addition to Panthers 2026/27 roster with an announcement on Thursday lunchtime.
The 25-year-old becomes the 16th signing for Panthers this off-season and the fifth on defence. He will wear the number 2 jersey for the club.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Louis-Jean began his career playing AAA junior hockey in his hometown, first for Montréal Nationals Bantam in 2014/15 before spending the following two seasons at Laval-Montréal Rousseau Royal.
Season 2017/18 saw him continue his junior career in Quebec at under-18 level, playing 15 games for College Andre-Grasset of Montréal and then 34 games for École Georges-Vanier in Laval.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) was Louis-Jean’s next destination, playing for Gatineau Olympiques. He played 133 games for Olympiques over the next two seasons, scoring 22 points before the QMJHL was shut down due to the covid pandemic.
On resumption in 2020/21, Louis-Jean played one more game for Olympiques before being traded to fellow QMJHL team Rimouski Océanic in January 2021, where he played eight games.
In February 2021, he moved on again to Fort Wayne Spacemen of the USPHL Premier. Louis-Jean played nine games for the Spacemen, scoring 10 points.
The following season, Louis-Jean tried out for new ECHL team Trois-Riviéres Lions and was signed to a contract for their inaugural season, making his professional hockey debut. He played 11 games for the Lions, posting two assists.
He moved on Quad City Storm of the SPHL and was loaned out to Iowa Heartlanders of the ECHL, where he played three games before returning to Quad City for the remainder of the season, playing 19 games and scoring 11 points.
In October 2022, Louis-Jean was added to the training camp roster of Savannah Ghost Pirates, also of the ECHL. He played two games for the Ghost Pirates before being claimed off waivers by Norfolk Admirals.
He spent the next three seasons in Norfolk, playing 204 games in the ECHL regular-season and Kelly Cup playoffs, scoring 19 goals and 47 assists for 66 points overall. He was also selected for the 2022/23 ECHL All-Star game after an impressive start to his Admirals career.
The 2025 off-season was a busy one for Louis-Jean. After originally agreeing to join Laval Pètroliers of the LNAH, he signed for Laval Rocket of the AHL in July 2025, initially on a two-way contract that would see him return to his first ECHL team, Trois-Riviéres Lions. He also spent time at the Montreal Canadiens training camp.
After playing 51 games for Lions, Louis-Jean was called up to Laval for his AHL debut on 13th March 2026 against Utica Comets. He played the following night against Syracuse Crunch before returning to Trois-Riviéres for six more games.
On 18th April, he returned to Rocket for his final two AHL games of 2025/26, both against Toronto Marlies.
Now, Darick Louis-Jean brings his hard-hitting defensive game to the Motorpoint Elite League and the Nottingham Panthers. We look forward to welcoming him on to the ice in August.