PROPULSION Sports Agency
Quebec Full-Service

Canada

$53M

Key Facts

Also known as: Propulsion Agency, PROPULSION – Agence Sportive, Propulsion Hockey
Founded: 2018
Headquarters: Montréal, QC, Canada
Other offices: No additional public offices listed; Ottawa legal support through Matthew Ebbs and Europe coverage through SeventyOne Hockey Agency
Agency type: Boutique-to-mid-size hockey specialist agency
Ownership: Privately held; founding members include Nicola Riopel and Étienne Lafleur
Primary markets: NHL, AHL, ECHL, CHL/QMJHL, PWHL, Swiss NL, DEL, SHL, Liiga, KHL and broader Europe
Players (About $53M public active NHL contract value; about $7M active cap hit): 50 total clients; 7 NHL clients; 12 NHL-drafted clients, as of May 2026
Key agents: Nicola Riopel, Étienne Lafleur, Matthew Ebbs; Benoit Laporte listed as consultant
Languages: French, English
Contact email: n.riopel@propulsionagency.com; e.lafleur@propulsionagency.com
Phone / WhatsApp: Not publicly listed
Website: https://propulsionagency.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/propulsion_hockey/
X: https://twitter.com/propulsion_HKY
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PropulsionHockey
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/nick-riopel-4332a6b9

About PROPULSION Sports Agency

PROPULSION Sports Agency is a Montréal-based hockey representation firm built around a full-service, family-advisory model. The agency was founded by former professional goaltender Nicola Riopel and lawyer Étienne Lafleur, combining playing experience, legal training and player-development support. Riopel played close to a decade of professional hockey after being drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers and remains closely tied to goalie development, junior hockey and player mentorship. Lafleur brings a labour-law and civil-law background, giving the agency a strong legal backbone for negotiation and player-family advisory work.

PROPULSION’s growth accelerated in 2023 when MacKenzie Weegar joined the agency group, giving the young Quebec agency a major NHL client and a high-profile contract platform. Matthew Ebbs, Weegar’s long-time agent and legal counsel, is now listed with PROPULSION as director and NHLPA-certified agent. The agency has since expanded into a broader portfolio that includes NHL/AHL players, European pros, CHL prospects and PWHL athletes. Its public client list includes MacKenzie Weegar, Guillaume Brisebois, Ann-Renée Desbiens, Nikita Scherbak, Michael Joly, Antoine Bibeau, Nicolas Beaudin and Alexis Bernier. PROPULSION is known for turnkey service: player development, draft preparation, contract negotiation, athlete marketing, finance and international placement. Its SeventyOne Hockey Agency affiliation strengthens European visibility and creates another pathway for players moving between North America and Europe.

Client Roster

Top NHL / NHL-Experienced Players

• MacKenzie Weegar [Utah Mammoth] – D – Canada – 1994-01-07

• Guillaume Brisebois [Vancouver Canucks] – D – Canada – 1997-07-21

• Nikita Scherbak [HC Innsbruck] – F – Russia – 1995-12-30

• Nicolas Beaudin [Straubing Tigers] – D – Canada – 1999-10-07

• Dale Weise [IK Oskarshamn, latest] – F – Canada – 1988-08-05

• Antoine Bibeau [EHC München] – G – Canada – 1994-05-01

• Brandon Davidson [HC Kometa Brno] – D – Canada – 1991-08-21

Top Professional Players

• Michael Joly [HC Ambrì-Piotta] – F – Canada – 1995-05-05

• Thomas Grégoire [Severstal Cherepovets] – D – Canada – 1998-07-15

• Ben Tardif [Luleå HF] – F – Canada – 2000-01-24

• Mario Scalzo [Blue Devils Weiden] – D – Canada – 1984-11-11

• Simon Pinard [Greenville Swamp Rabbits] – F – Canada – 2001-01-26

• Jérémy Grégoire [EHC Chur] – F – Canada – 1995-09-05

Prospects & Young Talents

• Alexis Bernier [Seattle Kraken / Chicoutimi Saguenéens, QMJHL] – D – Canada – 2006-06-21

• Justin Blais [Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL] – D – Canada – 2007-09-27

• Benjamin Cossette-Ayotte [Val-d’Or Foreurs, QMJHL] – D – Canada – 2008-01-03

• Antoine Provencher [Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL] – F – Canada – 2009-07-09

Goalies

• Ann-Renée Desbiens [Montréal Victoire] – G – Canada – 1994-04-10

• Antoine Bibeau [EHC München] – G – Canada – 1994-05-01

• Jonathan Lemieux [Allen Americans] – G – Canada – 2001-04-09

• Samuel Harvey [HC Fribourg-Gottéron, latest] – G – Canada – 1998-02-14

• Alex Dubeau [Latest public club not confirmed] – G – Canada – 1994-05-04

Women’s Hockey Clients

• Ann-Renée Desbiens [Montréal Victoire] – G – Canada – 1994-04-10

• Emmy Fecteau [New York Sirens] – F – Canada – 1999-04-07

Coaches/Staff Represented

• No publicly verified coaches or team staff represented.

Notable Former Clients

• Dale Weise – NHL veteran; represented in post-NHL European phase

• Pascal Laberge – former Flyers prospect; previously identified in Propulsion coverage

• Xavier Bernard – AHL/Europe defenseman previously identified in Propulsion coverage

• Anthony Beauregard – North American/Europe forward previously identified in Propulsion coverage

Highlights

• Negotiation style: legal-backed, relationship-first and built around full-service player support.

• NHLPA/CBA expertise: Matthew Ebbs, Nicola Riopel and Étienne Lafleur are listed as NHLPA-certified agents.

• Network strengths: Quebec, QMJHL, NHL/AHL, PWHL, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Finland and the KHL.

• Development pipeline: strong QMJHL and Quebec prospect lane, including Seattle Kraken prospect Alexis Bernier.

• Cross-border execution: North America-to-Europe placements, European extensions and North American draft preparation.

• Brand/commercial capability: athlete marketing, media relations and social-media guidance are part of the agency service model.

Agency Snapshot

Origin Story

• PROPULSION was launched around Nicola Riopel’s transition from professional goaltender to player representative.

• Étienne Lafleur added legal and labour-relations expertise as a founding member and managing partner.

• Matthew Ebbs later joined the agency platform, bringing MacKenzie Weegar and a high-value NHL contract portfolio.

Milestones

• 2018 – PROPULSION’s public agency presence and website launched.

• 2020 – Nicola Riopel was publicly quoted in Quebec media as agent and president of PROPULSION.

• 2023 – MacKenzie Weegar became the agency’s first major NHL client.

• 2023 – Weegar won IIHF World Championship gold and was named the tournament’s best defenseman.

• 2025 – Guillaume Brisebois signed a one-year, two-way Vancouver Canucks extension.

• 2026 – Alexis Bernier signed a three-year entry-level contract with Seattle.

• 2026 – Multiple European clients signed or extended, including Michael Joly, Thomas Grégoire, Nicolas Beaudin and Antoine Bibeau.

Network Strengths

• North America: NHL, AHL, ECHL, QMJHL, CHL draft preparation and PWHL representation.

• Europe: Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Austria and KHL markets.

• Specialty lanes: Quebec prospects, defensemen, goaltenders, PWHL stars and North America-to-Europe placements.

Support Team / Partners

• Nicola Riopel – president, NHLPA-certified agent, PWHLPA-certified agent, PHPA agent-program member and family advisor

• Étienne Lafleur – vice president, lawyer, NHLPA-certified agent and family advisor

• Matthew Ebbs – director, legal counsel, NHLPA-certified agent and family advisor

• Benoit Laporte – consultant

• SeventyOne Hockey Agency – European affiliation

• Sportius – web/design partner behind the agency’s public platform

• Legal, finance and marketing support – handled through the agency’s internal legal and full-service advisory model

Notable Deals Led by PROPULSION Sports Agency

• 2022 – MacKenzie Weegar: Calgary Flames – Matthew Ebbs-led long-term extension – 8 years – $50.00M – $6.25M AAV

• 2025 – Guillaume Brisebois: Vancouver Canucks – two-way extension – 1 year – $775K – $775K NHL cap hit

• 2026 – Alexis Bernier: Seattle Kraken – entry-level contract – 3 years – $3.01M – $1.003M cap hit

• 2026 – Michael Joly: HC Ambrì-Piotta – National League extension – through 2027-28 – value undisclosed

• 2026 – Thomas Grégoire: Severstal Cherepovets – KHL extension – 1 year – value undisclosed

• 2026 – Nicolas Beaudin: Straubing Tigers – DEL extension – 2026-27 – value undisclosed

• 2026 – Antoine Bibeau: EHC München – DEL extension – 2026-27 – value undisclosed

• 2025 – Ben Tardif: Kärpät → Luleå HF – SHL transfer – through 2026-27 – value undisclosed

• 2025 – Nikita Scherbak: HC Innsbruck – ICEHL signing / continuation – through 2026-27 – value undisclosed

• 2025 – Michael Joly: HC Lugano → HC Ambrì-Piotta – Swiss NL move – later extended through 2028 – value undisclosed

Track Record (Last 3 Seasons)

• NHL contracts signed: 2 public NHL contracts in the period: Guillaume Brisebois extension and Alexis Bernier ELC.

• Active NHL contracts represented: 2 public active contracts.

• Total active NHL value signed/represented: $50.775M.

• Active NHL cap hit represented: $7.025M.

• Future ELC value: $3.01M for Alexis Bernier beginning in 2026-27.

• Extensions/renewals: Brisebois, Bernier, Michael Joly, Thomas Grégoire, Nicolas Beaudin and Antoine Bibeau among recent public examples.

• ELCs signed: 1 public NHL ELC, Alexis Bernier with Seattle.

• RFA outcomes: No public NHL RFA settlement in the period beyond depth-contract activity.

• Arbitration cases: No public arbitration hearings found.

• Europe transfers: 6+ visible recent moves/extensions across Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Austria and the KHL.

• Aggregate client market value: $50.775M active NHL value, excluding European salaries and PWHL contracts that are not publicly valued in the same way.

Compliance & Accreditation

• Nicola Riopel is listed as an NHLPA-certified agent.

• Nicola Riopel is listed as a PWHLPA-certified agent.

• Nicola Riopel is listed as a PHPA Agent Program member.

• Étienne Lafleur is listed as an NHLPA-certified agent and lawyer.

• Matthew Ebbs is listed as an NHLPA-certified agent and legal counsel.

• No public professional liability insurance statement found.

• No public disciplinary or ethics issue found in reliable sources.

Testimonials

• “MacKenzie wanted to join a young full-service agency.” – Nicola Riopel, agency announcement coverage

• “Our collaboration will allow greater visibility for our players in Europe.” – Nicola Riopel, SeventyOne partnership announcement

• “The way they are treating their clients is all about honesty.” – Patrick Gandolfi Hellman, SeventyOne Hockey Agency

• “With PROPULSION, you benefit from a turnkey service.” – Agency service statement

Press, Awards & Recognition

• 2018 – Sportius portfolio feature on PROPULSION’s agency website and early professional-player roster

• 2020 – Nicola Riopel quoted by TVA Sports as president and founding member of PROPULSION

• 2023 – Quebec hockey media covered MacKenzie Weegar becoming PROPULSION’s first major NHL client

• 2023 – Weegar won IIHF World Championship gold and Best Defenseman honors

• 2026 – Alexis Bernier signed a Seattle Kraken entry-level contract after a QMJHL championship run with Chicoutimi

• 2026 – Multiple PROPULSION clients secured European extensions across the NL, DEL, SHL and KHL