Rimouski Océanic

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Rimouski Océanic
City: Rimouski, Quebec
League: Q.M.J.H.L.
Division: Telus
Founded: 1995-96
Home Arena: Colisée de Rimouski
Colours: Royal Blue, White & Navy Blue
Head Coach: Clément Jodoin
General Manager: André Jolicoeur
Franchise history
1962-69: Thetford Mines Canadiens
1969-82: Sherbrooke Castors
1982-89: Saint-Jean Castors
1989-95: Saint-Jean Lynx
1995-Present: Rimouski Océanic

The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was granted for the 1969-1970 season. They were the Sherbrooke Castors from 1969 to 1982, then the Saint-Jean Castors from 1982 to 1989, then the Saint-Jean Lynx from 1989 to 1995 before moving to Rimouski.

Their logo is an ocean liner with a set of teeth on the bow, jutting out of waves. The team colours are royal blue, navy blue, and white. Their home arena is the Colisée de Rimouski. The team's sweater has proven popular in the USA, as Reebok has issued it with Sidney Crosby's number 87 on it.

The team won the QMJHL championship in the 19992000 season and went on to win the Memorial Cup that year, with a team featuring future NHL star Brad Richards.

The team is currently one of the more well-known teams in the Canadian Hockey League, particularly because of the addition of Sidney Crosby in the 20032004 season. Crosby's 135 points for the club set a new record for a 16-year-old in the QMJHL and was second only to Wayne Gretzky in that particular age-group for all Canadian Hockey.

In 2005, the Océanic set a QMJHL record, going 28 consecutive games without a loss. The team then went on to win 7 games in a row in the playoffs, improving the unbeaten streak to an unofficial 35 straight. They won their second QMJHL championship in five years, and represented the QMJHL in the 2005 Memorial Cup. After losing the opener against the hometown London Knights, the Oceanic beat both the defending Memorial Cup champions Kelowna Rockets, who were in their third straight Memorial Cup, and the Ottawa 67's. Rimouski then beat the 67's again in the semi-finals to set up a rematch of their opening game against the Knights. The Oceanic were shut out in the final game 4-0.

The QMJHL announced on April 3, 2008, that the Océanic were chosen to host the 2009 Memorial Cup.[1]

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