Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey

See also: North American Hockey League (1973–1977) and North American Hockey League.

The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey(North American Hockey League)^[1][2] (LNAH) was founded in 2004 and is a low-level professional league based in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was called the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League from 1996 until it turned pro in 2004. It has no connection with the similarly named North American Hockey League (NAHL), an American junior league for players under twenty. Teams in the LNAH compete for the Futura Cup, which has been awarded annually since 1997.

Unlike higher-level professional leagues, such as the American Hockey League or the ECHL, the LNAH is not known for its skill level. Its teams employ many enforcers and has a rather infamous reputation for on-ice antics that mostly include fisticuffs. The LNAH has the unofficial reputation as the world's toughest hockey league; a New York Times article stated that the league averaged 3.2 fights a game during the 2010-2011 season, compared with 0.6 fights in the National Hockey League.^[3]

Despite this reputation, many of the players are ex-NHL or ex-AHL players; Patrick Cote, Michel Picard, Stephane Richer, Bobby Dollas, Guillaume Lefebvre, Garrett Burnett, Daniel Shank, Francois Leroux, Jeremy Stevenson, Eric Fichaud, Mario Roberge, David Gosselin, Jesse Belanger, Donald Brashear and Yves Racine. During the 2004–2005 NHL lockout, some NHL players played the entire season in the league, such as Sylvain Blouin, Sebastien Caron, Mathieu Biron, Marc-André Bergeron and Sebastien Charpentier. The league has a rule that stipulates that all players must either have come from Quebec, or played junior hockey in Quebec.^[3]

Another unique aspect, compared to other minor pro leagues of North America, is the absence of a veteran limit rule, which allows teams to stock up on experienced players. The league is slowly trying to clean itself up (for 2005–2006, the roster limit went from 20 to 19 players, which for most teams meant one less enforcer), but this is no easy task for a league that has always been popular with the fans for its reputation of being the toughest league in the world.

The LNAH Draft is held during the summer, including 15 rounds. Players too old for junior ice hockey may be drafted even if they were already drafted by an NHL team. Drafted players come from many leagues, including the Canadian Hockey League, American Hockey League, lower-level professional league, and the CIS.

Current teams

• Rivière-du-Loup 3L (2010-present)
• Saguenay Marquis (2009-present)
• Saint-Georges CRS Express (2010-present)
• Sorel-Tracy GCI (2010-present)
• Thetford Mines Isothermic (2007-present)
• Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay (2004-present)
• Windsor Wild (2011-present)

Champions

• 1996-97 — Saint-Gabriel Blizzard
• 1997-98 — Lachute Rapides
• 1998-99 — Joliette Blizzard
• 1999-00 — LaSalle Rapides
• 2000-01 — Joliette Mission
• 2001-02 — Laval Chiefs
• 2002-03 — Laval Chiefs
• 2003-04 — Verdun Dragons
• 2004-05 — Québec Radio X
• 2005-06 — Sherbrooke Saint-François
• 2006-07 — Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs
• 2007-08 — Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay
• 2008-09 — Pont Rouge Lois Jeans
• 2009-10 — Saint-Georges CRS Express
• 2010-11 — Sherbrooke Saint-François

Defunct teams

• Acton Vale Beaulieu (2000–2001; became Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin)
• Acton Vale Nova (1996–2000; renamed Acton Vale Beaulieu)
• Asbestos Aztèques (1997–2001; renamed Asbestos Dubé)
• Asbestos Aztèques (2002–2003; folded)
• Asbestos Dubé (2001–2002; renamed Asbestos Aztèques)
• Côte-de-Beaupré As (2000–2001; became Québec As and played at Charlesbourg in 2001–2002 and at Beauport in 2002–2003)
• Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay (1999–2000; became Côte-de-Beaupré As)
• Granby Blitz (1997–2002; renamed Granby Prédateurs)
• Granby Prédateurs (2002–2004; folded)
• Haut-Richelieu Dragons (1996–1997; renamed Iberville Dragons)
• Iberville Dragons (1997–1998; became Saint-Laurent Dragons)
• Joliette Blizzard (1998–2000; renamed Joliette Mission)
• Joliette Mission (2000–2002; became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission)
• Jonquière Condors (1997–2002; renamed Saguenay Paramédic)
• Lachute Rapides (1996–1999; became LaSalle Rapides)
• LaSalle Rapides (1999–2003; folded)
• Laurentides Gladiateurs (1996–1997; became Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs)
• Laval Chiefs (1998–2005; renamed Laval Summum-Chiefs)
• Laval Summum-Chiefs (2005–2006; became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs)
• Louiseville Jets (1996–1997; folded)
• Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay (2001–2004; became Trois-Rivières Caron et Guay)
• Pont-Rouge Grand Portneuf (1996–2001; renamed Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay)
• Québec As (1997–1998; dormant in 1998–1999 and became Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay)
• Québec As (2001–2003; renamed Québec Radio X)
• Rive-Sud Chacals (1996–1998; became Saint-Georges Garaga)
• Rivière-du-Loup Promutuel (2001–2004; folded)
• Rivière-du-Loup CIMT (2008-2010; renamed Rivière-du-Loup 3L
• Saguenay 98,3 (2008-2009; renamed Saguenay Marquis)
• Saguenay Fjord (2004–2005; folded after 24 games)
• Saguenay Paramédic (2002–2004; renamed Saguenay Fjord)
• Ste-Marie Poutrelles Delta (2008; folded during the season)
• Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs (1997–1998; became Laval Chiefs)
• Saint-Gabriel Blizzard (1996–1998; became Joliette Blizzard)
• Saint-Georges Garaga (1998–2005; renamed Saint-Georges CRS Express)
• Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs (2008-2009; folded)
• Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin (2001–2005; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal)
• Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal (2005–2006; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design)
• Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design (2006–2008; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs)
• Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission (2002–2004; became Sorel-Tracy Mission)
• Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs (2006–2008; became Saguenay 98.3)
• Saint-Laurent Dragons (1998–2001; became Verdun Dragons)
• Sherbrooke Saint-François (2003-2011; became Windsor Wild)
• Sorel Dinosaures (1996–1999; renamed Sorel Royaux)
• Sorel Mission (2004–2008)
• Sorel Royaux (1999–2004; folded)
• Thetford Mines Coyotes (1996–2000; renamed Thetford Mines Prolab)
• Thetford Mines Prolab (2000–2007; renamed Thetford Mines Isothermic)
• Trois-Rivières Viking (2003–2004; folded)
• Vanier Voyageurs (1996–1997; became Québec As and played at Val-Bélair)
• Verdun Dragons (2001–2005; renamed Verdun-Montréal Dragons)
• Verdun-Montréal Dragons (2005–2006; folded)
• Waterloo 94 (1996–1997; became Granby Blitz)
• Windsor Lacroix (2001–2003; became Sherbrooke Saint-François)
• Windsor Papetiers (1996–2001; renamed Windsor Lacroix)

References

1. ^ RDS (LNAH's broadcaster) article.
2. ^ Le procès de Éric Haley aura lieu en décembre, La Tribune.
3. ^ ^{a b} Jeff Z. Klein (2011-03-01). "A Place for Pro Hockey Players Fighting to Stay in the Game". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/sports/hockey/01hockey.html. Retrieved 2011-03-01. 

External links

• Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (French)
• RDS coverage of the LNAH (French)