Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (French: la Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec, abbreviated QMJHL in English, LHJMQ in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. Due to its cumbersome name, the league is often referred to as "The Q."
Introduction
The QMJHL is the smallest of the three Canadian junior leagues in terms of number of teams. Its teams are based in the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island and it draws players from these regions as well as Newfoundland and the New England States (though the Quebec league has had more trouble recruiting Americans than either of its sister leagues). The QMJHL is the only one of the three Canadian Hockey League leagues that does not have any teams located in the United States (the OHL has teams in Michigan and Pennsylvania while the WHL has several teams in the Pacific Northwest). The president of the QMJHL is Gilles Courteau.
The President's Cup is the championship trophy of the league. The QMJHL champion then goes on to compete in the Memorial Cup against the OHL and WHL champions, and the CHL host team.
The QMJHL had traditionally adopted a rapid and offensive style of hockey. "The Q" is known for producing more high-quality offensive players and goalies than defencemen. Former QMJHL players hold many of the Canadian Hockey League's career and single season offensive records.
Hockey Hall of Fame alumni of the QMJHL include Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Ray Bourque, Pat LaFontaine, Mike Bossy, Denis Savard, Michel Goulet, Luc Robitaille, and goaltender Patrick Roy.
Member teams
| Division |
Team |
City |
Arena |
Telus
West |
Gatineau Olympiques |
Gatineau, Quebec |
Centre Robert Guertin |
| Blainville-Boisbriand Armada |
Boisbriand, Quebec |
Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau |
| Rouyn-Noranda Huskies |
Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec |
Aréna Dave Keon |
| Val-d'Or Foreurs |
Val-d'Or, Quebec |
Centre Air Creebec |
| Drummondville Voltigeurs |
Drummondville, Quebec |
Centre Marcel Dionne |
| Victoriaville Tigres |
Victoriaville, Quebec |
Colisée Desjardins |
Telus
East |
Shawinigan Cataractes |
Shawinigan, Quebec |
Centre Bionest de Shawinigan |
| Baie-Comeau Drakkar |
Baie-Comeau, Quebec |
Centre Henry-Leonard |
| Chicoutimi Saguenéens |
Saguenay, Quebec |
Centre Georges-Vézina |
| Quebec Remparts |
Quebec City, Quebec |
Colisée Pepsi |
| Rimouski Océanic |
Rimouski, Quebec |
Colisée de Rimouski |
| Atlantic |
Acadie-Bathurst Titan |
Bathurst, New Brunswick |
K. C. Irving Regional Centre |
| Cape Breton Screaming Eagles |
Sydney, Nova Scotia |
Centre 200 |
| Halifax Mooseheads |
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Halifax Metro Centre |
| Moncton Wildcats |
Moncton, New Brunswick |
Moncton Coliseum |
| P.E.I. Rocket |
Charlottetown, P.E.I. |
Charlottetown Civic Centre |
| Saint John Sea Dogs |
Saint John, New Brunswick |
Harbour Station |
Future teams
Scheduled to begin play for the 2012-13 season
History
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was founded in 1969, through the merger of best teams from the existing Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League, declaring themselves a "major junior" league. Of the original eleven QMJHL teams, eight came from the QJHL, two from the MMJHL, and the Cornwall Royals, from Cornwall, Ontario, near the Quebec border, who transferred from in the Central Junior A Hockey League. The Rosemont National and Laval Saints transferred from the MMJHL. The eight teams from the QJHL were the Drummondville Rangers, Quebec Remparts, Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Shawinigan Bruins, Sherbrooke Castors, Sorel Éperviers, Trois-Rivières Ducs and the Verdun Maple Leafs.
Most of the teams were within a few hours' drive of Montreal. From the first season in 1969–70, only Shawinigan remains in the same city with an uninterrupted history, although the team's name has changed to the Cataractes.
In 1972 the QMJHL had been in operation for three years, and wanted a team in the province's largest city. It threatened a lawsuit to force the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association into the Quebec-based league. Over the summer of 1972, the OHA granted the Junior Habs a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process. The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise for the 1973–74 season in Kingston, Ontario, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians.
QMJHL teams have won the Memorial Cup nine times since 1969, with the Saint John Sea Dogs, the Granby Prédateurs, the Hull Olympiques and the Rimouski Océanic each winning once, the Quebec Remparts winning twice (once in their first edition 1969–1985, and once in their second edition 1997–present) and the Cornwall Royals winning three times.
Starting in 1994, the QMJHL began to expand further east, outside of Quebec. The "Q" filled the void in Atlantic Canada after the exodus of American Hockey League franchises, when the AHL had a strong presence in the 1980s and 1990s; all of the Eastern Division cities save for Bathurst, New Brunswick are former homes of AHL franchises. Teams in Atlantic Canada comprise the entire Eastern Division of the QMJHL.
In recent seasons, the QMJHL has been scouting players from the Atlantic Canada region along with a surge in players coming out of the New England area.
Canadian Hockey League records
This is a list of Canadian Hockey League career and single season records accomplished by QMJHL players.
- Most goals, career
- 1st - 309 - Mike Bossy, Laval National (1972–77)
- 2nd - 281 - Stephane Lebeau, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- 3rd - 278 - Normand Dupont, Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge, Montreal Juniors (1973–77)
- Most assists, career
- 1st - 408 - Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- 3rd - 346 - Patrick Emond, Trois-Rivières Draveurs, Hull Olympiques, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1981–86)
- 7th - 315 - Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins (1981–84)
- Most points, career
- 1st - 595 - Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- 3rd - 580 - Stephane Lebeau, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- 4th - 575 - Patrick Emond, Trois-Rivières Draveurs, Hull Olympiques, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1981–86)
- Most goals, one season
- 1st - 133 - Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)
- 2nd - 130 - Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1970–71 (62 games)
- 4th - 104 - Pat LaFontaine, Verdun Juniors, 1982–83 (70 games)
- 5th - 103 - Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1969–70 (56 games)
- 6th - 100 - Gary MacGregor, Cornwall Royals ,1973–74 (66 games)
- Most assists, one season
- 1st - 157 - Pierre Larouche, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74(70 games)
- 2nd - 149 - Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)
- 3rd - 136 - Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes, 1987–88 (70 games)
- 5th - 135 - Michel Deziel, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (69 games)
- 5th - 135 - Marc Fortier, Chicoutimi Saguenéens, 1986–87 (65 games)
- Most points, one season
- 1st - 282 - Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)
- 2nd - 251 - Pierre Larouche, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (67 games)
- 3rd - 234 - Pat LaFontaine, Verdun Juniors, 1982–83 (70 games)
- 4th - 227 - Michel Deziel, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (69 games)
- 5th - 216 - Real Cloutier, Quebec Remparts, 1973–74 (69 games)
- 6th - 214 - Jacques Cossette, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (68 games)
- 8th - 209 - Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1970–71 (62 games)
- 9th - 206 - Jacques Locas, Quebec Remparts, 1973–74 (63 games)
- 10th - 201 - Marc Fortier, Chicoutimi Saguenéens, 1986–87 (65 games)
- 11th - 200 - Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes, 1987–88 (70 games)
Timeline of teams
- 1969- First season, 2 divisions. East: Quebec City Remparts, Shawinigan Bruins, Drummondville Rangers, Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks), Trois-Rivières Ducs (Dukes), and Sherbrooke Castors (Beavers). West: Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Cornwall Royals, Rosemont National, Verdun Maple Leafs, and Laval Saints.
- 1970- Divisions dissolved, Laval folds.
- 1971- Rosemont National move to Laval.
- 1972- The Saint-Jérôme Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs fold. The Montreal Junior Canadiens franchise of the OHA transfers to QMJHL, becoming the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge.
- 1973- League split into two divisions. East: Sorel, Quebec, Shawinigan, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi; West: Cornwall, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, Drummondville, Hull. Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and the Hull Festivals granted franchises. Shawinigan Bruins become Shawinigan Dynamos.
- 1974- Drummondville Rangers fold, Trois-Rivières Ducs become Trois-Rivières Draveurs (Lumberjacks).
- 1975- Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge became Montreal Juniors.
- 1976- Hull Festivals became Hull Olympiques. Divisions renamed: East becomes Dilio, West becomes Lebel.
- 1977- Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) move to Verdun. Sherbrooke moved to Dilio Division, while Verdun played in the Lebel.
- 1978- Shawinigan Dynamos became Shawinigan Cataractes.
- 1979- Verdun Éperviers (Black Hawks) became Sorel/Verdun Éperviers. Laval National become Laval Voisins (Neighbours).
- 1980- Sorel/Verdun Éperviers became Sorel Éperviers.
- 1981- Divisions cease to exist, Cornwall moved to the OHL, Sorel Éperviers moved to Granby and became the Bisons.
- 1982- Lebel and Dilio Divisions reintroduced. Shawinigan, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and Drummondville played in the Dilio, while Laval, Verdun, Longueuil, Saint-Jean, Hull, and Granby played in the Lebel. Sherbrooke Castors moved to Saint-Jean. Montreal Juniors moved to Verdun. Drummondville Voltigeurs (Infantrymen) granted a franchise, Longueuil Chevaliers (Cavaliers) granted a franchise.
- 1984- Plattsburgh Pioneers granted a franchise, but fold three months into the schedule after playing 17 games. They played in the Lebel Division, Granby is moved to the Dilio. Verdun Juniors become the Verdun Junior Canadiens.
- 1985- Quebec Remparts fold. Laval Voisins became Laval Titan.
- 1987- Longueuil Chevaliers moved to Victoriaville and became the Tigres. They played in the Dilio. Granby was moved to the Lebel Division.
- 1988- Divisions ceased to exist, Longueuil Collège-Français are granted the rights to resurrect the Quebec Remparts franchise.
- 1989- Verdun Junior Canadiens moved to Saint-Hyacinthe and became the Laser. Saint-Jean Castors became St-Jean Lynx.
- 1990- Lebel and Dilio divisions created yet again: Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Drummondville, Shawinigan, Beauport, and Victoriaville play in the Dilio; Longueuil, Hull, Laval, Saint-Hyacinthe, Granby, and Saint-Jean played in the Lebel. Beauport Harfangs (Snow Owls) was granted a franchise.
- 1991- Longueuil Collège-Français moved to Verdun.
- 1992- Trois-Rivières Draveurs moved to Sherbrooke and became the Faucons (Falcons).
- 1993- Val-d'Or Foreurs (Miners) granted a franchise, they played in the Lebel.
- 1994- Verdun Collège-Français folded. Halifax awarded an expansion team, the Mooseheads. Halifax played in the Dilio. Laval Titan became Laval Titan Collège-Français.
- 1995- Saint-Jean Lynx moved to Rimouski and become the Océanic. Moncton Alpines franchise granted. Rimouski and Moncton both played in the Dilio. Drummondville and Sherbrooke moved to the Lebel. Granby Bisons became Granby Prédateurs.
- 1996- Saint-Hyacinthe Laser moved to Rouyn-Noranda and became the Huskies. Moncton Alpines became Moncton Wildcats.
- 1997- Granby Prédateurs move to Cape Breton and became the Screaming Eagles. They played in the Dilio. Shawinigan moved to the Lebel. The Beauport Harfangs moved to Quebec City and became the Quebec Remparts.
- 1998- Baie-Comeau granted an expansion team called the Drakkar (Viking ship), and played in the Dilio. Laval Titan Collège-Français moved to Acadie-Bathurst, and played in the Dilio.
- 1999- Lebel Division became Lebel Conference, and split into the West Division (Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, Montreal, Val-d'Or) and the Central Division (Shawinigan, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville). The Dilio Division becam the Dilio Conference and split into the Eastern Division (Rimouski, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi) and the Maritime Division (Moncton, Halifax, Cape Breton, Acadie-Bathurst). Montreal Rocket was granted a franchise.
- 2003 - The QMJHL switched to a three-division format: Atlantic (Cape Breton, Moncton, Prince Edward Island, Halifax, Acadie-Bathurst); Eastern (Rimouski, Chicoutimi, Lewiston, Quebec, Baie-Comeau); and Western (Gatineau, Shawinigan, Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d'Or, Drummondville, Victoriaville). Sherbrooke Castors moved to Maine, becoming the Lewiston Maineiacs; Montreal Rocket moved to Charlottetown and took the Prince Edward Island name, Hull Olympiques become Gatineau Olympiques.
- 2004 - The QMJHL announced plans to expand from 16 to 18 teams, effective with the 2005-06 season. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saint John, New Brunswick were awarded franchises, the St. John's Fog Devils and Saint John Sea Dogs respectively.
- 2005 - Effective with the 2005-06 season, the league reverted to a two-division format. The East Division consisted of all of the league's non-Québec teams, and the West Division contained all of the Quebec teams.
- 2006 - The Western Division was renamed the Telus Division, under a sponsorship agreement with the Telus Corporation.
- 2008 - The St. John's Fog Devils relocated to Verdun, Quebec to become the Montreal Junior Hockey Club.
- 2011- The Lewiston MAINEiacs are purchased by the league and are set to be dissolved. The remaining roster that is still eligible to play in the QMJHL will be claimed by the remaining teams in a dispersal draft.
- 2011- The Montreal Junior Hockey Club was sold to a group lead by former NHL Defensemen Joel Bouchard and renamed the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
Memorial Cup champions
The Memorial Cup has been captured nine times by QMJHL teams since the league's founding in 1969:
Trophies and awards
- QMJHL Trophies Complete list of Trophy winners since 1969 from QMJHL web site
- Trophy's first season being awarded in brackets.
- Team
- Player
- Executive
- Defunct trophies
See also
References
External links
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Current arenas in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
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MARITIMES
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TELUS East
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TELUS West
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Defunct MMJHL / QMJHL teams
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Major Junior
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Junior A
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Junior B
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Junior C
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Independent
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| United States |
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Tier I
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Tier II
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Tier III
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Independent
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