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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 "A" Tier I hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. Due to its cumbersome name, the league is often referred to as "The Q."
[edit] Introduction
The QMJHL is the smallest of the three Canadian junior leagues in numbers of teams. Its teams are based in the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and the American state of Maine.
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 has 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 and goalkeeper Patrick Roy.
[edit] History
The QMJHL was founded in 1969, distinguishing itself as a higher level of junior hockey than the existing Quebec Junior Hockey League. Some teams from the QJHL switched to the higher league in 1969.
It originally consisted only of teams in the province of Quebec, with the notable exception of the Cornwall Royals, who played in Cornwall, Ontario, near the Quebec border. Most of the teams were within a few hours' drive of Montreal. From the first season in 1969-70, only the Shawinigan Cataractes remain in the same city with an uninterrupted history, although the team's name has changed from the original Shawinigan Bruins.
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 eight times since 1969, with the Granby Prédateurs, the Hull Olympiques and the Rimouski Océanic each winning once, the Québec 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 in the 1980's and 1990's. Teams in Maritime Canada and Maine comprise the entire eastern division of the QMJHL.
[edit] 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 - Stephan 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 - Stephan 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, Québec Remparts, 1970-71 (62 games)
- 4th - 104 - Pat LaFontaine, Verdun Juniors, 1982-83 (70 games)
- 5th - 103 - Guy Lafleur, Québec 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, Québec Remparts, 1973-74 (69 games)
- 6th - 214 - Jacques Cossette, Sorel Éperviers, 1973-74 (68 games)
- 8th - 209 - Guy Lafleur, Québec Remparts, 1970-71 (62 games)
- 9th - 206 - Jacques Locas, Québec 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)
[edit] Member teams
- Eastern Division
The QMJHL's Eastern Division consists of teams in Atlantic Canada and Maine:
- Western Division
The QMJHL's Western Division consists of teams in Quebec:
[edit] Timeline of teams
- 1969- First season, 2 divisions. East: Quebec City Remparts, Shawinigan Bruins, Drummondville Rangers, Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks), Trois-Rivieres Ducs (Dukes), and Sherbrooke Castors (Beavers). West: Saint-Jerome 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-Jerome 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 2 divisions. East: Sorel, Quebec, Shawinigan, Trois-Rivieres, Chicoutimi; West: Cornwall, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, Drummondville, Hull. Chicoutimi Saguenéens ("People from the Saguenay"), and the Hull Festivals granted franchises. Shawinigan Bruins become Shawinigan Dynamos.
- 1974- Drummondville Rangers fold, Trois-Rivieres Ducs become Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (Lumberjacks).
- 1975- Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge become Montreal Juniors.
- 1976- Hull Festivals become Hull Olympiques. Divisions renamed: East becomes Dilio, West becomes Lebel.
- 1977- Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks) move to Verdun. Sherbrooke moves to Dilio Division, while Verdun plays in the Lebel.
- 1978- Shawinigan Dynamos become Shawinigan Cataractes.
- 1979- Verdun Eperviers (Black Hawks) become Sorel/Verdun Eperviers. Laval National become Laval Voisins (Neighbours).
- 1980- Sorel/Verdun Eperviers become Sorel Eperviers.
- 1981- Divisions cease to exist, Cornwall moves to the OHL, Sorel Eperviers move to Granby and become the Bisons.
- 1982- Lebel and Dilio Divisions reintroduced. Shawinigan, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and Drummondville play in the Dilio, while Laval, Verdun, Longueuil, Saint-Jean, Hull, and Granby play in the Lebel. Sherbrooke Castors move to Saint-Jean. Montreal Juniors move to Verdun. Drummondville Voltigeurs (Infantrymen) granted a franchise, Longueuil Chevaliers (Cavaliers) granted a franchise.
- 1984- Plattsburgh Pioneers granted a franchise, but fold 3 months into the schedule after playing 17 games. They would play in the Lebel Division, Granby is moved to the Dilio. Verdun Juniors become the Verdun Junior Canadiens.
- 1985- Quebec Remparts fold. Laval Voisins become Laval Titan.
- 1987- Longueuil Chevaliers move to Victoriaville and become the Tigres. They would play in the Dilio. Granby is moved to the Lebel Division.
- 1988- Divisions cease to exist, Longueuil Collège-Français are granted a franchise.
- 1989- Verdun Junior Canadiens move to Saint-Hyacinthe and become the Laser. Saint-Jean Castors become St-Jean Lynx.
- 1990- Lebel and Dilio divisions created yet again: Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivieres, Drummondville, Shawinigan, Beauport, and Victoriaville play in the Dilio; Longueuil, Hull, Laval, Saint-Hyacinthe, Granby, and Saint-Jean play in the Lebel. Beauport Harfangs (Snow Owls) are granted a franchise.
- 1992- Trois-Rivieres Draveurs move to Sherbrooke and become the Faucons (Falcons).
- 1993- Val-d'Or Foreurs (Miners) granted a franchise, they play in the Lebel. Longueuil Collège-Français move to Verdun.
- 1994- Verdun Collège-Français fold. Halifax awarded an expansion team, the Mooseheads. Halifax would play in the Dilio. Laval Titan become Laval Titan Collège-Français.
- 1995- Saint-Jean Lynx move to Rimouski and become the Océanic. Moncton Alpines franchise granted. Rimouski and Moncton both play in the Dilio. Drummondville and Sherbrooke move to the Lebel. Granby Bisons become Granby Prédateurs.
- 1996- Saint-Hyacinthe Laser move to Rouyn-Noranda and become the Huskies. Moncton Alpines become Moncton Wildcats.
- 1997- Granby Prédateurs move to Cape Breton to become the Screaming Eagles, and play in the Dilio. Shawinigan moves to the Lebel. The Beauport Harfangs move to Quebec City and become the Quebec Remparts.
- 1998- Baie-Comeau granted an expansion team called the Drakkar (Viking ship), and play in the Dilio. Laval Titan Collège-Français move to Acadie-Bathurst, and play in the Dilio.
- 1999- Lebel Division become Lebel Conference, and splits into the West Division (Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, Montreal, Val-d'Or) and the Central Division (Shawinigan, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville). The Dilio Division becomes the Dilio Conference and splits into the Eastern Division (Rimouski, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi) and the Maritime Division (Moncton, Halifax, Cape Breton, Acadie-Bathurst). Montreal Rocket are granted a franchise.
- 2003 - The QMJHL goes to a 3 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 move to Maine, becoming the Lewiston MAINEiacs; Montreal Rocket move to Charlottetown and take the Prince Edward Island name, Hull Olympiques become Gatineau Olympiques.
- 2004 - The QMJHL announces 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 are awarded franchises, the St. John's Fog Devils and Saint John Sea Dogs.
- 2005 - Effective with the 2005-06 season, the league reverts to a two-division format. The East Division consists of all of the league's non-Québec teams, and the West Division contains all of the Québec teams.
[edit] Memorial Cup champions
The Memorial Cup has been captured eight times by QMJHL teams since the league's founding in 1969:
[edit] Trophies and awards
QMJHL Trophies Complete list of Trophy winners since 1969 from QMJHL website
[edit] Player
[edit] Executive
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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