Quebec Hockey League

History
The Quebec Hockey League was a minor professional league from 1953-54 through 1958-59.

The Quebec Senior Hockey League (Major) has turned pro in 1953, partly as the result of a dispute between the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. The other part was due to the Montreal Canadiens wanting to get Jean Beliveau signed. As long as the Quebec Senior Hockey League (Major) was amateur, Beliveau could play in that league. But when the league turned pro it gave up the rights to Beliveau.

The professional league was not a financial success, unlike the amateur league. But the introduction of television to Canada in 1952 would have killed the league, pro or amateur.

The league also competed for the Edinburgh Trophy from 1954 to 1957. The league champion played against the league champion from the Western Hockey League.

There were only three teams left in the summer of 1959 - Quebec Aces, Montreal Royals, and the Trois Rivieres Lions. The Aces and Royals both tried to get into the American Hockey League (AHL) but the AHL would not accept a team in a city which had a NHL team. This meant only the Aces got in.

The Montreal Canadiens, parent team of the Royals, then helped set up the Eastern Professional Hockey League which took in the Royals and Lions.

Regular Season Champions

 * 1953-54 Chicoutimi Saguenéens
 * 1954-55 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes
 * 1955-56 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes
 * 1956-57 Quebec Aces
 * 1957-58 Chicoutimi Saguenéens
 * 1958-59 Montreal Royals

Playoff Champions

 * 1953-54 Quebec Aces
 * 1954-55 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes
 * 1955-56 Montreal Royals
 * 1956-57 Quebec Aces
 * 1957-58 Shawinigan Falls Cataractes
 * 1958-59 Montreal Royals

Seasons

 * 1953-54 QHL Season
 * 1954-55 QHL Season
 * 1955-56 QHL Season
 * 1956-57 QHL Season
 * 1957-58 QHL Season
 * 1958-59 QHL Season