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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec
2023–24 QMJHL season
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1969
No. of teams 18
Country(ies) Canada
Most recent champion(s) Quebec Remparts (1)
Most championship(s) Gatineau Olympiques (7)
TV partner(s) Sportsnet
Sportsnet One
EastLink TV
TVA Sports
Official website theqmjhl.ca

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; French: Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec, LHJMQ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. Officially the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League[lower-alpha 1] until 2023, the league includes teams in Quebec and the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

The Gilles-Courteau Trophy 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. 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 goaltenders Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.

Member teams[]

Division Team City Arena Capacity
West Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Boisbriand, Quebec Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau 3,269
Drummondville Voltigeurs Drummondville, Quebec Centre Marcel Dionne 2,889
Gatineau Olympiques Gatineau, Quebec Centre Slush Puppie 4,000
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Aréna Iamgold 2,993
Sherbrooke Phoenix Sherbrooke, Quebec Palais des Sports Leopold-Drolet 3,718
Val-d'Or Foreurs Val-d'Or, Quebec Centre Air Creebec 2,398
East Baie-Comeau Drakkar Baie-Comeau, Quebec Centre Henry-Leonard 2,779
Chicoutimi Saguenéens Saguenay, Quebec Centre Georges-Vézina 3,759
Quebec Remparts Quebec City, Quebec Videotron Centre 18,482
Rimouski Océanic Rimouski, Quebec Colisée Financière Sun Life 4,415
Shawinigan Cataractes Shawinigan, Quebec Centre Gervais Auto 4,350
Victoriaville Tigres Victoriaville, Quebec Colisée Desjardins 2,753
Maritimes Acadie–Bathurst Titan Bathurst, New Brunswick K.C. Irving Regional Centre 3,162
Cape Breton Eagles Sydney, Nova Scotia Centre 200 5,010
Charlottetown Islanders Charlottetown, P.E.I. Eastlink Centre 3,718
Halifax Mooseheads Halifax, Nova Scotia Scotiabank Centre 10,595
Moncton Wildcats Moncton, New Brunswick Avenir Centre 10,000
Saint John Sea Dogs Saint John, New Brunswick TD Station 6,297

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 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 twelve times since 1969, with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Saint John Sea Dogs, the Granby Prédateurs, the Hull Olympiques, Halifax Mooseheads, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Rimouski Océanic, and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan 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 Maritime Division cities save for Bathurst, New Brunswick are former homes of AHL franchises. To date, Fredericton, New Brunswick is the lone former AHL market that has not established a QMJHL franchise.

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: the QMJHL has territorial rights to draft and recruit players from New England as part of an agreement where players from the United States can be drafted by the CHL league that is in a similar geographic area.

In December of 2023, the QMJHL passed a resolution to officially change its name to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, with a new logo to coincide with the change. The change was made in recognition of the league's expansion into the Maritime provinces, whose teams had been a part of the QMJHL for almost 30 years by that point.[1][2]

Retired numbers[]

League-wide retired numbers
No. Player Position QMJHL Career No. retirement
4 Guy Lafleur RW 1966–1971 September 2021[3]
87 Sidney Crosby C 2003–2005 27 September 2019[4]

League presidents[]

Canadian Hockey League records[]

This is a list of Canadian Hockey League career and single season records accomplished by QMJHL players.[6]

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)

Team Timeline[]

Team Centre Arena Seasons Fate
Cornwall Royals Cornwall, Ontario Cornwall Civic Complex 1969-1981 transfer to Ontario Hockey League
Drummondville Rangers Drummondville, Quebec Centre Civique Drummondville 1969-1974 fold
Laval Saints Laval, Quebec Colisee de Laval 1969-1970 ceased operations
Quebec Remparts (1969-1985) Quebec City, Quebec Colisee de Quebec 1969-1985 fold
Rosemont National Rosemont, Quebec Paul Sauve Arena 1969-1971 relocated to Laval, Quebec; renamed Laval National
Saint-Jérôme Alouettes Saint-Jerome, Quebec Arena Melançon 1969-1972 fold QMJHL team; join Quebec Junior A Hockey League
Shawinigan Bruins Shawinigan, Quebec Arena Jacques Plante 1969-1973 renamed Shawinigan Dynamos
Sherbrooke Castors Sherbrooke, Quebec Palais des Sports (Sherbrooke) 1969-1982 relocated to Saint-Jean, Quebec; renamed Saint-Jean Castors
Sorel Éperviers Sorel-Tracy, Quebec Colisée Cardin 1969-1977 moved to Verdun, Quebec; renamed Verdun Eperviers
Trois-Rivières Ducs Trois-Rivières, Quebec Colisée de Trois-Rivières 1969-1974 renamed Trois-Rivières Draveurs
Verdun Maple Leafs Verdun, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 1969-1972 fold
Laval National Laval, Quebec Colisee de Laval 1971-1979 renamed Laval Voisins
Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge Montreal, Quebec Montreal Forum 1972-1975 renamed Montreal Juniors
Chicoutimi Sagueneens Chicoutimi, Quebec Centre Georges-Vezina 1973-present
Hull Festivals Hull, Quebec Robert Guertin Centre (Hull Arena) 1973-1976 renamed Hull Olympiques
Shawinigan Dynamos Shawinigan, Quebec Arena Jacques Plante 1973-1978 renamed Shawinigan Cataractes
Trois-Rivières Draveurs Trois-Rivières, Quebec Colisée de Trois-Rivières 1974-1992 relocated to Sherbrooke, Quebec; renamed Sherbrooke Faucons
Montreal Juniors Montreal, Quebec Montreal Forum 1975-1982 relocated to Verdun, Quebec; renamed Verdun Juniors
Hull Olympiques Hull, Quebec Robert Guertin Centre (formerly known as Hull Arena (unknown dates)) 1976-2003 renamed Gatineau Olympiques after city is amalgamated to form the city of Gatineau, Quebec
Verdun Eperviers Verdun, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 1977-1979 become Verdun/Sorel Éperviers
Shawinigan Cataractes Shawinigan, Quebec Arena Jacques Plante (1978-2008) Centre Gervais Auto (2008-present (known as Centre Bionest de Shawinigan 2008-2017) 1978-present
Laval Voisins Laval, Quebec Colisée de Laval 1979-1985 renamed Laval Titan
Verdun/Sorel Éperviers Verdun, Quebec & Sorel-Tracy, Quebec Verdun Auditorium & Colisée Cardin 1979-1980 become Sorel Eperviers
Sorel Eperviers Sorel-Tracy, Quebec Colisée Cardin 1980-1981 relocated to Granby, Quebec; renamed Granby Bisons
Granby Bisons Granby, Quebec Arena Leonard Grondin 1981-1995 renamed Granby Predateurs
Drummondville Voltigeurs Drummondville, Quebec Centre Marcel Dionne 1982-present
Longueuil Chevaliers Longueuil, Quebec Colisée Jean Béliveau 1982-1987 relocated to Victoriaville, Quebec; renamed Victoriaville Tigres
Saint-Jean Castors Saint-Jean, Quebec Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur 1982-1989 renamed Saint-Jean Lynx
Verdun Juniors Verdun, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 1982-1984 renamed Verdun Junior Canadiens
Plattsburgh Pioneers Plattsburgh, New York Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena and Crete Civic Center 1984-1984 folded November 6, 1984
Verdun Junior Canadiens Verdun, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 1984-1989 relocated to Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Laser
Laval Titan Laval, Quebec Colisée de Laval 1985-1994 renamed Laval Titan Collège Français
Victoriaville Tigres Victoriaville, Quebec Colisée Desjardins 1987-present
Longueuil College-Francais Longueuil, Quebec Colisée Jean Béliveau 1988-1991 relocated to Verdun, Quebec; renamed Verdun Collège-Français
Saint-Hyacinthe Laser Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec Stade L.P. Gaucher 1989-1996 relocated to Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec; renamed Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Saint-Jean Lynx Saint-Jean, Quebec Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur 1989-1996 relocated to Rimouski, Quebec; renamed Rimouski Océanic
Beauport Harfangs Beauport, Quebec Aréna Marcel Bédard 1990-1997 relocated to Quebec City, Quebec; renamed Quebec Remparts (1997-present)
Verdun College-Francais Verdun, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 1991-1994 fold
Sherbrooke Faucons Sherbrooke, Quebec Palais des Sports (Sherbrooke) 1992-1998 renamed Sherbrooke Castors
Val d'Or Foreurs Val d'Or, Quebec Centre Air Creebec (known as Palais des Sports 1993-2005) 1993-present
Halifax Mooseheads Halifax, Nova Scotia Scotiabank Centre (known as Halifax Metro Centre 1994-2014) 1994-present
Laval Titan Collège Français Laval, Quebec Colisée de Laval 1994-1998 relcoated to Bathurst, New Brunswick; renamed Acadie-Bathurst Titan
Granby Predateurs Granby, Quebec Arena Leonard Grondin 1995-1997 relocated to Sydney, Nova Scotia; renamed Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Moncton Alpines Moncton, New Brunswick Moncton Coliseum 1995-1996 renamed Moncton Wildcats
Rimouski Océanic Rimouski, Quebec Colisee de Rimouski 1995-present
Moncton Wildcats Moncton, New Brunswick Moncton Coliseum (1996-2018) Avenir Centre (2018-present) 1996-present
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Aréna Iamgold (known as Arena Dave Keon 1996-2011) Arena Jacques Laperriere (temprary home due to renovations in 2011) 1996-present
Baie-Comeau Drakkar Baie-Comeau, Quebec Centre Henry-Leonard 1997-present
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Sydney, Nova Scotia Centre 200 1997-2019 renamed Cape Breton Eagles
Quebec Remparts (1997-present) Quebec City, Quebec Colisee Pepsi (1997-2015) (known as Colisee de Quebec 1997-1999) Videotron Centre (2015-present) 1997-present
Acadie-Bathurst Titan Bathurst, New Brunswick K.C. Irving Regional Centre 1998-present
Sherbrooke Castors Sherbrooke, Quebec Palais des Sports (Sherbrooke) 1998-2003 relocated to Lewiston, Maine; renamed Lewiston MAINEiacs
Montreal Rocket Montreal, Quebec Maurice Richard Arena 1999-2003 relocated to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; renamed Prince Edward Island Rocket
Gatineau Olympiques Gatineau, Quebec Robert Guertin Centre (2003-2021)
Centre Slush Puppie (2021-present)
2003-present
Lewiston MAINEiacs Lewiston, Maine Androscoggin Bank Colisee 2003-2011 fold
Prince Edward Island Rocket Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Charlottetown Civic Centre 2003-2013 renamed Charlottetown Islanders (junior)
Saint John Sea Dogs Saint John, New Brunswick TD Station (known as Harbour Station 1993-2019) 2005-present
St. John's Fog Devils St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador Mile One Stadium 2005-2008 relocated to Montreal, Quebec; renamed Montreal Juniors
Montreal Junior Hockey Club Verdun, Quebec Verdun Auditorium 2008-2011 relocated to Boisbriand, Quebec renamed Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Boisbriand, Quebec Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau 2011-present
Sherbrooke Phoenix Sherbrooke, Quebec Palais des Sports (Sherbrooke) 2012-present
Charlottetown Islanders (junior) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Eastlink Centre 2013-present
Cape Breton Eagles Sydney, Nova Scotia Centre 200 2019-present

Champions[]

Teams in bold also won the Memorial Cup that season

LHJMQ
President's Cup champions
Season Winner Score Runner-up
2022-23 Québec Remparts 4-2 Halifax Mooseheads
2021-22 Shawinigan Cataractes 4-1 Charlottetown Islanders
2020-21 Victoriaville Tigres 4-2 Val-d'Or Foreurs
2019-20 Playoffs cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2018-19 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4-2 Halifax Mooseheads
2017-18 Acadie-Bathurst Titan 4-2 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
2016-17 Saint John Sea Dogs 4-1 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
2015-16 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4-1 Shawinigan Cataractes
2014-15 Rimouski Océanic 4-3 Québec Remparts
2013-14 Val-d'Or Foreurs 4-3 Baie-Comeau Drakkar
2012-13 Halifax Mooseheads 4-1 Baie-Comeau Drakkar
2012-13 Saint John Sea Dogs 4-0 Rimouski Océanic
2010-11 Saint John Sea Dogs 4-2 Gatineau Olympiques
2009-10 Moncton Wildcats 4-2 Saint John Sea Dogs
2008–09 Drummondville Voltigeurs 4–3 Shawinigan Cataractes
2007–08 Gatineau Olympiques 4–1 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
2006–07 Lewiston MAINEiacs 4–0 Val-d'Or Foreurs
2005–06 Moncton Wildcats 4–2 Quebec Remparts
2004–05 Rimouski Océanic 4–0 Halifax Mooseheads
2003–04 Gatineau Olympiques 4–1 Moncton Wildcats
2002–03 Hull Olympiques 4–3 Halifax Mooseheads
2001–02 Victoriaville Tigres 4–2 Acadie-Bathurst Titan
2000–01 Val-d'Or Foreurs 4–0 Acadie-Bathurst Titan
1999–2000 Rimouski Océanic 4–1 Hull Olympiques
1998–99 Acadie-Bathurst Titan 4–3 Hull Olympiques
1997–98 Val-d'Or Foreurs 4–0 Rimouski Océanic
1996–97 Hull Olympiques 4–0 Chicoutimi Saguenéens
1995–96 Granby Prédateurs 4–1 Beauport Harfangs
1994–95 Hull Olympiques 4–1 Laval Titan Collège Français
1993–94 Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4–2 Laval Titan
1992–93 Laval Titan 4–1 Sherbrooke Faucons
1991–92 Verdun Collège Français 4–2 Trois-Rivières Draveurs
1990–91 Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4–0 Drummondville Voltigeurs
1989–90 Laval Titan 4–0 Victoriaville Tigres
1988–89 Laval Titan 4–3 Victoriaville Tigres
1987–88 Hull Olympiques 4–3 Drummondville Voltigeurs
1986–87 Longueuil Chevaliers 4–1 Chicoutimi Saguenéens
1985–86 Hull Olympiques 5–0 Drummondville Voltigeurs
1984–85 Verdun Junior Canadiens 4–0 Chicoutimi Saguenéens
1983–84 Laval Voisins 4–2 Longueuil Chevaliers
1982–83 Verdun Juniors 4–1 Longueuil Chevaliers
1981–82 Sherbrooke Castors 4–0 Trois-Rivières Draveurs
1980–81 Cornwall Royals 4–1 Trois-Rivières Draveurs
1979–80 Cornwall Royals 4–2 Sherbrooke Castors
1978–79 Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4–0 Sherbrooke Castors
1977–78 Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4–0 Montreal Juniors
1976–77 Sherbrooke Castors 4–1 Quebec Remparts
1975–76 Quebec Remparts 4–2 Sherbrooke Castors
1974–75 Sherbrooke Castors 4–1 Laval National
1973–74 Quebec Remparts 4–2 Sorel Éperviers
1972–73 Quebec Remparts 4–3 Cornwall Royals
1971–72 Cornwall Royals 4–2–1 Quebec Remparts
1970–71 Quebec Remparts 4–1 Shawinigan Bruins
1969–70 Quebec Remparts 4–0 Saint-Jérôme Alouettes

Memorial Cup champions[]

The Memorial Cup has been captured fifteen times by QMJHL teams since the league's founding in 1969:

Team[]

Player[]

Executive[]

Defunct trophies[]

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

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