Sorel Éperviers

Sorel Éperviers
City:	Sorel-Tracy, Québec
League:	Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Operated:	1969 to 1981
Home Arena:	Colisée Cardin Verdun Auditorium
Colors:	red and white
Franchise history
1969–77:	Sorel Éperviers
1977–79:	Verdun Éperviers
1979–80:	Verdun/Sorel Éperviers
1980–81:	Sorel Éperviers
1981–95:	Granby Bisons
1995–97:	Granby Prédateurs
1997–present:	Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Championships
Division Championships:	two (1973-74, 1978–79)

The Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981. The team was one of the founding members of the QMJHL. They mostly played at the Colisée Cardin in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, but also spent a few seasons at the Verdun Auditorium in the Montreal suburb of Verdun, Quebec. The most famous Épervier alumnus would undoubtedly be Ray Bourque, who is also the only former Épervier in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Éperviers originated in the Quebec Junior Hockey League, and were the league's champion in 1969. Sorel were finalists in the 1968-69 Eastern Canada Memorial Cup Playoffs for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, losing 3 games to 1 to the Montreal Junior Canadiens.

The 1973–74 QMJHL season sparked an offensive explosion, unmatched in Canadian Hockey League history. Sorel set a CHL record of 620 goals scored as a team. Three Sorel players, Pierre Larouche, Michel Deziel and Jacques Cossette, had more than 90 goals and 200 points each. Sorel goalkeeper Claude Legris also posted the highest goals against average of 4.50 goals per game for a Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy winner.

In 1981 the franchise moved to Granby, Quebec where they became the Granby Bisons. They won the Memorial Cup there in 1996. The franchise is today the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

NHL alumni

Norm Aubin Marco Baron Michel Belhumeur Michel Bergeron Serge Bernier Gilles Bilodeau Raymond Bourque Jacques Cossette

Richard David Lucien DeBlois Michel Deziel Jean-Marc Gaulin Pierre Giroux Benoit Gosselin Brian Johnson Steve Kasper

Alain Langlais Jean-Marc Lanthier Pierre Larouche Claude Legris Pierre Mondou Bob Ritchie Ron Smith Chris Valentine

Season-by-season record

• Sorel Éperviers (1969–1977)
• Verdun Éperviers (1977–1979)
• Verdun/Sorel Éperviers (1979–1980)
• Sorel Éperviers (1980–1981)

Note :Pct = Winning percentage

Éperviers' season-by-season record
Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Pct	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
1969–70	56	33	23	0	66	0.589	295	220	4th, East
1970–71	62	25	36	1	51	0.411	214	249	6th, QMJHL
1971–72	62	38	24	0	76	0.613	287	224	4th, QMJHL
1972–73	64	38	23	3	79	0.617	398	362	3rd, QMJHL
1973–74	70	58	11	1	117	0.836	620	301	1st, East
1974–75	72	20	43	9	49	0.340	297	388	4th, East
1975–76	72	27	34	11	65	0.451	302	377	4th, East
1976–77	72	19	48	5	43	0.299	319	448	5th, Dilio
1977–78	72	32	31	9	73	0.507	378	332	4th, Lebel
1978–79	72	41	24	7	89	0.618	367	313	1st, Lebel
1979–80	72	20	47	5	45	0.312	321	426	4th, Lebel
1980–81	72	36	30	6	78	0.542	333	303	2nd, Lebel

All-time scoring leaders

Éperviers' all-time scoring leaders
Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	Seasons
Michel Déziel	LW	241	196	261	457	1970-1974
Lucien DeBlois	F	270	188	221	409	1973-1977
Pierre Larouche	F	110	141	211	352	1972-1974
Jacques Cossette	RW	132	158	183	341	1972-1974
Dennis Desgagnés	C	183	104	192	296	1970-1973
Bob Ritchie	LW	253	123	168	291	1971-1975
Michel Bergeron	RW	157	125	164	289	1971-1974
Serge Gamelin	RW	180	103	143	246	1971-1974
Pierre Mondou	RW	152	115	123	238	1972-1975
Noël Desfossés		123	75	109	184	1970-1972