Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey facts for kids
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Canada |
| Headquarters | Thetford Mines, Quebec |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Thetford Assurancia (4) |
| Most titles | Thetford Assurancia (4) |
The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH), also known as the "North American Hockey League", is a hockey league in Quebec, Canada. It's a semi-professional league, meaning players often have other jobs besides hockey. Teams in the LNAH play to win the Vertdure Cup.
Contents
History of the LNAH
The league started in 1996 as the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League (QSPHL). In 2004, it became a fully professional league and changed its name to the LNAH. At that time, it had its largest number of teams, with ten playing.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019-20 playoffs were stopped and never finished. The Thetford Assurancia team was the champion of the regular season that year. The league had hoped to start the 2021 season in January, but in November 2020, they announced it would not happen. They did consider a special spring tournament if things got better.
How the League Plays
The LNAH is known for its very physical style of play, including many fights. It has a reputation as one of the toughest hockey leagues in the world. For example, during the 2010–11 season, there were about 3.2 fights per game in the LNAH. This is much higher than the National Hockey League, which had about 0.6 fights per game at that time.
Even with this tough reputation, many players in the LNAH have played in higher leagues before. These include former National Hockey League (NHL) or American Hockey League (AHL) players. Some famous names who played in the LNAH are Patrick Côté, Stéphane Richer, and Donald Brashear. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, when NHL players couldn't play in their league, some of them, like Sébastien Caron and Marc-André Bergeron, played the whole season in the LNAH. This league also allows teams to have many experienced players, unlike other minor leagues.
The LNAH holds a 15-round draft in the summer. Players who are too old for junior hockey can be drafted, even if an NHL team has already drafted them. The league used to have a rule that players must have played junior hockey in Quebec, but this rule hasn't always been strictly followed for teams outside Quebec.
LNAH Teams
Current Teams
| Team | City | Arena | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonquière Marquis | Saguenay, Quebec | Palais des Sports de Saguenay | 1996 |
| Laval Pétroliers | Laval, Quebec | Colisée de Laval | 2018 |
| Rivière-du-Loup 3L | Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec | Centre Premier Tech | 2008 |
| Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5 | Saint-Georges, Quebec | Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil | 1996 |
| Sorel-Tracy Éperviers | Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | Colisée Cardin | 1996 |
| Thetford Assurancia | Thetford Mines, Quebec | Centre Mario Gosselin | 1996 |
| Saint-Hyacinthe Bataillon | Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec | Stade Louis-Philippe-Gaucher | 2024 |
Team History Timeline
Former Teams
Over the years, many teams have played in the LNAH but are no longer active. Here is a list of some of those teams:
- Acton Vale Beaulieu (2000–01; became Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin)
- Acton Vale Nova (1996–2000; renamed Acton Vale Beaulieu)
- Asbestos Aztèques (1997–2001; renamed Asbestos Dubé)
- Asbestos Aztèques (2002–03; folded)
- Asbestos Dubé (2001–02; renamed Asbestos Aztèques)
- Berlin BlackJacks (2018; team taken over by league after 10 games in New Hampshire and moved to St-Jérôme, Quebec for the rest of the 2018-19 season as Les Pétrôliers du Nord, then to Laval, Quebec for season 2019-20)
- Cornwall River Kings (2012–16; folded)
- Côte-de-Beaupré As (2000–01; became Québec As and played at Charlesbourg in 2001–2002 and at Beauport in 2002–2003)
- Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay (1999–2000; became Côte-de-Beaupré As)
- Granby Blitz (1997–2002; renamed Granby Prédateurs)
- Granby Prédateurs (2002–04; folded)
- Haut-Richelieu Dragons (1996–97; renamed Iberville Dragons)
- Iberville Dragons (1997–98; became Saint-Laurent Dragons)
- Joliette Blizzard (1998–2000; renamed Joliette Mission)
- Joliette Mission (2000–02; became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission)
- Jonquière Condors (1997–2002; renamed Saguenay Paramédic)
- Lachute Rapides (1996–99; became LaSalle Rapides)
- LaSalle Rapides (1999–2003; folded)
- Laurentides Gladiateurs (1996–97; became Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs)
- Laval Chiefs (1998–2005; renamed Laval Summum-Chiefs)
- Laval Summum-Chiefs (2005–06; became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs)
- Laval Braves (2013–14; renamed Laval Predateurs)
- Laval Predators (2014–17; folded)
- Louiseville Jets (1996–97; folded)
- Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay (2001–04; became Trois-Rivières Caron et Guay)
- Pont-Rouge Grand Portneuf (1996–2001; renamed Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay)
- Québec As (1997–98; dormant in 1998–99 and became Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay)
- Québec As (2001–03; renamed Québec Radio X, then Pont-Rouge Lois Jeans)
- Rive-Sud Chacals (1996–98; became Saint-Georges Garaga)
- Rivière-du-Loup Promutuel (2001–04; folded)
- Rivière-du-Loup CIMT (2008–10; renamed Rivière-du-Loup 3L
- Saguenay 98,3 (2008–09; renamed Saguenay Marquis)
- Saguenay Fjord (2004–05; folded after 24 games)
- Saguenay Paramédic (2002–04; renamed Saguenay Fjord)
- Ste-Marie Poutrelles Delta (2008; folded during the season)
- Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs (1997–98; became Laval Chiefs)
- Saint-Gabriel Blizzard (1996–98; became Joliette Blizzard)
- Saint-Georges Garaga (1998–2005; renamed Saint-Georges CRS Express)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs (2008–09; folded)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin (2001–05; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal (2005–06; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design (2006–08; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs)
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission (2002–04; became Sorel-Tracy Mission)
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs (2006–08; became Saguenay 98.3)
- Saint-Laurent Dragons (1998–2001; became Verdun Dragons)
- Sherbrooke Saint-François (2003–11; became Windsor Wild)
- Sorel Dinosaures (1996–99; renamed Sorel Royaux)
- Sorel Mission (2004–08)
- Sorel Royaux (1999–2004; folded)
- Sorel-Tracy GCI (2010–11)
- Thetford Mines Coyotes (1996–2000; renamed Thetford Mines Prolab)
- Thetford Mines Isothermic (2007–15; renamed Thetford Assurancia)
- Thetford Mines Prolab (2000–07; renamed Thetford Mines Isothermic)
- Trois-Rivières Blizzard (2014–17; renamed Trois-Rivières Draveurs)
- Trois-Rivières Draveurs (2017–18; membership revoked)
- Trois-Rivières Viking (2003–04; folded)
- Valleyfield Braves (2013; became Laval Braves partway through 2013–14 season)
- Vanier Voyageurs (1996–97; became Québec As and played at Val-Bélair)
- Verdun Dragons (2001–05; renamed Verdun-Montréal Dragons)
- Verdun-Montréal Dragons (2005–06; folded)
- Waterloo 94 (1996–97; became Granby Blitz)
- Windsor Lacroix (2001–03; became Sherbrooke Saint-François)
- Windsor Papetiers (1996–2001; renamed Windsor Lacroix)
- Windsor Wild (2011–12; became Cornwall River Kings)
LNAH Champions: The Vertdure Cup
The Vertdure Cup is the trophy given each year to the LNAH champions. It was first awarded after the 1996–97 season and was originally called the Futura Cup. In 2011, it was renamed the Canam Cup, and in 2014, it became the Vertdure Cup.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Saint-Gabriel Blizzard | Acton Vale Nova |
| 1997–98 | Lachute Rapides | Acton Vale Nova |
| 1998–99 | Joliette Blizzard | Saint-Georges Garaga |
| 1999–00 | LaSalle Rapides | Pont-Rouge Grand Portneuf |
| 2000–01 | Joliette Mission | Saint-Georges Garaga |
| 2001–02 | Laval Chiefs | Thetford Mines Prolab |
| 2002–03 | Laval Chiefs | Thetford Mines Prolab |
| 2003–04 | Verdun Dragons | Saint-Georges Garaga |
| 2004–05 | Québec Radio X | Thetford Mines Prolab |
| 2005–06 | Sherbrooke Saint-François | Thetford Mines Prolab |
| 2006–07 | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum Chiefs | Sherbrooke Saint-Francois |
| 2007–08 | Trois-Rivières Caron & Guay | Thetford Mines Isothermic |
| 2008–09 | Pont-Rouge Lois Jeans | Thetford Mines Isothermic |
| 2009–10 | Saint-Georges CRS Express | Sherbrooke Saint-Francois |
| 2010–11 | Sherbrooke Saint-François | Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5 |
| 2011–12 | Thetford Mines Isothermic | Windsor Wild |
| 2012–13 | Jonquière Marquis | Sorel-Tracy HC Carvena |
| 2013–14 | Jonquière Marquis | Thetford Mines Isothermic |
| 2014–15 | Thetford Mines Isothermic | Sorel-Tracy Éperviers |
| 2015–16 | Rivière-du-Loup 3L | Sorel-Tracy Éperviers |
| 2016–17 | Jonquière Marquis | Thetford Assurancia |
| 2017–18 | Sorel-Tracy Éperviers | Rivière-du-Loup 3L |
| 2018–19 | Sorel-Tracy Éperviers | Jonquière Marquis |
| 2019–20 | Not awarded; season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2020–21 | Not awarded; season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2021–22 | Thetford Assurancia | Les Pétroliers du Nord |
| 2022–23 | Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5 | Thetford Assurancia |
| 2023–24 | Thetford Assurancia | Rivière-du-Loup 3L |
LNAH Finals: City Appearances
This table shows how many times teams from different cities have reached the LNAH finals, and how many times they won or lost. Cities highlighted in yellow currently have an LNAH team.
| City | Finals | Won | Lost | Years won | Years lost | Team(s) in Finals | Years in LNAH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thetford Mines | 13 | 4 | 9 | 2012, 2015, 2022, 2024 | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2017, 2023 | Prolab, Isothermic, Assurancia | 1996–present |
| Saint-Georges | 6 | 2 | 4 | 2010, 2023 | 1999, 2001, 2004, 2011 | Garaga, CRS Express, Cool FM 103.5 | 1998–present |
| Sorel-Tracy | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2018, 2019 | 2013, 2015, 2016 | HC Carvena, Éperviers | 1996–2008, 2010–present |
| Sherbrooke | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2006, 2011 | 2007, 2010 | Saint-Francois | 2003–2011 |
| Jonquière | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2013, 2014, 2017 | 2019 | Marquis | 1997–2004, 2008–present |
| Laval | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2002, 2003 | 2022 | Chiefs, Pétroliers | 1998–2006, 2013–17, 2019–present |
| Joliette | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1999, 2001 | Blizzard, Mission | 1998–2002 | |
| Rivière-du-Loup | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2016 | 2018, 2024 | 3L | 2008–present |
| Pont-Rouge | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2009 | 2000 | Grand Portneuf, Lois Jeans | 1996–2004, 2008–2010 |
| Acton Vale | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1997, 1998 | Nova | 1996–2001 | |
| Trois-Rivières | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2008 | Caron & Guay | 2003–2018 | |
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2007 | Summum Chiefs | 2002–2004, 2006–2008 | |
| Québec | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2005 | Radio X | 1997–1998, 2001–2008 | |
| Verdun | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2004 | Dragons | 2001–2006 | |
| LaSalle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2000 | Rapides | 1999–2003 | |
| Lachute | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1998 | Rapides | 1996–1999 | |
| Saint-Gabriel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1997 | Blizzard | 1996–1998 | |
| Windsor | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2012 | Wild | 2011–2012 |
