Quebec Junior Hockey League facts for kids
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| Region(s) | Quebec |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Kevin Figsby |
| Chairman | John Struthers |
| Former name(s) | Quebec Provincial Junior Hockey League (1988-1998) Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (1998-2014) |
| Founded | 1988 |
| No. of teams | 13 |
| Associated Title(s) | Fred Page Cup (Eastern Championship) Royal Bank Cup (National Championship) Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Championship) |
| Recent Champions | Princeville Titans (2019) |
| Most successful club | Longueuil Collège Français (8) |
| Headquarters | Longueuil, Quebec |
| Website | LHJAAAQ |
The Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL), or Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) in French, is a top-level league for young ice hockey players in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League, which includes similar leagues across the country.
Teams in the QJHL are at the Junior "A" level. This is a very competitive level of hockey for players who are usually between 16 and 20 years old.
The winner of the QJHL playoffs gets to compete for a big prize called the Fred Page Cup. They play against the champions from other leagues in Eastern Canada. The team that wins the Fred Page Cup then gets a chance to play for the Centennial Cup, which is the national championship for all Junior "A" teams in Canada.
History of the League
The Quebec Junior Hockey League was started in 1988. It grew out of an older league that existed from 1972 to 1982. From the beginning, the QJHL was known for having strong teams.
In its early years, the league's champion competed for the Dudley Hewitt Cup, the championship for Central Canada. The Longueuil Sieurs won it in 1990, and the Chateauguay Elites won it twice in a row in 1993 and 1994.
Starting in 1995, the league's champion began competing for the Fred Page Cup against other teams from Eastern Canada. The Joliette Nationals won the very first Fred Page Cup that year. Since then, several other QJHL teams have won this title, proving how skilled the league's players are.
Big Changes in 2014
The year 2014 was a time of major change for the league. It changed its name from the "Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League" to the simpler "Quebec Junior Hockey League" and got a new logo.
That year, some teams moved or changed. The Valleyfield Braves, a team with a long history, returned to the league. The Kahnawake Condors moved to a new city and became the Chambly Forts. A new team, the Gatineau Flames, also joined the league.
However, the league also said goodbye to a few teams, like the Sherbrooke Cougars and the Saint-Hyacinthe Laureats. These changes helped the league grow and become what it is today.
Meet the Teams
The QJHL is made up of 13 teams from different cities and towns across Quebec. Each team has its own dedicated fans and home arena.
| Team | Centre |
|---|---|
| Beauce-Appalaches Condors | Saint-Georges |
| Côte-du-Sud Everest | Montmagny |
| Gatineau Flames | Gatineau |
| Granby Indigo | Granby |
| Joliette Prédateurs | Joliette |
| Laval Prime | Laval |
| Longueuil Collège Français | Longueuil |
| Montreal Rangers | Montréal |
| Montreal Phoenix | Montréal |
| Princeville Titan | Princeville |
| St-Jérôme Panthères | Saint-Jérôme |
| Terrebonne Cobras | Terrebonne |
| Valleyfield Braves | Salaberry-de-Valleyfield |
League Playoff Champions
Every year, the teams in the QJHL battle in the playoffs to win the league championship, known as La Coupe NAPA. Here is a list of the champions over the years.
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Longueuil Collège Français | ||
| 1990 | Longueuil Collège Français | ||
| 1991 | Montreal Olympics | ||
| 1992 | Joliette Nationals | ||
| 1993 | Châteauguay Élites | ||
| 1994 | Châteauguay Élites | ||
| 1995 | Joliette Nationals | ||
| 1996 | Contrecoeur Éperviers | ||
| 1997 | Longueuil Collège Français | ||
| 1998 | Coaticook Frontaliers | ||
| 1999 | Valleyfield Braves | Contrecoeur Blackhawks | 4-3 |
| 2000 | Coaticook Frontaliers | ||
| 2001 | St-Jérôme Panthers | ||
| 2002 | Valleyfield Braves | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-3 |
| 2003 | Lennoxville Cougars | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-0 |
| 2004 | Valleyfield Braves | St-Eustache Gladiateurs | 4-1 |
| 2005 | Vaudreuil Mustangs | St-Jérôme Panthers | 4-1 |
| 2006 | Joliette Action | College Lafleche Titans | 4-2 |
| 2007 | Joliette Action | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-0 |
| 2008 | Sherbrooke Cougars | Joliette Action | 4-2 |
| 2009 | Sherbrooke Cougars | Princeville Titans | 4-0 |
| 2010 | Terrebonne Cobras | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-1 |
| 2011 | Longueuil Collège Français | Valleyfield Braves | 4-1 |
| 2012 | Princeville Titans | St-Jérôme Panthers | 4-1 |
| 2013 | Longueuil Collège Français | Lachine Maroons | 4-0 |
| 2014 | Granby Inouk | Sherbrooke Cougars | 4-3 |
| 2015 | Longueuil Collège Français | Sherbrooke Cougars | 4-3 |
| 2016 | Longueuil Collège Français | Granby Inouk | 4-0 |
| 2017 | Terrebonne Cobras | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-1 |
| 2018 | Longueuil Collège Français | Terrebonne Cobras | 4-1 |
| 2019 | Princeville Titans | Terrebonne Cobras | 4-1 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2022 | Longueuil Collège Français | Beauce-Appalaches Cegep Condors | 4-1 |
| 2023 | Terrebonne Cobras | Beauce-Appalaches Cegep Condors | 4-3 |
| 2024 | Longueuil Collège Français | L'Everest de la Côte-du-Sud | 4-3 |
