Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League facts for kids
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Robert Lebel |
| President | Mario Cecchini |
| No. of teams | 18 |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Drummondville Voltigeurs (2) |
| Most titles | Gatineau Olympiques (7) |
| TV partner(s) | Sportsnet Sportsnet One Eastlink TV TVA Sports |
The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is a top-level junior ice hockey league in Canada. It's one of three main leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Until 2023, it was known as the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. This league has teams in Quebec and the Maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
The Gilles-Courteau Trophy is the championship award for the QMJHL. The team that wins this trophy then gets to play in the Memorial Cup. This big tournament pits the QMJHL champion against the champions from the other two CHL leagues, the OHL and WHL, plus a host team. The QMJHL is known for its fast-paced, offensive style of hockey. Many former QMJHL players hold impressive scoring records in the Canadian Hockey League.
Some amazing hockey players who started in the QMJHL and later made it to the Hockey Hall of Fame include Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Ray Bourque, Pat LaFontaine, Mike Bossy, Denis Savard, Michel Goulet, Luc Robitaille, and goalies Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.
Contents
Member Teams
List of Teams
The QMJHL has 18 teams spread across two conferences and four divisions. Here's a look at the teams:
| Conference | Division | Team | City | Arena |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | East | Baie-Comeau Drakkar | Baie-Comeau, Quebec | Centre Henry-Leonard |
| Chicoutimi Saguenéens | Saguenay, Quebec | Centre Georges-Vézina | ||
| Quebec Remparts | Quebec City, Quebec | Centre Vidéotron | ||
| Rimouski Océanic | Rimouski, Quebec | Colisée Financière Sun Life | ||
| Maritimes | Acadie–Bathurst Titan | Bathurst, New Brunswick | K.C. Irving Regional Centre | |
| Cape Breton Eagles | Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia | Centre 200 | ||
| Charlottetown Islanders | Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | Eastlink Centre | ||
| Halifax Mooseheads | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Scotiabank Centre | ||
| Moncton Wildcats | Moncton, New Brunswick | Avenir Centre | ||
| Saint John Sea Dogs | Saint John, New Brunswick | TD Station | ||
| Western | West | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | Boisbriand, Quebec | Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau |
| Gatineau Olympiques | Gatineau, Quebec | Centre Slush Puppie | ||
| Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec | Aréna Glencore | ||
| Val-d'Or Foreurs | Val-d'Or, Quebec | Centre Aignico Eagle | ||
| Central | Drummondville Voltigeurs | Drummondville, Quebec | Centre Marcel Dionne | |
| Shawinigan Cataractes | Shawinigan, Quebec | Centre Gervais Auto | ||
| Sherbrooke Phoenix | Sherbrooke, Quebec | Palais des Sports | ||
| Victoriaville Tigres | Victoriaville, Quebec | Colisée Desjardins |
Map of Teams
This map shows where all the QMJHL teams are located.
History of the QMJHL
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League started in 1969. It was formed by combining the best teams from two smaller leagues: the Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League. They wanted to create a "major junior" league, which is a higher level of play for young hockey players.
Most of the first teams were located close to Montreal. Out of the original eleven teams, only the Shawinigan team has stayed in the same city since 1969.
Over the years, the QMJHL has grown and changed. In 1972, a team from Montreal that was part of the Ontario Hockey League (OHA) moved to the QMJHL. This team became the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge.
QMJHL teams have won the important Memorial Cup twelve times since 1969. Teams like the Shawinigan Cataractes, Saint John Sea Dogs, and Quebec Remparts have all won this championship.
Starting in 1994, the league began to expand outside of Quebec. It added teams in the Atlantic Canada region, filling a gap left by other hockey leagues. Today, many of the Maritime Division cities used to host professional minor league teams.
The QMJHL also looks for talented players from the Atlantic Canada region and the New England area of the United States. This is part of an agreement that allows players from the U.S. to be drafted by the CHL league closest to their home.
In December 2023, the league officially changed its name to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. This new name recognizes that teams from the Maritime provinces have been a big part of the league for almost 30 years.
Famous Retired Numbers
The QMJHL has honored some of its greatest players by retiring their jersey numbers across the entire league. This means no player in the QMJHL can ever wear these numbers again.
| No. | Player | Position | QMJHL Career | No. retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Guy Lafleur | RW | 1966–1971 | September 2021 |
| 87 | Sidney Crosby | C | 2003–2005 | 27 September 2019 |
QMJHL Players Holding CHL Records
Players from the QMJHL hold many impressive scoring records across the entire Canadian Hockey League. This shows how strong the offensive play has been in the QMJHL.
- Most Goals in a Career
- 1st – 309 – Mike Bossy, Laval National (1972–77)
- 2nd – 281 – Stephane Lebeau, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- Most Assists in a Career
- 1st – 408 – Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- 3rd – 346 – Patrick Emond, Trois-Rivières Draveurs, Hull Olympiques, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1981–86)
- Most Points in a Career
- 1st – 595 – Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- 3rd – 580 – Stephane Lebeau, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)
- Most Goals in One Season
- 1st – 133 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)
- 2nd – 130 – Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1970–71 (62 games)
- Most Assists in One Season
- 1st – 157 – Pierre Larouche, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (70 games)
- 2nd – 149 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)
- Most Points in One Season
- 1st – 282 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)
- 2nd – 251 – Pierre Larouche, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (67 games)
Memorial Cup Champions
The Memorial Cup is one of the most important trophies in junior hockey. It has been won fifteen times by ten different QMJHL teams since the league started in 1969.
- 1971 – Quebec Remparts (1)
- 1972 – Cornwall Royals (1)
- 1980 – Cornwall Royals (2)
- 1981 – Cornwall Royals (3)
- 1996 – Granby Prédateurs (1)
- 1997 – Hull Olympiques (1)
- 2000 – Rimouski Océanic (1)
- 2006 – Quebec Remparts (2)
- 2011 – Saint John Sea Dogs (1)
- 2012 – Shawinigan Cataractes (1)
- 2013 – Halifax Mooseheads (1)
- 2018 – Acadie–Bathurst Titan (1)
- 2019 – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (1)
- 2022 – Saint John Sea Dogs (2)
- 2023 – Quebec Remparts (3)
Trophies and Awards
The QMJHL gives out many trophies each year to recognize the best teams and players. Here are some of the main awards:
Team Awards
- Gilles-Courteau Trophy – Awarded to the team that wins the playoffs and becomes league champion.
- Jean Rougeau Trophy – Given to the team with the best record during the regular season.
- Luc Robitaille Trophy – Awarded to the team that scores the most goals in a season.
- Robert Lebel Trophy – Given to the team with the best goals against average (meaning they let in the fewest goals).
Player Awards
- Michel Brière Memorial Trophy – For the league's most valuable player (MVP).
- Jean Béliveau Trophy – Awarded to the player who scores the most points (goals + assists).
- Guy Lafleur Trophy – For the most valuable player during the playoffs.
- Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy – Given to the goalie with the best goals against average.
- Patrick Roy Trophy – Awarded to the best goaltender of the year.
- Guy Carbonneau Trophy – For the best defensive forward.
- Emile Bouchard Trophy – For the best defenceman of the year.
- Kevin Lowe Trophy – For the best defensive defenceman.
- Michael Bossy Trophy – Given to the player who is considered the best prospect for professional hockey.
- RDS Cup – For the rookie of the year.
- Michel Bergeron Trophy – For the best offensive rookie.
- Raymond Lagacé Trophy – For the best defensive rookie.
- Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy – For the most sportsmanlike player.
- QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year – Awarded to a player who does great work in their community.
- Marcel Robert Trophy – For the player who is the best student.
- Paul Dumont Trophy – For the personality of the year, recognizing someone who stands out in the league.
See also
- List of ice hockey leagues
- List of QMJHL seasons
