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Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League

Junior ice hockey league in Canada


Summary

Junior ice hockey league in Canada

FieldValue
titleQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec
current_season2025–26 QMJHL season
logoQuebec Major Junior Hockey League.svg
pixels200px
sportIce hockey
founded1969
founderRobert Lebel
presidentMario Cecchini
teams18
countryCanada
championMoncton Wildcats (3)
most_champsGatineau Olympiques (7)
TVSportsnet
Sportsnet One
Eastlink TV
TVA Sports
website

Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec Sportsnet One Eastlink TV TVA Sports

The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), alongside the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League. The league includes teams in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, and previously had teams in Maine and New York in the United States.

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 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (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.

Teams

List of teams

ConferenceDivisionTeamCityArenaEasternEastMaritimesWesternWestCentral
Baie-Comeau DrakkarBaie-Comeau, QuebecCentre Henry-Leonard
Chicoutimi SaguenéensSaguenay, QuebecCentre Georges-Vézina
Quebec RempartsQuebec City, QuebecCentre Vidéotron
Rimouski OcéanicRimouski, QuebecColisée Financière Sun Life
Cape Breton EaglesCape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova ScotiaCentre 200
Charlottetown IslandersCharlottetown, Prince Edward IslandEastlink Centre
Halifax MooseheadsHalifax, Nova ScotiaScotiabank Centre
Moncton WildcatsMoncton, New BrunswickAvenir Centre
Newfoundland RegimentSt. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorMary Brown's Centre
Saint John Sea DogsSaint John, New BrunswickTD Station
Blainville-Boisbriand ArmadaBoisbriand, QuebecCentre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau
Gatineau OlympiquesGatineau, QuebecCentre Slush Puppie
Rouyn-Noranda HuskiesRouyn-Noranda, QuebecAréna Glencore
Val-d'Or ForeursVal-d'Or, QuebecCentre Agnico Eagle
Drummondville VoltigeursDrummondville, QuebecCentre Marcel Dionne
Shawinigan CataractesShawinigan, QuebecCentre Gervais Auto
Sherbrooke PhoenixSherbrooke, QuebecPalais des Sports
Victoriaville TigresVictoriaville, QuebecColisée Desjardins

Map

Boisbriand](blainville-boisbriand-armada) | mark-coord1 = | label-pos1 = bottom | label-color1 = black | mark-coord2 = | label-pos2 = left | label-color2 = black | mark-coord3 = | label-pos3 = left | label-color3 = black Noranda](rouyn-noranda-huskies) | mark-coord4 = | label-pos4 = left | label-color4 = black | mark-coord5 = | label-pos5 = right | label-color5 = black | mark-coord6 = | label-pos6 = bottom | label-color6 = black | mark-coord7 = | label-pos7 = top | label-color7 = black | mark-coord8 = | label-pos8 = top | label-color8 = black | mark-coord9 = | label-pos9 = right | label-color9 = black | mark-coord10 = | label-pos10 = bottom | label-color10 = black | mark-coord11 = | label-pos11 = bottom | label-color11 = black | mark-coord12 = | label-pos12 = left | label-color12 = black | mark-coord13 = | label-pos13 = right | label-color13 = black | mark-coord14 = | label-pos14 = left | label-color14 = black Breton](cape-breton-eagles) | mark-coord15 = | label-pos15 = right | label-color15 = black | mark-coord16 = | label-pos16 = top | label-color16 = black | mark-coord17 = | label-pos17 = top | label-color17 = black | mark-coord18 = | label-pos18 = left | label-color18 = black

History

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was founded in 1969, through the merger of the 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 three times(once in their first edition 1969–1985, and twice in their second edition 1997–present) and the Cornwall Royals winning three times.

Starting in 1994, the QMJHL began to expand farther east, outside of Quebec, filling 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.

On March 14, 2021, Kenzie Lalonde became the first woman to provide play-by-play coverage on television for any QMJHL game; the game was between the Halifax Mooseheads, who were hosting, and the Charlottetown Islanders.

In December 2023, the QMJHL changed its name to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and released a new logo. The change recognized the league's expansion into the Maritime provinces, whose teams had been a part of the QMJHL for almost 30 years.

The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly amended labour laws in 2024, to consider junior players as student-athletes and not employees subject to minimum wage, similarly to other provinces in the league. The QMJHL returned to Newfoundland for the 2025–26 season, with the relocation of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan to St. John's as the Newfoundland Regiment.

Retired numbers

No.PlayerPositionQMJHL CareerNo. retirement
4Guy LafleurRW1966–1971September 2021
87Sidney CrosbyC2003–200527 September 2019

League presidents

  • Robert Lebel (1969–1975)
  • Jean Rougeau (1981–1983)
  • Paul Dumont (1983–1984)
  • Gilles Courteau (1986–2023)
  • Mario Cecchini (2023–present)

Canadian Hockey League records===

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

;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)

Timeline of teams

Current teams are shown in blue. Gold stars denote Gilles-Courteau Trophy (League championship) winners. DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:25 Period = from:06/01/1969 till:2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 # to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"

Define $Right = anchor:till align:right Define $RightMargin = anchor:till align:right shift:(-1) Define $UpRight = anchor:till align:right shift:(3,1) Define $UpLeft = anchor:from align:left shift:(5,1) Define $Down = shift:(,-7) Define $t = textcolor Define $champ = text:"*" $t:gold2 fontsize:XL shift:(-1,-10)

Colors = id:barcolor id:line value:pink id:bg value:white id:black value:rgb(0.0,0.0,0.0) id:Former value:rgb(0.82,0.80,0.80) # Use this color to denote a team that is a former league member id:Current value:rgb(0.0,0.16,0.36) # Use this color to denote a team that is a current league member id:gold2 value:rgb(1,0.75,0.0) id:gray value:rgb(0.62,0.60,0.60) id:lineColor value:gray(0.5) id:silver value:rgb(0.75,0.75,0.75)

PlotData=

width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s

bar:1 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1981 $Down text:Cornwall Royals bar:1 at:06/01/1972 $champ bar:1 at:06/01/1980 $champ bar:1 at:06/01/1981 $champ

bar:2 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1974 text:Drummondville Rangers

bar:3 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1970 text:Laval Saints

bar:4 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1985 $Down text:Quebec Remparts bar:4 color:Former from:09/01/1988 till:06/01/1991 text:Longueuil bar:4 color:Former from:09/01/1991 till:06/01/1994 text:Verdun Collège-Français bar:4 at:06/01/1970 $champ bar:4 at:06/01/1971 $champ bar:4 at:06/01/1973 $champ bar:4 at:06/01/1974 $champ bar:4 at:06/01/1976 $champ bar:4 at:06/01/1992 $champ

bar:5 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1971 text:Rosemont bar:5 color:Former from:09/01/1971 till:06/01/1998 $Down text: Laval National/Voisins/Titan/Titan Collège-Français bar:5 color:Former from:09/01/1998 till:06/01/2025 $t:black $Down text:Acadie-Bathurst Titan bar:5 color:Current from:06/01/2025 till:end $t:white $Down text:Nfd.Regiment bar:5 at:06/01/1984 $champ bar:5 at:06/01/1989 $champ bar:5 at:06/01/1990 $champ bar:5 at:06/01/1993 $champ bar:5 at:06/01/1999 $champ bar:5 at:06/01/2018 $champ

bar:6 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1972 text:Saint-Jérôme Alouettes

bar:7 color:Current from:09/01/1969 till:end $Down $t:white text:Shawinigan Bruins/Dynamos/Cataractes bar:7 at:06/01/2022 $champ

bar:8 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1982 $Down text:Sherbrooke Castors bar:8 color:Former from:09/01/1982 till:06/01/1995 text:Saint-Jean Castors/Lynx bar:8 color:Current from:09/01/1995 till:end $t:white $Down text:Rimouski Oceanic bar:8 at:06/01/1975 $champ bar:8 at:06/01/1977 $champ bar:8 at:06/01/1982 $champ bar:8 at:06/01/2000 $champ bar:8 at:06/01/2005 $champ bar:8 at:06/01/2015 $champ

bar:9 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1977 text:Sorel Éperviers bar:9 color:Former from:09/01/1977 till:06/01/1979 shift:(-5) text:Verdun bar:9 color:Former from:09/01/1979 till:06/01/1981 text:Sorel bar:9 color:Former from:09/01/1981 till:06/01/1997 $Down text:Granby Bisons/Prédateurs bar:9 color:Current from:09/01/1997 till:end $t:white text:Cape Breton Screaming Eagles/Eagles bar:9 at:06/01/1996 $champ

bar:10 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1992 $Down text:Trois-Rivières Ducs/Draveurs bar:10 color:Former from:09/01/1992 till:06/01/2003 text:Sherbrooke Faucons/Castors bar:10 color:Former from:09/01/2003 till:06/01/2011 $Down text:Lewiston Maineiacs bar:10 color:Current from:09/01/2012 till:end $t:white text:Sherbrooke Phoenix bar:10 at:06/01/1978 $champ bar:10 at:06/01/1979 $champ bar:10 at:06/01/2007 $champ

bar:11 color:Former from:09/01/1969 till:06/01/1972 text:Verdun Maple Leafs

bar:12 color:Former from:09/01/1972 till:06/01/1982 text:Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge/Jrs bar:12 color:Former from:09/01/1982 till:06/01/1989 shift:(-3) $Down text:Verdun Jrs/Jr Canadiens bar:12 color:Former from:09/01/1989 till:06/01/1996 text: St-Hyacinthe Laser bar:12 color:Current from:09/01/1996 till:end $t:white $Down text:Rouyn-Noranda Huskies bar:12 at:06/01/1983 $champ bar:12 at:06/01/1985 $champ bar:12 at:06/01/2016 $champ bar:12 at:06/01/2019 $champ

bar:13 color:Current from:09/01/1973 till:end $t:white $Down text:Chicoutimi Saguenéens bar:13 at:06/01/1991 $champ bar:13 at:06/01/1994 $champ

bar:14 color:Current from:09/01/1973 till:09/01/2003 $t:white $Down text:Hull Festivals/Olympiques bar:14 color:Current from:09/01/2003 till:end $t:white $Down text:Gatineau Olympiques bar:14 at:06/01/1986 $champ bar:14 at:06/01/1988 $champ bar:14 at:06/01/1995 $champ bar:14 at:06/01/1997 $champ bar:14 at:06/01/2003 $champ bar:14 at:06/01/2004 $champ bar:14 at:06/01/2008 $champ

bar:15 color:Current from:09/01/1982 till:end $t:white $Down text:Drummondville Voltigeurs bar:15 at:06/01/2009 $champ bar:15 at:06/01/2024 $champ

bar:16 color:Former from:09/01/1982 till:06/01/1987 $Down shift:(-20) text:Longueuil Chevaliers bar:16 color:Current from:09/01/1987 till:end $t:white $Down text:Victoriaville Tigres bar:16 at:06/01/1987 $champ bar:16 at:06/01/2002 $champ bar:16 at:06/01/2021 $champ

bar:17 color:Former from:09/01/1984 till:01/01/1985 text:Plattsburgh Pioneers

bar:18 color:Former from:09/01/1990 till:06/01/1997 text:Beauport Harfangs bar:18 color:Current from:09/01/1997 till:end $t:white $Down text:Quebec Remparts bar:18 at:06/01/2023 $champ

bar:19 color:Current from:09/01/1993 till:end $t:white $Down text:Val d'Or Foreurs bar:19 at:06/01/1998 $champ bar:19 at:06/01/2001 $champ bar:19 at:06/01/2014 $champ

bar:20 color:Current from:09/01/1994 till:end $t:white $Down text:Halifax Mooseheads bar:20 at:06/01/2013 $champ

bar:21 color:Current from:09/01/1995 till:end $t:white $Down text:Moncton Alpines/Wildcats bar:21 at:06/01/2006 $champ bar:21 at:06/01/2010 $champ bar:21 at:06/01/2025 $champ

bar:22 color:Current from:09/01/1997 till:end $t:white text:Baie-Comeau Drakkar

bar:23 color:Former from:09/01/1999 till:06/01/2003 shift:(-10) text:Montreal Rocket bar:23 color:Current from:09/01/2003 till:09/01/2013 $t:white text:PEI Rocket bar:23 color:Current from:09/01/2013 till:end $t:white text:Charlottetown Islanders

bar:24 color:Current from:09/01/2005 till:end $t:white $Down text:Saint John Sea Dogs bar:24 at:06/01/2011 $champ bar:24 at:06/01/2012 $champ bar:24 at:06/01/2017 $champ

bar:25 color:Former from:09/01/2005 till:06/01/2008 text:St. John's bar:25 color:Former from:09/01/2008 till:06/01/2011 text:Montreal Jrs bar:25 color:Current from:09/01/2011 till:end $t:white text:Blainville-Boisbriand Armada

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:5 start:1970 TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text:

This is a complete list of team histories since 1969.

  • 1969– First season, 2 divisions. East: Quebec City Remparts, Shawinigan Bruins, Drummondville Rangers, Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks), Trois-Rivières Ducs (Dukes), and Sherbrooke Castors (Beavers). West: Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Cornwall Royals, Rosemont National, Verdun Maple Leafs, and Laval Saints.
  • 1970– Divisions dissolved, Laval folds.
  • 1971– Rosemont National move to Laval.
  • 1972– The Saint-Jérôme Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs fold. The Montreal Junior Canadiens franchise of the OHA transfers to QMJHL, becoming the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge.
  • 1973– League split into two divisions. East: Sorel, Quebec, Shawinigan, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi; West: Cornwall, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, Drummondville, Hull. Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and the Hull Festivals granted franchises. Shawinigan Bruins become Shawinigan Dynamos.
  • 1974– Drummondville Rangers fold, Trois-Rivières Ducs become Trois-Rivières Draveurs (Raftmen).
  • 1975– Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge became Montreal Juniors.
  • 1976– Hull Festivals became Hull Olympiques. Divisions renamed: East becomes Dilio, West becomes Lebel.
  • 1977– Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) move to Verdun. Sherbrooke moved to Dilio Division, while Verdun played in the Lebel.
  • 1978– Shawinigan Dynamos became Shawinigan Cataractes.
  • 1979– Verdun Éperviers (Black Hawks) became Sorel/Verdun Éperviers. Laval National become Laval Voisins.
  • 1980– Sorel/Verdun Éperviers became Sorel Éperviers.
  • 1981– Divisions cease to exist, Cornwall moved to the OHL, Sorel Éperviers moved to Granby and became the Bisons.
  • 1982– Lebel and Dilio Divisions reintroduced. Shawinigan, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and Drummondville played in the Dilio, while Laval, Verdun, Longueuil, Saint-Jean, Hull, and Granby played in the Lebel. Sherbrooke Castors moved to Saint-Jean. Montreal Juniors moved to Verdun. Drummondville Voltigeurs (Infantrymen) granted a franchise, Longueuil Chevaliers (Cavaliers) granted a franchise.
  • 1984– Plattsburgh Pioneers granted a franchise, but folded three months into the schedule after playing 17 games. They played in the Lebel Division, Granby is moved to the Dilio. Verdun Juniors become the Verdun Junior Canadiens.
  • 1985– Quebec Remparts fold. Laval Voisins became Laval Titan.
  • 1987– Longueuil Chevaliers moved to Victoriaville and became the Tigres. They played in the Dilio. Granby was moved to the Lebel Division.
  • 1988– Divisions ceased to exist, Longueuil Collège-Français are granted the rights to resurrect the Quebec Remparts franchise.
  • 1989– Verdun Junior Canadiens moved to Saint-Hyacinthe and became the Laser. Saint-Jean Castors became St-Jean Lynx.
  • 1990– Lebel and Dilio divisions created yet again: Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Drummondville, Shawinigan, Beauport, and Victoriaville play in the Dilio; Longueuil, Hull, Laval, Saint-Hyacinthe, Granby, and Saint-Jean played in the Lebel. Beauport Harfangs was granted a franchise.
  • 1991– Longueuil Collège-Français moved to Verdun.
  • 1992– Trois-Rivières Draveurs moved to Sherbrooke and became the Faucons.
  • 1993– Val-d'Or granted a franchise, named the Foreurs. They played in the Lebel.
  • 1994– Verdun Collège-Français folded. Halifax awarded an expansion team, the Mooseheads. Halifax played in the Dilio. Laval Titan became Laval Titan Collège-Français.
  • 1995– Saint-Jean Lynx moved to Rimouski and become the Océanic. Moncton Alpines franchise granted. Rimouski and Moncton both played in the Dilio. Drummondville and Sherbrooke moved to the Lebel. Granby Bisons became Granby Prédateurs.
  • 1996– Saint-Hyacinthe Laser moved to Rouyn-Noranda and became the Huskies. Moncton Alpines became Moncton Wildcats.
  • 1997– Granby Prédateurs move to Cape Breton and became the Screaming Eagles. They played in the Dilio. Shawinigan moved to the Lebel. The Beauport Harfangs moved to Quebec City and became the Quebec Remparts. Baie-Comeau was granted an expansion team called the Drakkar and played in the Dilio.
  • 1998– Laval Titan Collège-Français moved to Acadie-Bathurst, and played in the Dilio.
  • 1999– Lebel Division became Lebel Conference, and split into the West Division (Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, Montreal, Val-d'Or) and the Central Division (Shawinigan, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville). The Dilio Division became the Dilio Conference and split into the Eastern Division (Rimouski, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi) and the Maritime Division (Moncton, Halifax, Cape Breton, Acadie-Bathurst). Montreal Rocket was granted a franchise.
  • 2003– The QMJHL switched to a three-division format: Atlantic (Cape Breton, Moncton, Prince Edward Island, Halifax, Acadie-Bathurst); Eastern (Rimouski, Chicoutimi, Lewiston, Quebec, Baie-Comeau); and Western (Gatineau, Shawinigan, Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d'Or, Drummondville, Victoriaville). Sherbrooke Castors moved to Maine, becoming the Lewiston Maineiacs; Montreal Rocket moved to Charlottetown and took the Prince Edward Island name, Hull Olympiques become Gatineau Olympiques.
  • 2004– The QMJHL announced plans to expand from 16 to 18 teams, effective with the 2005–06 season. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saint John, New Brunswick were awarded franchises, the St. John's Fog Devils and Saint John Sea Dogs respectively.
  • 2005– Effective with the 2005–06 season, the league reverted to a two-division format. The East Division consisted of all of the league's non-Québec teams, and the West Division contained all of the Quebec teams.
  • 2006– The Western Division was renamed the Telus Division, under a sponsorship agreement with the Telus Communications Corporation.
  • 2008– The St. John's Fog Devils relocated to Verdun, Quebec to become the Montreal Junior Hockey Club.
  • 2011– The Lewiston Maineiacs were purchased by the league and were dissolved. The remaining roster that's still eligible to play in the QMJHL was claimed by the remaining teams in a dispersal draft.
  • 2011– The Montreal Junior Hockey Club was sold to a group led by former NHL Defencemen Joel Bouchard and renamed the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
  • 2012– Sherbrooke permitted to resurrect the former Lewiston franchise as the Phoenix.
  • 2013– The PEI Rocket changed their franchise name to the Charlottetown Islanders.
  • 2020– League returns to a three-division format.
  • 2025– The Acadie-Bathurst Titan relocated to St. John's, Newfoundland to become the Newfoundland Regiment.

Cities represented

TeamHometownProvince/StateYears Active
Cornwall RoyalsCornwallOntario1969–1981
Plattsburgh PioneersPlattsburghNew York1984–1985
Laval TitanLavalQuebec1969–1970; 1971–1998
Quebec RempartsQuebec CityQuebec1969–1985; 1997–present
Drummondville VoltigeursDrummondvilleQuebec1969–1974; 1982–present
Saint-Jerome AlouettesSaint-JeromeQuebec1969–1971
Trois-Rivieres DraveursTrois-RivieresQuebec1969–1992
Sorel EperviersSorelQuebec1969–1977; 1980–1981
Verdun Juniors
Montreal Junior Hockey ClubVerdunQuebec1969–1971; 1977–1980; 1982–1989;
Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge
Montreal Juniors
Montreal RocketMontrealQuebec1969–1971
1972–1982
1999–2003
Shawinigan CataractesShawiniganQuebec1969–present
Sherbrooke Phoenix
Sherbrooke Castors
Sherbrooke FauconsSherbrookeQuebec1969–1982; 1999–2003; 2012–present
Chicoutimi SaguenéensChicoutimiQuebec1973–present
Gatineau OlympiquesHull/GatineauQuebec1973–present
Granby PrédateursGranbyQuebec1981–1997
Saint-Jean LynxSaint-Jean-sur-RichelieuQuebec1982–1995
Longueuil ChevaliersLongueuilQuebec1982–1991
Victoriaville TigresVictoriavilleQuebec1987–present
Saint-Hyacinthe LaserSaint-HyacintheQuebec1989–1996
Beauport HarfangsBeauportQuebec1990–1997
Val-d'Or ForeursVal-d'OrQuebec1993–present
Rimouski OcéanicRimouskiQuebec1995–present
Rouyn-Noranda HuskiesRouyn-NorandaQuebec1996–present
Baie-Comeau DrakkarBaie-ComeauQuebec1997–present
Blainville-Boisbriand ArmadaBoisbriandQuebec2011–present
Moncton WildcatsMonctonNew Brunswick1995–present
Acadie-Bathurst TitanBathurstNew Brunswick1998–2025
Saint John Sea DogsSaint JohnNew Brunswick2005–present
Lewiston MaineiacsLewistonMaine2003–2011
Charlottetown IslandersCharlottetownPrince Edward Island2003–present
Halifax MooseheadsHalifaxNova Scotia1994–present
Cape Breton EaglesSydneyNova Scotia1997–present
St. John's Fog Devils
Newfoundland RegimentSt. John'sNewfoundland and Labrador2005–2008, 2025–present

Memorial Cup champions

The Memorial Cup has been captured fifteen times by ten different QMJHL teams since the league's founding 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)

Entry draft

Starting in 1971, the QMJHL has held a draft to select the rights to future players. The league held separate drafts for junior-aged players and for midget-aged players. The initial drafts addressed only players not protected by their territorial programs. In 1972, teams could protect 15 players within their territory, and Mike Bossy was never drafted because the Laval National protected him. In 1973, the midget protection was dropped to five players, then increased to six players in 1976. The territorial rights created issues in 1973, when the Sorel Éperviers picked Lucien DeBlois with the first pick, and the Drummondville Voltigeurs selected him with the 8th pick because he also was within their region. The last year of separate drafts for midget and junior players was 1977, when teams were allowed to protect one midget player. Starting in 1978, the league had a single draft.

Trophies and awards

This is a list of QMJHL trophies. The trophy's first season being awarded is shown in brackets.

Team

  • Gilles-Courteau Trophy – Playoffs champions (1969–70)
  • Jean Rougeau Trophy – Regular season champions (1969–70)
  • Luc Robitaille Trophy – Team that scored the most goals (2001–02 to 2013–14), team with the best goals for average (2014–15)
  • Robert Lebel Trophy – Team with best GAA (1977–78)

Player

  • Michel Brière Memorial Trophy – Most valuable player (1972–73)
  • Jean Béliveau Trophy – Top scorer (1969–70)
  • Guy Lafleur Trophy – Playoffs MVP (1977–78)
  • Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy – Best GAA (1969–70)
  • Patrick Roy Trophy – Goaltender of the year (2023–24)
  • Guy Carbonneau Trophy – Best defensive forward (2004–05)
  • Emile Bouchard Trophy – Defenceman of the year (1975–76)
  • Kevin Lowe Trophy – Best defensive defenceman (2004–05)
  • Michael Bossy Trophy – Best professional prospect (1980–81)
  • Sidney Crosby Trophy – Rookie of the year (1991–92)
  • Michel Bergeron Trophy – Offensive rookie of the year (1969–70)
  • Raymond Lagacé Trophy – Defensive rookie of the year (1980–81)
  • David Desharnais Trophy – Most sportsmanlike player (1969–70)
  • QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year – Also known as "Wittnauer Plaque" (1992–93)
  • Marcel Robert Trophy – Best scholastic player (1980–81)
  • Paul Dumont Trophy – Personality of the year (1989–90)

Executive

  • Ron Lapointe Trophy – Coach of the year (1992–93)
  • Maurice Filion Trophy – General manager of the year (2005–06)
  • John Horman Trophy – Executive of the year (1989–90)
  • Jean Sawyer Trophy – Marketing director of the year (1990–91)

Defunct trophies

  • AutoPro Plaque – Best plus/minus total (1989–90 to 2001–02)
  • Philips Plaque – Best faceoff percentage (1997–98 to 2001–02)
  • Telus Cup – Offensive – Offensive player of the year (1989–90 to 2005–06)
  • Telus Cup – Defensive – Defensive player of the year (1989–90 to 2005–06)

Notes

References

References

  1. (2023-12-14). "QMJHL drops 'Major,' adds 'Maritimes' to name". [[Sportsnet]].
  2. Childerhose, Evan. (15 June 2022). "Ottawa-Born Kenzie Lalonde Is One of Sportsnet's 25 Most Powerful Women to Watch in Sports".
  3. Blouin, Maxime. (December 14, 2023). "The QMJHL becomes the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League".
  4. (December 14, 2023). "QMJHL changes name to better represent its six Maritime teams".
  5. Leroux, Stéphane. (December 16, 2024). "Le Titan déménagera; la LHJMQ de retour à Terre-Neuve". [[Réseau des sports]].
  6. Staff. (May 18, 2021). "QMJHL to retire Guy Lafleur's No. 4".
  7. [[The Canadian Press]]. (28 September 2019). "Emotional Sidney Crosby honoured during jersey retirement ceremony in Rimouski".
  8. (March 5, 2023). "QMJHL Commissioner steps down".
  9. (March 16, 2023). "Mario Cecchini introduced as next QMJHL Commissioner".
  10. "CHL Record Book".
  11. "QMJHL team histories".
  12. "1971 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Draft".
  13. Mathieu, Jacques. (June 4, 1973). "L'affaire Deblois loin d'être reglée". [[La Tribune (Sherbrooke).
  14. "NHL and Other Amateur Drafts Since 1963".
  15. "QMJHL Trophies".
  16. Cowan, Stu. (September 17, 2024). "QMJHL renames award in honour of former Canadien David Desharnais". [[Montreal Gazette]].
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