The 1997–98 QMJHL

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperate and ...

was the 29th season in the history of the

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (french: Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec; abbreviated ''QMJHL'' in English, ''LHJMQ'' in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The ...

. The

Quebec Remparts There have been two junior ice hockey franchises known as the Quebec Remparts (french: Remparts de Québec) that played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The first edition played from 1969 to 1985; the current franchise has pla ...

name was revived after twelve years when the

Beauport Harfangs The Beauport Harfangs (Snow Owls) were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 1990 to 1997. The team played its home games at the Aréna Marcel-Bédard in the Quebec City suburb of Beauport. The team's firs ...

changed identities. The QMJHL continued to grow in eastern markets, with an expansion team in

Baie-Comeau Baie-Comeau (; 2021 city population 20,687; CA population 26,643) is a city located approximately north-east of Quebec City in the Côte-Nord region of the province of Quebec, Canada. It is located on the shores of the Saint Lawrence River nea ...

and the relocating of the

Granby Prédateurs The Granby Prédateurs ("Predators") were a junior ice hockey team founded in 1981 after the team moved from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, where they had been known as the Sorel Éperviers. The team had been known as the Granby Bisons, but changed their ...

Cape Breton Cape Breton Island (french: link=no, île du Cap-Breton, formerly '; gd, Ceap Breatainn or '; mic, Unamaꞌki) is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America and part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The island accounts for 18. ...

. The league inaugurated the Philips Plaque, awarded to the player with the best

faceoff A face-off is the method used to begin and restart play after goals in some sports using sticks, primarily ice hockey, bandy, floorball, broomball, rinkball, and lacrosse. During a face-off, two teams line up in opposition to each other, and ...

percentage. The Ford Cups were renamed the

Telus Telus Communications Inc. (TCI) is the wholly owned principal subsidiary of Telus Corporation, a Telecommunications in Canada, Canadian national telecommunications company that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services ...

Cups, one each for the offensive and defensive players of the year. Fifteen teams played 70 games each in the schedule. The

finished first overall in the regular season winning their first

Jean Rougeau Trophy The Jean Rougeau Trophy is awarded annually to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team that records the most points in the regular season. The trophy was named for former league president Jean Rougeau. Winners See also *Hamilton Spectator Tro ...

, since the original name was revived. The

Val-d'Or Foreurs The Val-d'Or Foreurs are a junior ice hockey team based in Val-d'Or, in the region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. The team was founded for the 1993–94 season of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a member of the Canadian Hock ...

won their first

President's Cup The Presidents Cup is a series of men's golf matches between a team representing the United States and an International Team representing the rest of the world minus Europe. Europe competes against the United States in a similar but considerably ...

, defeating the

Rimouski Océanic The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season as the Sherbrooke Castors. The Castors played in Sherbrooke from 1969 to 1982 before moving t ...

in the finals.

Team changes

* The

Baie-Comeau Drakkar The Baie-Comeau Drakkar is a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League that plays at Centre Henry-Leonard in Baie-Comeau, Quebec, Canada. The name "Drakkar" refers to a type of longship. History The Drakkar first played in ...

joined the league as an expansion franchise. * The

relocated from the nearby suburbs, to

Quebec City Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is t ...

, becoming the second incarnation of the

. * The

relocated to Sydney, Nova Scotia, becoming the

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles The Cape Breton Eagles are a major junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Their home rink is Centre 200 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. History The franchise was originally granted to the Sorel Éperviers (B ...

, and switched to the Dilio Division. * The

Shawinigan Cataractes The Shawinigan Cataractes (french: Cataractes de Shawinigan) are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. The Cataractes have been previously known as the Shawinigan Bruin ...

switched to the Lebel Division. * The

Victoriaville Tigres The Victoriaville Tigres are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based in Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada. The team plays its home games at the Colisée Desjardins. History The franchise was gra ...

switched to the Lebel Division.

Final standings

''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; Pts = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against''
complete list of standings

Scoring leaders

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes''

Playoffs

Jean-Pierre Dumont was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 46 points (31 goals, 15 assists). ;Division quarterfinals * Quebec Remparts defeated Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 4 games to 0. * Rimouski Océanic defeated Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 1. * Moncton Wildcats defeated Chicoutimi Saguenéens 4 games to 2. * Hull Olympiques defeated Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 4 games to 2. * Laval Titan Collège Français defeated Victoriaville Tigres 4 games to 2. * Val-d'Or Foreurs defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 2. ;Division semifinals - Round-robin ''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; PTS = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against'' ^‡ Laval Titan Collège Français defeated Hull Olympiques in a one-game playoff to determine 2nd place in the round-robin standings. ;Division finals * Rimouski Océanic defeated Quebec Remparts 4 games to 2. * Val-d'Or Foreurs defeated Laval Titan Collège Français 4 games to 1. ;League finals * Val-d'Or Foreurs defeated Rimouski Océanic 4 games to 0.

All-star teams

;First team * Goaltender -

Mathieu Garon Mathieu Carol Garon (born January 9, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue J ...

, Victoriaville Tigres * Left defence -

Derrick Walser Derrick Walser (born May 12, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently an assistant coach of the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. Walser played 91 National Hockey League (NHL) games wit ...

, Rimouski Océanic * Right defence - Remi Royer, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies * Left winger -

Ramzi Abid Ramzi Abid (born March 24, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player of Tunisian descent, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Phoenix Coyotes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Thrashers and the Nashville Predat ...

, Chicoutimi Saguenéens * Centreman -

Vincent Lecavalier Vincent "Vinny" Lecavalier (born April 21, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who is currently a special advisor to hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens. Lecavalier, played seventeen seasons in the National Hockey ...

, Rimouski Océanic * Right winger - Mathieu Benoit, Chicoutimi Saguenéens * Coach -

Guy Chouinard Guy Camil Chouinard (born October 20, 1956) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the 1970s and 80's for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, and St. Louis Blues. He has also had a lengthy career as a coach in the QMJH ...

, Quebec Remparts ;Second team * Goaltender -

Patrick Couture Patrick Couture (born May 28, 1978) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Prior to turning professional, Couture played major junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Couture set the QMJHL's record, ...

, Quebec Remparts * Left defence - Alexei Tezikov, Moncton Wildcats * Right defence -

Jonathan Girard Jonathan Girard (born May 27, 1980) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey player, who played for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, NHL. Girard was born in Rawdon, Quebec and raised in Joliette, Quebec. Playing c ...

, Laval Titan Collège Français * Left winger -

Pierre Dagenais Pierre Brüno Dagenais (born March 4, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who most notably played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He last played for the Akwesasne Warriors of the Federal Hockey League. Playing career A ...

, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies * Centreman - Mike Ribeiro, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies * Right winger - Sebastien Roger, Moncton Wildcats * Coach - Claude Julien, Hull Olympiques ;Rookie team * Goaltender - Jean-Marc Pelletier, Rimouski Océanic * Left defence - Alexei Tezikov, Moncton Wildcats * Right defence - Mathieu Biron, Shawinigan Cataractes * Left winger -

Brad Richards Bradley Glen Richards (born May 2, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. Richards was drafted in the third round, 64th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and played for the Lightning, New York R ...

, Rimouski Océanic * Centreman - Mike Ribeiro, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies * Right winger - Michael Ryder, Hull Olympiques * Coach - Christian Larue, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
List of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars

Trophies and awards

;Team *

- Playoff Champions,

- Regular Season Champions,

* Robert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA,

;Player * Michel Brière Memorial Trophy - Most Valuable Player,

, Chicoutimi Saguenéens *

Jean Béliveau Trophy The Jean Béliveau Trophy is awarded to the top regular season scorer of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The award is named after Quebec native Jean Béliveau, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Béliveau died on December 2, 2014 at the age ...

- Top Scorer,

, Chicoutimi Saguenéens *

Guy Lafleur Trophy The Guy Lafleur Trophy is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs. It is named for Hockey Hall of Famer and QMJHL alumnus Guy Lafleur Guy Damien Lafleur (September 20, 1951 – April 22, ...

- Playoff MVP, Jean-Pierre Dumont, Val-d'Or Foreurs * Telus Cup – Offensive - Offensive Player of the Year,

, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies * Telus Cup – Defensive - Defensive Player of the Year,

, Victoriaville Tigres * AutoPro Plaque - Best plus/minus total, David Thibeault, Victoriaville Tigres * Philips Plaque - Best faceoff percentage, Eric Demers, Victoriaville Tigres * Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy - Best GAA,

, Victoriaville Tigres * Emile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year,

, Rimouski Océanic *

Mike Bossy Trophy The Michael Bossy Trophy (''French:Trophée Michael Bossy'') is awarded annually to the player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League judged to be the best professional prospect. The award is named after former New York Islanders forward Mike Boss ...

- Best Pro Prospect,

, Rimouski Océanic *

RDS Cup The RDS Cup is awarded annually by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the overall Rookie of the Year. The Cup was known as the Molson Cup from 1991 to 1994, and the New Face Cup from 1994 to 1996, but is now sponsored by the French-language s ...

- Rookie of the Year, Mike Ribeiro, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies *

Michel Bergeron Trophy The Michel Bergeron Trophy is awarded annually to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's "Offensive Rookie of the Year." From 1969 to 1980, the trophy was awarded to the QMHL's "Overall Rookie of the Year." The Bergeron trophy's counterpart since ...

- Offensive Rookie of the Year, Mike Ribeiro, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies * Raymond Lagacé Trophy - Defensive Rookie of the Year, Alexei Tezikov, Moncton Wildcats * Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Simon Laliberte, Moncton Wildcats *

QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year The QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year Award is awarded annually by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to one player for humanitarianism and community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norm ...

- Humanitarian of the Year, David Thibeault, Victoriaville Tigres * Marcel Robert Trophy - Best Scholastic Player,

Michel Tremblay Michel Tremblay (born 25 June 1942) is a French-Canadian novelist and playwright. Tremblay was born in Montreal, Quebec, where he grew up in the French-speaking neighbourhood of Plateau Mont-Royal; at the time of his birth, a neighbourhood wit ...

, Shawinigan Cataractes * Paul Dumont Trophy - Personality of the Year, Mike Ribeiro, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies ;Executive * Ron Lapointe Trophy - Coach of the Year,

, Quebec Remparts * John Horman Trophy - Executive of the Year, Lionel Brochu, Val-d'Or Foreurs * St-Clair Group Plaque - Marketing Director of the Year,

Jeff Rose Jeffrey "Jeff" Raymond Rose (born 1946) is a Canadian trade unionist and former public servant. He is national president emeritus of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, having served as national president of CUPE from 1983–1991, and was deput ...

, Moncton Wildcats

References

Official QMJHL Website

www.hockeydb.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 QMJHL season Quebec Major Junior Hockey League seasons

QMJHL The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (french: Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec; abbreviated ''QMJHL'' in English, ''LHJMQ'' in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The le ...