The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a
Hockey Québec
Hockey Québec is the governing body of all ice hockey in Quebec, Canada. Hockey Québec is a branch of Hockey Canada.
History
Hockey Québec was organized in 1976 to take over from the various organizations governing hockey in Quebec. Hockey Q ...
Canadian Junior A
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice hock ...
league and is a member of
Hockey Canada
Hockey Canada (which merged with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1994) is the national governing body of ice hockey and ice sledge hockey in Canada. It is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation and controls the majority ...
and the
Canadian Junior Hockey League
The Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) is an association of Canadian junior A ice hockey leagues and teams and was formed in November 1993, emerging from the Canada West Association of Junior 'A' Hockey. The champion of the Canadian Junior H ...
. The winner of the QJHL playoffs competes for the
Fred Page Cup
The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by a tournament conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round-robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Canada Hoc ...
against the winners of the
Central Junior A Hockey League and the
Maritime Hockey League
The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of five teams from New Brunswick and one team from Prince Edward Island, which make up the Eas ...
and the host team, which is on a three-year cycle between the MHL, CJHL and LHJQ. The winner of the
Fred Page Cup
The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by a tournament conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round-robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Canada Hoc ...
then moves on to compete for the
Centennial Cup
The Centennial Cup is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), which determines the national champion of junior A ice hockey. It is a ten-team round robin featuring the winners of ...
.
History
The Quebec Junior Hockey League is an offshoot of the
Quebec Junior A Hockey League
The Quebec Junior A Hockey League (QJAHL) was a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Quebec that operated from 1972 until 1982. The QJAHL was a member of Hockey Quebec and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association and was eligible for the Dud ...
that lasted from 1972 to 1982. Founded in 1988, the QJHL has been a rather strong league, with three Central Canadian Champions (
Dudley Hewitt Cup
The Dudley-Hewitt Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy awarded to the Central Canadian Junior A champion. The trophy is currently decided by round robin tournament format, at the conclusion of the playoffs of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, ...
) in its early years: the
Longueuil Sieurs in 1990 and the
Chateauguay Elites
Les Braves de Valleyfield are a Junior ice hockey team from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. They were a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League for 25 seasons. Another franchise relocated and took over their market and former moni ...
in 1993 and 1994. In 1994–95 they were grouped into the Eastern Canadian region to compete for the
Fred Page Cup
The Fred Page Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy, won by a tournament conducted by the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The award is given to the winner of a round-robin and playoff between the Bogart Cup champions of the Central Canada Hoc ...
. The
Joliette Nationals
The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a Hockey Québec Canadian Junior A ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The winner of the QJHL playoffs co ...
won the first Fred Page Cup in 1995. To this day, the QJHL has four Eastern Canadian titles, the others going to the
Joliette Action
The Montreal-Est Rangers are a Junior ice hockey team from Montréal-Est, Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior Hockey League.
History 2004-05 season
In 2004, the Joliette Action were formed after another team's rights were sold ...
,
Lennoxville Cougars
The Sherbrooke Cougars of Collège Champlain are a junior ice hockey team from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. They were part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League from 2002 to 2015.
History
The Champlain Cougars were founded in the 1970s, and playe ...
, and
St. Jerome Panthers. No Quebec team has ever won the national title despite attending the tournament seven times since 1988.
In 2002–03,
Champlain College Lennoxville
Champlain College Lennoxville is the Champlain Regional College campus serving the Eastern Townships (Estrie). The campus is located in the borough of Lennoxville, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Like the other campuses of Champlain Regional C ...
got a team to play in the LHJAAAQ - Lennoxville Cougars, based on the campus of College Champlain and Bishop's University. The Cougars, who were coached by former NHLer
Stéphan Lebeau
Stéphan Armand Lebeau (born February 28, 1968) is a former professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League from 1988–89 NHL season, 1988–89 to 1994–95 NHL season, 1994–95. He won ...
formed a discipline style of hockey. The method paid off, and Lennoxville captured the Napa Cup as league champions and won the Fred Page Cup. Lennoxville finished the Royal Bank Cup 1–3, the Cougars exited the tournament with semi-finals loss to the
Camrose Kodiaks
The Camrose Kodiaks are a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey team in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). They play in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, with home games at the Recreation Centre in the EnCana Arena, which has a seating capacity for app ...
of the AJHL.
In 2003–04, the CJAHL and the LHJAAAQ saw the
St-Eustache Gladiateurs ranked #5 overall in Canada. However, the Gladiateurs lost the finals to the Valleyfield Braves. Because Valleyfield was hosting the Fred Page Cup, the Gladiateurs got a berth in the tournament. Saint-Eustache and Valleyfield each held a 2–0 tournament record going into the all-LHJAAAQ match-up that would decide the winner and who gets a bye to the championship finals. Valleyfield won the game 4–0, and Saint-Eustache then lost to the
Nepean Raiders
The Nepean Raiders are a Junior ice hockey team from Nepean, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Central Canada Hockey League. The town of Nepean was granted expansion after the Cornwall Royals and the Hull Hawks left the CJHL for the Que ...
3–2 in double-overtime. The
Valleyfield Braves lost the championship game 4–0 to Nepean.
In 2014, 12-year president Richard Morency announced his resignation, but staying on until the transition to the new leadership. The league also announced that it was re-branding itself the Quebec Junior Hockey League (dropping the "AAA" designation) and introduced the corresponding new league logo. The summer also saw the return of the Valleyfield Braves to the League. Owners of the team purchased the LaTuque Wolves, regained rights to the Braves name and logo and brought the team back to the Aréna Salaberry. Another long-time QJHL member, Kahnawake Condors, who were established in 1999 moved to
Chambly, Quebec
Chambly is an off-island suburb of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located in the Montérégie region, inland from the South Shore of the Saint Lawrence River.
It was formed from the merger in 1965 of Fort-Chambly (formerly Chambl ...
, to be re-branded as the
Chambly Forts. Shortly after that move, the Gatineau Mustangs of the
Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior ice hockey league operating in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Canada and acts as a second tier to the Central Canada Hockey League. The 1 ...
made the jump to the league as the
Gatineau Flames
The Gatineau Flames are a Canada, Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Buckingham, Quebec. The team is a member of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, but was a member of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League for decades, ending in 2015.
Hist ...
, becoming the first Hull-based team since the Aylmer Extreme that had lasted one season in 2000–01. Several weeks after announcing the
Gatineau Flames
The Gatineau Flames are a Canada, Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Buckingham, Quebec. The team is a member of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, but was a member of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League for decades, ending in 2015.
Hist ...
as a member, the Flames purchased the
Lachine Maroons
Les Maroons de Lachine were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Lachine, Quebec, Canada. It started as a franchise in the Metropolitaine leagues in 1953 in both the Junior A and Junior B divisions. Later, in 1995, the Pierrefonds Lions of th ...
and absorbed the franchise rights. The league expelled the
Sherbrooke Cougars
The Sherbrooke Cougars of Collège Champlain are a junior ice hockey team from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. They were part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League from 2002 to 2015.
History
The Champlain Cougars were founded in the 1970s, and play ...
because the league considered them as a college team and had ties to
Bishop's University
Bishop's University (french: Université Bishop's) is a small English-language Liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Lennoxville, a borough of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. The founder of the institution was the Anglican Diocese of Quebe ...
. The
Saint-Hyacinthe Laureats
Saint-Hyacinthe (; French: ) is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the 2021 Canadian census was 57,239. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montéré ...
withdrew from the league, possibly in conjunction with the Cougars. The league split into two divisions.
Teams
La Coupe NAPA playoff champions
Former member teams
*
Kahnawake Condors / Chambly Forts - relocated to Chambly in 2015, folded prior to 2021-2022 season
*
L'Extreme D'Aylmer - folded after 2000–01 season
*
Lachine Maroons
Les Maroons de Lachine were a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Lachine, Quebec, Canada. It started as a franchise in the Metropolitaine leagues in 1953 in both the Junior A and Junior B divisions. Later, in 1995, the Pierrefonds Lions of th ...
- 2015 relocate to Gatineau Flames
*
La Tuque Wolves - renewed Valleyfield Braves franchise
*
Les Husky de Cowansville
The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a Hockey Québec Canadian Junior A ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The winner of the QJHL playoffs c ...
- folded after 1999–00 season
*
Le National de Joliette
The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a Hockey Québec Canadian Junior A ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The winner of the QJHL playoffs c ...
- ceased operations mid-season (January 2000)
*
Le Junior Canadiens de Montreal - folded after 1999–00 season
*
Les Dragons de Saint-Hyacinthe
The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a Hockey Québec Canadian Junior A ice hockey league and is a member of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Junior Hockey League. The winner of the QJHL playoffs c ...
- folded after 1999–00 season
*
Les Chevaliers de St-Jean - folded after 2001–02 season
*
Montreal-North Arctic
The Montreal-North Arctic were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Saint-Leonard, Quebec, Canada and were part of the Quebec Junior Hockey League.
History
The franchise entered the QJAAAHL in 2002 as the Gladiateur de St. Eustache
In the Summer o ...
- folded after 2018–19 season. Founded 2002 as the St-Eustache Patriotes.
*
Saint-Félicien Multiconcessionnaire
Le Multiconcessionnaire de Saint-Félicien-Dolbeau-Mistassini were a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Saint-Félicien, Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Queb ...
- folded after 2008–09 season
*
Saint-Hyacinthe Lauréats - 2015 withdrew from league
*
Saint-Lazare Revolution - sold 2019. Remain in Saint Lazare but re-branded West Island Shamrocks
*
Sherbrooke Cougars
The Sherbrooke Cougars of Collège Champlain are a junior ice hockey team from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. They were part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League from 2002 to 2015.
History
The Champlain Cougars were founded in the 1970s, and play ...
- 2015 expelled from league
* Thetford Mines Filons - relocated to La Tuque Wolves
*
Valleyfield Braves (defunct)
Les Braves de Valleyfield are a Junior ice hockey team from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. They were a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League for 25 seasons. Another franchise relocated and took over their market and former moni ...
- left league to join LNAH
*
Vaudreuil-Dorion Mustangs
The West Island Shamrocks (Les Shamrocks du West Island in French) Are an ice hockey team based in Pierrefonds Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. The franchise was founded in 2003 as the Île Perrot Mustangs ...
- sold and relocated to Saint-Lazare (2017)
Timeline of teams in the QJHL
*1988 - Black Lake Miners play in
1988 Centennial Cup playdowns as Quebec's only Jr. A team
*1988 - Quebec Provincial Junior Hockey League is officially founded
*1990 - St. Antoine Rapidos join league
*1990 - Laval-Bourassa Cobras join league
*1991 - St. Antoine Rapidos become Louiseville Jaguars
*1991 - Laval-Bourassa Cobras become Montreal-Nord Cobras
*1991 - Ste-Marie Beaucerons join league
*1992 - Ste-Marie Beaucerons become Loretteville Riverains
*1992 - Louisville Jaguars become Saint-Jerome Panthers
*1994 - Coaticook Frontaliers join league
*1994 - Valleyfield Elites join league
*1995 - Lachine Maroons join league
*1996 - Warwick Titans join league
*1998 - Quebec Provincial Junior Hockey League becomes Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
*1998 - Joliette National cease operations in January 1998
*1998 - Valleyfield Elites become Valleyfield Braves
*1999 - Kahnawake Condors join league
*2000 - Montreal Junior Canadiens fold
*2000 - Aylmer Extreme join league and fold after the 2000–01 season
*2000 - Cowansville Husky fold
*2000 - Saint-Hyacinthe Dragons fold
*2002 - Saint-Eustache Gladiateurs join league
*2002 - Lennoxville Cougars join league
*2003 - Lennoxville Cougars become College Champlain Cougars
*2002 - Warwick Titans become College Lefleche Titans
*2002 - St-Jean Chevaliers fold
*2003 - l’Ile Perrot Mustangs join league
*2003 - La Plaine Cobras become Terrebonne Cobras
*2004 - St-Lawrence of Quebec Lions join league
*2004 - l’Ile Perrot Mustangs become Vaudreuil Mustangs
*2005 - Coaticook Frontaliers become Granby Inouk
*2006 - Saint-Eustache Gladiateurs become Saint-Eastache Patriotes
*2005 - Joliette Action join league
*2007 - St-Lawrence of Quebec Lions become Quebec AssurSports
*2007 - College Champlain Cougars become Sherbrooke Cougars
*2008 - Saint-Eustache Patriotes become Sainte-Therese Nordiques
*2008 - Quebec AssurExperts move and become Thetford Mines Filons
*2008 - Sainte-Agathe Montagnards join league
*2008 - College Lefleche Titans become Princeville Titans
*2008 - Saint-Felicien Multiconcessionnaire fold after three seasons
*2009 - Sainte-Therese Nordiques become Rousseau-Sports Junior AAA Laval
*2009 - Joliette Action become Joliette Traffic
*2010 - Thetford Mines Filons become La Tuque Wolves
*2010 - Rousseau-Sports Junior AAA Laval become Laval Arctic
*2011 - Joliette Traffic become Montreal-Est Rangers
*2011 - Laval Arctic become St. Leonard Arctic
*2013 - Valleyfield Braves dissolve franchise to seek membership with the Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey (LNAH)
*2014 - La Toque Wolves relocate to Valleyfield and become the Valleyfield Braves. The ownership reclaims the rights to the Braves name and logo
*2014 - League shortens name to Quebec Junior Hockey League
*2015 - Kahnawake Condors relocate to Chambly and become Chambly Forts
*2015 -
Gatineau Flames
The Gatineau Flames are a Canada, Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Buckingham, Quebec. The team is a member of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, but was a member of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League for decades, ending in 2015.
Hist ...
purchase Lachine Maroons franchise and join league from
Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior ice hockey league operating in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Canada and acts as a second tier to the Central Canada Hockey League. The 1 ...
*2015 -
Sherbrooke Cougars
The Sherbrooke Cougars of Collège Champlain are a junior ice hockey team from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. They were part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League from 2002 to 2015.
History
The Champlain Cougars were founded in the 1970s, and play ...
expelled from league
*2015 -
Saint-Hyacinthe Lauréats withdraw from league
*2016 - League returns to the full name of Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League
*2017 -
Vaudreuil-Dorion Mustangs
The West Island Shamrocks (Les Shamrocks du West Island in French) Are an ice hockey team based in Pierrefonds Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. The franchise was founded in 2003 as the Île Perrot Mustangs ...
sold and relocated to
St-Lazare Revolution.
*2017 - Ste-Agathe Montagnards are sold and relocated to St-Gabriel-de-Brandon
*2017 - Côte-du-Sud Everest join league and began play in 2018–19
*2018 - St-Léonard Arctic relocates to Montreal-North
*2018 - St-Lazare Revolution relocated to Pierrefonds, renamed Lac-St-Louis Revolution
*2019 - Lac-St-Louis Revolution renamed as West Island Shamrocks
*2019 - Franchise awarded to Cegep de Beauce-Appalaches Condors. The team was set to begin during the 2020-2021 season, but the debut was pushed back to 2021-2022 due to the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...
pandemic
*2021 - Chambly Forts fold
References
External links
LHJQ website
{{Junior Hockey
A
Canadian Junior Hockey League members
A
Hockey Quebec