The 2003–04 QMJHL season was the

35th Military units *35th Fighter Wing, an air combat unit of the United States Air Force *35th Infantry Division (United States), a formation of the National Guard since World War I *35th Infantry Regiment (United States), a regiment created on 1 July 1 ...

season in the history of the

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 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). The league includes teams in Quebec ...

. The league continued to expand to new eastern markets, with teams relocating to

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

and

Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is an island Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. While it is the smallest province by land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", ...

. Conferences were abandoned and teams were divided into three divisions by geography. Sixteen teams played 70 games each in the schedule. The

Lewiston Maineiacs The Lewiston Maineiacs were a junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League based in Lewiston, Maine, United States. The team played its home games at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée. They were the second QMJHL team in the Unite ...

became the league's second American-based team in history after the Plattsburgh Pioneers, and first to survive a full season. The P.E.I. Rocket also became the first major junior hockey team based on Prince Edward Island. Rookie

Sidney Crosby Sidney Patrick Crosby (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Sid the Kid" and dubb ...

led the league in scoring as a 16-year-old, and won the

Michel Brière Memorial Trophy The Michel Brière Memorial Trophy () is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). It is named for former QMJHL and National Hockey League (NHL) player Michel Brière, who was killed in a c ...

as the MVP of the regular season. The

Gatineau Olympiques The Gatineau Olympiques are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, that plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppi ...

finished first overall in the regular season winning their fourth Jean Rougeau Trophy, and also won their sixth

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 except Europe as that continent competes against the United States in a similar but ...

, defeating the

Moncton Wildcats The Moncton Wildcats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Moncton, New Brunswick. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 QMJHL season, 1995–96 season known as the Moncton A ...

in the finals.

Team changes

* The

Hull Olympiques The Gatineau Olympiques are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Gatineau, Quebec, that plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Pupp ...

were renamed the

. * The

Montreal Rocket The Montreal Rocket were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for four seasons from 1999 to 2003, based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team was named in honour of Montreal Canadiens great Maurice "Rocket" Richard ...

relocated to

Charlottetown Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County, Prince Edward Island, Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, Charlott ...

, becoming the P.E.I. Rocket. * The

Sherbrooke Castors The Sherbrooke Castors or Beavers (in English) was the name of two different junior ice hockey teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and another team in the Quebec Eastern Provincial Hockey League. Both later franchises played at the Pal ...

relocated to

Lewiston, Maine Lewiston (; ) is the List of municipalities in Maine, second most populous city in the U.S. state of Maine, with the city's population at 37,121 as of the 2020 United States census. The city lies halfway between Augusta, Maine, Augusta, the sta ...

, becoming the

Final standings

''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OL = Overtime loss; PTS = Points; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against'' :''y-received first-round bye'' :''x-made playoffs''
complete list of standings

Scoring leaders

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

Leading goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Total ice time; W = Wins; L = Losses ; GA = Goals against; SO = Total shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average''

Canada-Russia Challenge

The 2003–04 season was the first time the Canada-Russia challenge was played. The event, then known as the RE/MAX Canada-Russia Challenge was hosted by the

Halifax Mooseheads The Halifax Mooseheads are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio Division of the QMJHL for the 1994–95 ...

and the

Rimouski Océanic The Rimouski Océanic are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes 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 ...

. On November 20, 2003, the Russian Selects defeated the QMJHL All-stars 3–2 at the

Halifax Metro Centre Scotiabank Centre (formerly known as Halifax Metro Centre) is the largest multi-purpose facility in Atlantic Canada, located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The main entrances to the building are located on Brunswick Street, at the c ...

. On November 24, 2003, the QMJHL All-stars defeated the Russian Selects 6–2 at

Colisée de Rimouski Colisée may refer to: Canada * Colisée de Québec, also known as Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City * Colisée Cardin, Sorel-Tracy * Colisée Desjardins, Victoriaville * Colisée Financière Sun Life, Rimouski * Colisée Jean Béliveau, Longueuil * Colis ...

Playoffs

Each regular season division winner received a first round bye, and ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall. Remaining teams were ranked 4th to 13th, regardless of division. Maxime Talbot was the leading scorer of the playoffs with 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists).

First round

(8) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. (9) Lewiston Maineiacs

(7) Chicoutimi Saguenéens vs. (10) Val-d'Or Foreurs

(6) Shawinigan Cataractes vs. (11) Drummondville Voltigeurs

(5) P.E.I. Rocket vs. (12) Quebec Remparts

(4) Moncton Wildcats vs. (13) Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Quarterfinals

(1) Gatineau Olympiques vs. (8) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

(3) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles vs. (6) Chicoutimi Saguenéens

(1) Rimouski Océanic vs. (8) Shawinigan Cataractes

Semifinals

(1) Gatineau Olympiques vs. (4) Chicoutimi Saguenéens

(3) Rimouski Océanic vs. (4) Moncton Wildcats

President's Cup Finals

(1) Gatineau Olympiques vs. (4) Moncton Wildcats

All-star teams

;First team * Goaltender -

Martin Houle Martin G. Houle (born February 12, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers during the season. Playing career As a youth, Houle played ...

, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles * Left Defence - Doug O'Brien, Gatineau Olympiques * Right Defence - Jonathan Paiement, Lewiston Maineiacs * Left Winger - Dany Roussin, Rimouski Océanic * Centreman -

, Rimouski Océanic * Right Winger -

Jean-Michel Daoust Jean-Michel Daoust (born November 24, 1983) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines a ...

, Gatineau Olympiques * Coach - Benoît Groulx, Gatineau Olympiques ;Second team * Goaltender -

Corey Crawford Corey Crawford (born December 31, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Crow" by teammates and fans, he played his entire professional career with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL), w ...

, Moncton Wildcats * Left Defence - Mathieu Dumas, Val-d'Or Foreurs * Right Defence - Mario Scalzo, Victoriaville Tigres * Left Winger - Alexandre Picard, Lewiston Maineiacs * Centreman - Maxime Talbot, Gatineau Olympiques * Right Winger - Steve Bernier, Moncton Wildcats * Coach -

Alain Vigneault Alain Vigneault (born May 14, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach. Vigneault has previously coached the Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers for 19 seasons in the NHL, as well as ...

, P.E.I. Rocket ;Rookie team * Goaltender - Julien Ellis, Shawinigan Cataractes * Left Defence - Nathan Welton, Quebec Remparts * Right Defence - Mathieu Carle, Acadie-Bathurst * Left Winger -

Guillaume Latendresse Guillaume Latendresse (born May 24, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He was selected in the second round, 45th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Lantendresse also played for the Minnesota Wil ...

, Drummondville * Centreman -

, Rimouski Océanic * Right Winger - Martins Karsums, Moncton Wildcats * Coach - ''no eligible candidate''
List of First/Second/Rookie team all-stars

Trophies and awards

;Team *

- Playoff Champions,

* Jean Rougeau Trophy - Regular Season Champions,

Luc Robitaille Trophy The Luc Robitaille Trophy is awarded to the team with the best goals for average during the regular season in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The trophy is named after Luc Robitaille, who played three QMJHL seasons with the Hull Olympique ...

- Team that scored the most goals,

* Robert Lebel Trophy - Team with best GAA,

Cape Breton Screaming Eagles The Cape Breton Eagles are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia. They are members of the Maritimes Division, and play their home games at ...

;Player *

- Most Valuable Player,

, Rimouski Océanic *

Jean Béliveau Trophy The Jean Béliveau Trophy is awarded to the top regular season scorer of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The award is named after Quebec native Jean Béliveau, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame The Hockey Hall of Fame () is ...

- Top Scorer,

, Rimouski Océanic *

Guy Lafleur Trophy The Guy Lafleur Trophy () is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) playoffs. It is named for Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and QMJHL alumnus Guy Lafleur Guy Damien Lafleur (September ...

- Playoff MVP, Maxime Talbot, Gatineau Olympiques * Telus Cup – Offensive - Offensive Player of the Year,

, Rimouski Océanic *

Telus Cup – Defensive The Telus Cup – Defensive is awarded annually to the person voted the best defensive player in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. It was known as the Shell Cup from 1989–90 to 1993–94, and as the Ford Cup from 1994–95 to 1996–97. Winn ...

- Defensive Player of the Year,

, Moncton Wildcats *

Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy The Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the goaltender in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the best goals-against average. It is named for Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Jacques Plante. Prior to the creation ...

- Best GAA,

, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles * Emile Bouchard Trophy - Defenceman of the Year, Doug O'Brien, Gatineau Olympiques *

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

- Best Pro Prospect, Alexandre Picard, Lewiston Maineiacs *

RDS Cup The Sidney Crosby Trophy is awarded annually by the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) 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. From 1996 to 2025 th ...

- Rookie of the Year,

, Rimouski Océanic *

Michel Bergeron Trophy The Michel Bergeron Trophy is awarded annually to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey l ...

- Offensive Rookie of the Year,

, Rimouski Océanic * Raymond Lagacé Trophy - Defensive Rookie of the Year, Julien Ellis-Plante, Shawinigan Cataractes * Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy - Most sportsmanlike player, Benoît Mondou, Shawinigan Cataractes * QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year - Humanitarian of the Year,

Josh Hennessy Joshua Hennessy (born February 7, 1985) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He most recently played for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Hennessy previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) f ...

, Quebec Remparts * Marcel Robert Trophy - Best Scholastic Player, Nicolas Laplante, Acadie-Bathurst Titan * Paul Dumont Trophy - Personality of the Year,

, Rimouski Océanic ;Executive * Ron Lapointe Trophy - Coach of the Year, Benoît Groulx, Gatineau Olympiques * John Horman Trophy - Executive of the Year, Sylvie Fortier, Baie-Comeau Drakkar * Jean Sawyer Trophy - Marketing Director of the Year, Johanne Lefebvre, Baie-Comeau Drakkar

References

Official QMJHL Website

www.hockeydb.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:2003-04 QMJHL season Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League seasons

QMJHL 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). The league includes teams in Quebec ...

Team changes

Final standings

Scoring leaders

Leading goaltenders

Canada-Russia Challenge

Playoffs

First round

(8) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs. (9) Lewiston Maineiacs

(7) Chicoutimi Saguenéens vs. (10) Val-d'Or Foreurs

(6) Shawinigan Cataractes vs. (11) Drummondville Voltigeurs

(5) P.E.I. Rocket vs. (12) Quebec Remparts

(4) Moncton Wildcats vs. (13) Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Quarterfinals

(1) Gatineau Olympiques vs. (8) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

(3) Cape Breton Screaming Eagles vs. (6) Chicoutimi Saguenéens

(1) Rimouski Océanic vs. (8) Shawinigan Cataractes

Semifinals

(1) Gatineau Olympiques vs. (4) Chicoutimi Saguenéens

(3) Rimouski Océanic vs. (4) Moncton Wildcats

President's Cup Finals

(1) Gatineau Olympiques vs. (4) Moncton Wildcats

All-star teams

Trophies and awards

See also

References