The ''' leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League . Due to its cumbersome name, the league is often referred to as " The Q ."
The QMJHL was founded in 1969 and originally consisted only of teams in the province of Quebec , with the one notable exception of the Cornwall Royals, who played in Cornwall, Ontario , near the Quebec border. Most of the teams were within a few hours' drive of Montreal . Of the original founding members of the league, only the Shawinigan Cataractes remain in the same city with an uninterrupted history, although the team's name has changed (they were originally the Shawinigan Bruins ). Each spring the league's teams compete for the President's Cup , symbolic of QMJHL supremacy. The QMJHL champion then goes on to compete in the Memorial Cup against the OHL and WHL champions. QMJHL teams have won the Memorial Cup seven times since 1969, with the original Québec Remparts , the Granby Prédateurs , the Hull Olympiques and the Rimouski Océanic each winning once and the Cornwall Royals winning three times.
The hockey style of the QMJHL is free-wheeling and rough. Alumni include Mario Lemieux , Guy Lafleur , Patrick Roy , Ray Bourque , Pat Lafontaine , Jeremy Roenick , Mike Bossy , Martin Brodeur , Jose Theodore and possible future stars Patrice Bergeron and Sidney Crosby among many other NHL ers.
It has grown from a league where every team but one played in the province of Quebec to having teams in Quebec, Nova Scotia , New Brunswick , Prince Edward Island , Newfoundland and Maine .
Many of the Eastern Division teams are located in cities that once had American Hockey League franchises, when it had a strong presence in Atlantic Canada in the 1980's and 1990's.
The QMJHL traditionally adopted a rapid and exciting style, based on the offensive talent of its players, whereas the other two Junior Canadian leagues (the OHL and the WHL ) were moulded into a more closed and defensive style like the teams of the NHL . The Q is more known for producing high-quality offensive players and goalies than defensemen, with some of its most famous examples being Mario Lemieux and Patrick Roy (who was said to start the tide of top Quebecois goalies, the reason being that kids saw Roy on TV and emulated his signature style).
The QMJHL's Eastern Division consists of teams in Atlantic Canada and Maine
The QMJHL's Western Division consists of teams in Quebec
- Complete list of team histories since 1969 from QMJHL website
- , Cornwall Royals , Rosemont National , Verdun Maple Leafs , and Laval Saints .
- 1970 - Divisions dissolved, Laval folds.
- 1971 - Rosemont National move to Laval .
- 1972 - The Saint-Jerome Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs fold. The Montreal Junior Canadiens franchise of the OHA transfers to QMJHL, becoming the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge .
- , and the Hull Festivals granted franchises. Shawinigan Bruins become Shawinigan Dynamos .
- 1974 - Drummondville Rangers fold, Trois-Rivieres Ducs become Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (Lumberjacks).
- 1975 - Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge become Montreal Juniors.
- 1976 - Hull Festivals become Hull Olympiques . Divisions renamed: East becomes Dilio, West becomes Lebel.
- 1977 - Sorel Eperviers (Black Hawks) move to Verdun . Sherbrooke moves to Dilio Division, while Verdun plays in the Lebel.
- 1978 - Shawinigan Dynamos become Shawinigan Cataractes.
- 1979 - Verdun Eperviers (Black Hawks) become Sorel /Verdun Eperviers. Laval National become Laval Voisins (Neighbours).
- 1980 - Sorel / Verdun Eperviers become Sorel Eperviers.
- 1981 - Divisions cease to exist, Cornwall moves to the OHL , Sorel Eperviers move to Granby and become the Bisons.
- 1982 - Lebel and Dilio Divisions reintroduced. Shawinigan, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and Drummondville play in the Dilio, while Laval, Verdun, Longueuil, Saint-Jean, Hull, and Granby play in the Lebel. Sherbrooke Castors (Beavers) move to Saint-Jean . Montreal Juniors move to Verdun . Drummondville Voltigeurs (Infantrymen) granted a franchise, Longueuil Chevaliers (Cavaliers) granted a franchise.
- 1984 - Plattsburgh Pioneers granted a franchise, but fold 3 months into the schedule after playing 17 games. They would play in the Lebel Division, Granby is moved to the Dilio. Verdun Juniors become the Verdun Junior Canadiens.
- 1985 - Quebec Remparts fold. Laval Voisins become Laval Titan.
- 1987 - Longueuil Chevaliers move to Victoriaville and become the Tigres. They would play in the Dilio. Granby is moved to the Lebel Division.
- 1988 - Divisions cease to exist, Longueuil Collège-Français are granted a franchise.
- 1989 - Verdun Junior Canadiens move to Saint-Hyacinthe and become the Laser. Saint-Jean Castors become St-Jean Lynx .
- Harfangs (Snow Owls) are granted a franchise.
- 1992 - Trois-Rivieres Draveurs move to Sherbrooke and become the Faucons (Falcons).
- 1993 - Val-d'Or Foreurs (Miners) granted a franchise, they play in the Lebel. Longueuil Collège-Français move to Verdun .
- 1994 - Verdun Collège-Français fold. Halifax awarded an expansion team, the Mooseheads. Halifax would play in the Dilio. Laval Titan become Laval Titan Collège-Français.
- 1995 - Saint-Jean Lynx move to Rimouski and become the Océanic. Moncton Alpines franchise granted. Rimouski and Moncton both play in the Dilio. Drummondville and Sherbrooke move to the Lebel. Granby Bisons become Granby Prédateurs.
- 1996 - Saint-Hyacinthe Laser move to Rouyn-Noranda and become the Huskies. Moncton Alpines become Moncton Wildcats.
- 1997 - Granby Prédateurs move to Cape Breton to become the Screaming Eagles, and play in the Dilio. Shawinigan moves to the Lebel. The Beauport Harfangs move to Quebec City and become the Quebec Remparts .
- 1998 - Baie-Comeau granted an expansion team called the Drakkar (Viking ship), and play in the Dilio. Laval Titan Collège-Français move to Acadie- Bathurst , and play in the Dilio.
- 1999 - Lebel Division become Lebel Conference, and splits into the West Division (Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, Montreal, Val-d'Or) and the Central Division (Shawinigan, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville). The Dilio Division becomes the Dilio Conference and splits into the Eastern Division (Rimouski, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi) and the Maritime Division (Moncton, Halifax, Cape Breton, Acadie-Bathurst). Montreal Rocket are granted a franchise.
- Castors move to Maine , becoming the Lewiston MAINEiacs; Montreal Rocket move to Charlottetown and take the Prince Edward Island name, Hull Olympiques become Gatineau Olympiques.
- 2004 - The QMJHL announces plans to expand from 16 to 18 teams, effective with the 2005-06 season. St. John's, Newfoundland and Saint John, New Brunswick are awarded franchises, the St. John's Fog Devils and Saint John Sea Dogs.
- 2005 - Effective with the 2005-06 season, the league reverts to a two-division format. The East Division consists of all of the league's non-Québec teams, and the West Division contains all of the Québec teams.
Note: teams cross over between conferences for the final four.
Complete list of Trophy winners since 1969 from QMJHL website
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