Quebec Junior Hockey League
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 competes for the Fred Page Cup against the winners of the Central Junior A Hockey League and the Maritime Hockey League and the host team, which is on a three-year cycle between the MHL, CJHL and LHJQ. The winner of the Fred Page Cup then moves on to compete for the Centennial Cup.
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| Region(s) | Quebec |
|---|---|
| Commissioner | Kevin Figsby |
| Chairman | John Struthers |
| Former name(s) | Quebec Provincial Junior Hockey League (1988-1998) Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (1998-2014) |
| Founded | 1988 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Associated Title(s) | Fred Page Cup (Eastern Championship) Royal Bank Cup (National Championship) Dudley Hewitt Cup (Central Championship)[1] |
| Recent Champions | Princeville Titans (2019) |
| Most successful club | Longueuil Collège Français (8) |
| Headquarters | Longueuil, Quebec |
| Website | LHJAAAQ |
History
The Quebec Junior Hockey League is an offshoot of the Quebec Junior A Hockey League 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) in its early years: the Longueuil Sieurs in 1990 and the Chateauguay Elites in 1993 and 1994. In 1994–95 they were grouped into the Eastern Canadian region to compete for the Fred Page Cup. The Joliette Nationals 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, Lennoxville Cougars, 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 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 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 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 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, to be re-branded as the Chambly Forts. Shortly after that move, the Gatineau Mustangs of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League made the jump to the league as the Gatineau Flames, 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 as a member, the Flames purchased the Lachine Maroons and absorbed the franchise rights. The league expelled the Sherbrooke Cougars because the league considered them as a college team and had ties to Bishop's University. The Saint-Hyacinthe Laureats withdrew from the league, possibly in conjunction with the Cougars. The league split into two divisions.
Teams
La Coupe NAPA playoff champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Longueuil Collège Français | ||||||
| 1990 | Longueuil Collège Français | ||||||
| 1991 | Montreal Olympics | ||||||
| 1992 | Joliette Nationals | ||||||
| 1993 | Châteauguay Élites | ||||||
| 1994 | Châteauguay Élites | ||||||
| 1995 | Joliette Nationals | ||||||
| 1996 | Contrecoeur Éperviers | ||||||
| 1997 | Longueuil Collège Français | ||||||
| 1998 | Coaticook Frontaliers | ||||||
| 1999 | Valleyfield Braves | Contrecoeur Blackhawks | 4-3 | ||||
| 2000 | Coaticook Frontaliers | ||||||
| 2001 | St-Jérôme Panthers | ||||||
| 2002 | Valleyfield Braves | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-3 | ||||
| 2003 | Lennoxville Cougars | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-0 | ||||
| 2004 | Valleyfield Braves | St-Eustache Gladiateurs | 4-1 | ||||
| 2005 | Vaudreuil Mustangs | St-Jérôme Panthers | 4-1 | ||||
| 2006 | Joliette Action | College Lafleche Titans | 4-2 | ||||
| 2007 | Joliette Action | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-0 | ||||
| 2008 | Sherbrooke Cougars | Joliette Action | 4-2 | ||||
| 2009 | Sherbrooke Cougars | Princeville Titans | 4-0 | ||||
| 2010 | Terrebonne Cobras | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-1 | ||||
| 2011 | Longueuil Collège Français | Valleyfield Braves | 4-1 | ||||
| 2012 | Princeville Titans | St-Jérôme Panthers | 4-1 | ||||
| 2013 | Longueuil Collège Français | Lachine Maroons | 4-0 | ||||
| 2014 | Granby Inouk | Sherbrooke Cougars | 4-3 | ||||
| 2015 | Longueuil Collège Français | Sherbrooke Cougars | 4-3 | ||||
| 2016 | Longueuil Collège Français | Granby Inouk | 4-0 | ||||
| 2017 | Terrebonne Cobras | Longueuil Collège Français | 4-1 | ||||
| 2018 | Longueuil Collège Français | Terrebonne Cobras | 4-1 | ||||
| 2019 | Princeville Titans | Terrebonne Cobras | 4-1 | ||||
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | 2022 | Longueuil Collège Français | Beauce-Appalaches Cegep Condors | 4-1 | ||
| 2023 | Terrebonne Cobras | Beauce-Appalaches Cegep Condors | 4-3 | ||||
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 - 2015 relocate to Gatineau Flames
- La Tuque Wolves - renewed Valleyfield Braves franchise
- Les Husky de Cowansville - folded after 1999–00 season
- Le National de Joliette - ceased operations mid-season (January 2000)
- Le Junior Canadiens de Montreal - folded after 1999–00 season
- Les Dragons de Saint-Hyacinthe - folded after 1999–00 season
- Les Chevaliers de St-Jean - folded after 2001–02 season
- Montreal-North Arctic - folded after 2018–19 season. Founded 2002 as the St-Eustache Patriotes.
- Saint-Félicien Multiconcessionnaire - 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 - 2015 expelled from league
- Thetford Mines Filons - relocated to La Tuque Wolves
- Valleyfield Braves (defunct) - left league to join LNAH
- Vaudreuil-Dorion 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 purchase Lachine Maroons franchise and join league from Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League
- 2015 - Sherbrooke Cougars 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 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 pandemic
- 2021 - Chambly Forts fold
References
- The QJAAAHL no longer competes in the Central Zone of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. They now compete for the Fred Page Cup in the Eastern Zone.