Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Current season	2023–24 QMJHL season
Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	1969
Ceo	Mario Cecchini
Commissioner	Gilles Courteau
Teams	18
Champion	Quebec Remparts (2023)
Most champs	Gatineau Olympiques (7)
Classification	Major junior
Classification2	Tier I junior
Classification3	Canadian Hockey League

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) is a major junior ice hockey league based in Quebec and the Maritime provinces, operating as one of the three constituent leagues of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Founded in 1969, it is the primary development league for players aged 16 to 20 aspiring to professional careers, particularly in the National Hockey League (NHL). The league champion is awarded the President's Cup and earns the right to compete for the Memorial Cup, Canada's national major junior championship.

History

The league was established in 1969 following the merger of the Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League, with founding teams including the Quebec Remparts, Montreal Junior Canadiens, and Shawinigan Cataractes. A key early figure was Commissioner Gilles Courteau, who has led the league since 1986, overseeing significant expansion into the Maritimes with teams like the Halifax Mooseheads and Moncton Wildcats. The QMJHL has been a member of the Canadian Hockey League since its formation in 1975, competing annually for the Memorial Cup against champions from the Ontario Hockey League and Western Hockey League. Notable historical events include the 1971 creation of the Drummondville Voltigeurs and the 1999 tragedy involving player Jonathan Roy.

Member teams

The QMJHL is divided into three divisions: the West, East, and Maritimes. Current members include the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Cape Breton Eagles, Charlottetown Islanders, Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Gatineau Olympiques, Halifax Mooseheads, Moncton Wildcats, and Quebec Remparts. Other franchises are the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, Rimouski Océanic, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Saint John Sea Dogs, Shawinigan Cataractes, Sherbrooke Phoenix, Val-d'Or Foreurs, and Victoriaville Tigres. The league has seen several relocations, such as the Laval Titan becoming the Acadie–Bathurst Titan, and expansions like the 2012 addition of the Sherbrooke Phoenix.

League structure and season

The regular season typically runs from September to March, with each of the 18 teams playing a 68-game schedule. The league uses a three-division format to determine playoff seeding, with the top 16 teams qualifying for the President's Cup playoffs. The playoff champion then represents the QMJHL at the Memorial Cup tournament. The league operates under the governance of the Canadian Hockey League and adheres to Hockey Canada regulations, with a priority selection draft held annually. Player age limits and development rules are designed to prepare athletes for the NHL Entry Draft and professional careers.

Trophies and awards

The league's championship trophy is the President's Cup, awarded annually to the playoff champion. The most valuable player receives the Michel Brière Memorial Trophy, while the leading scorer is given the Jean Béliveau Trophy. Other major awards include the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy for best goals-against average, the Guy Lafleur Trophy for playoff MVP, and the Marcel Robert Trophy for scholastic player of the year. The QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year award recognizes community service, and the Ron Lapointe Trophy is presented to the coach of the year.

Notable alumni

The QMJHL has produced a vast number of NHL stars and Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. Legendary graduates include Mario Lemieux of the Laval Voisins, Patrick Roy of the Granby Bisons, and Ray Bourque of the Sorel Éperviers. More recent prominent alumni are Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Océanic, Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads, and Marc-Édouard Vlasic of the Quebec Remparts. Other notable figures are coaches Joel Bouchard and Guy Boucher, and general managers like Pierre Dorion of the Ottawa Senators.

Commissioners and presidents

The league has been led by Commissioner Gilles Courteau since 1986, making him the longest-serving head in Canadian Hockey League history. Prior commissioners included Robert Lebel, who served from the league's 1969 inception until 1986. The position of President has been held by individuals such as Jean Rougeau and Marcel Patenaude. The league's board of governors includes representatives from each member team, and the head office is located in Boucherville, Quebec.

Category:Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Category:Ice hockey leagues in Canada Category:Sports leagues established in 1969 Category:1969 establishments in Quebec