Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was founded in 1969, through the merger of best teams from the existing Quebec Junior Hockey League and the Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League, declaring themselves a "major junior" league. Of the original eleven QMJHL teams, eight came from the QJHL, two from the MMJHL, and the Cornwall Royals, from Cornwall, Ontario, near the Quebec border, who transferred from the Central Junior A Hockey League. The Rosemont National and Laval Saints transferred from the MMJHL. The eight teams from the QJHL were the Drummondville Rangers, Quebec Remparts, Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Shawinigan Bruins, Sherbrooke Castors, Sorel Éperviers, Trois-Rivières Ducs and the Verdun Maple Leafs.

Most of the teams were within a few hours' drive of Montreal. From the first season in 1969–70, only Shawinigan remains in the same city with an uninterrupted history, although the team's name has changed to the Cataractes.

In 1972 the QMJHL had been in operation for three years, and wanted a team in the province's largest city. It threatened a lawsuit to force the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey Association into the Quebec-based league. Over the summer of 1972, the OHA granted the Junior Habs a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process. The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise for the 1973–74 season in Kingston, Ontario, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians.

QMJHL teams have won the Memorial Cup twelve times since 1969, with the Shawinigan Cataractes, Saint John Sea Dogs, the Granby Prédateurs, the Hull Olympiques, Halifax Mooseheads, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Rimouski Océanic, and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan each winning once, the Quebec Remparts winning three times(once in their first edition 1969–1985, and twice in their second edition 1997–present) and the Cornwall Royals winning three times.

Starting in 1994, the QMJHL began to expand further east, outside of Quebec. The "Q" filled the void in Atlantic Canada after the exodus of American Hockey League franchises, when the AHL had a strong presence in the 1980s and 1990s; all of the Maritime Division cities save for Bathurst, New Brunswick are former homes of AHL franchises. To date, Fredericton, New Brunswick is the lone former AHL market that has not established a QMJHL franchise.

In recent seasons, the QMJHL has been scouting players from the Atlantic Canada region along with a surge in players coming out of the New England area: the QMJHL has territorial rights to draft and recruit players from New England as part of an agreement where players from the United States can be drafted by the CHL league that is in a similar geographic area.

In December 2023, the QMJHL changed its name to the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League and released a new logo. The change recognized the league's expansion into the Maritime provinces, whose teams had been a part of the QMJHL for almost 30 years.

Retired numbers

League presidents

• Robert Lebel (1969–1975)
• Jean Rougeau (1981–1983)
• Paul Dumont (1983–1984)
• Gilles Courteau (1986–2023)
• Mario Cecchini (2023–present)

Canadian Hockey League records

This is a list of Canadian Hockey League career and single season records accomplished by QMJHL players.

Most goals, career

1st – 309 – Mike Bossy, Laval National (1972–77)

2nd – 281 – Stephane Lebeau, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)

3rd – 278 – Normand Dupont, Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge, Montreal Juniors (1973–77)

Most assists, career

1st – 408 – Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)

3rd – 346 – Patrick Emond, Trois-Rivières Draveurs, Hull Olympiques, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1981–86)

7th – 315 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins (1981–84)

Most points, career

1st – 595 – Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)

3rd – 580 – Stephane Lebeau, Shawinigan Cataractes (1984–88)

4th – 575 – Patrick Emond, Trois-Rivières Draveurs, Hull Olympiques, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (1981–86)

Most goals, one season

1st – 133 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)

2nd – 130 – Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1970–71 (62 games)

4th – 104 – Pat LaFontaine, Verdun Juniors, 1982–83 (70 games)

5th – 103 – Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1969–70 (56 games)

6th – 100 – Gary MacGregor, Cornwall Royals, 1973–74 (66 games)

Most assists, one season

1st – 157 – Pierre Larouche, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (70 games)

2nd – 149 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)

3rd – 136 – Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes, 1987–88 (70 games)

5th – 135 – Michel Deziel, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (69 games)

5th – 135 – Marc Fortier, Chicoutimi Saguenéens, 1986–87 (65 games)

Most points, one season

1st – 282 – Mario Lemieux, Laval Voisins, 1983–84 (70 games)

2nd – 251 – Pierre Larouche, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (67 games)

3rd – 234 – Pat LaFontaine, Verdun Juniors, 1982–83 (70 games)

4th – 227 – Michel Deziel, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (69 games)

5th – 216 – Real Cloutier, Quebec Remparts, 1973–74 (69 games)

6th – 214 – Jacques Cossette, Sorel Éperviers, 1973–74 (68 games)

8th – 209 – Guy Lafleur, Quebec Remparts, 1970–71 (62 games)

9th – 206 – Jacques Locas, Quebec Remparts, 1973–74 (63 games)

10th – 201 – Marc Fortier, Chicoutimi Saguenéens, 1986–87 (65 games)

11th – 200 – Patrice Lefebvre, Shawinigan Cataractes, 1987–88 (70 games)

Timeline of teams

Former member Current member

This is a complete list of team histories since 1969.

• 1969– First season, 2 divisions. East: Quebec City Remparts, Shawinigan Bruins, Drummondville Rangers, Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks), Trois-Rivières Ducs (Dukes), and Sherbrooke Castors (Beavers). West: Saint-Jérôme Alouettes, Cornwall Royals, Rosemont National, Verdun Maple Leafs, and Laval Saints.
• 1970– Divisions dissolved, Laval folds.
• 1971– Rosemont National move to Laval.
• 1972– The Saint-Jérôme Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs fold. The Montreal Junior Canadiens franchise of the OHA transfers to QMJHL, becoming the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge.
• 1973– League split into two divisions. East: Sorel, Quebec, Shawinigan, Trois-Rivières, Chicoutimi; West: Cornwall, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, Drummondville, Hull. Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and the Hull Festivals granted franchises. Shawinigan Bruins become Shawinigan Dynamos.
• 1974– Drummondville Rangers fold, Trois-Rivières Ducs become Trois-Rivières Draveurs (Raftmen).
• 1975– Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge became Montreal Juniors.
• 1976– Hull Festivals became Hull Olympiques. Divisions renamed: East becomes Dilio, West becomes Lebel.
• 1977– Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) move to Verdun. Sherbrooke moved to Dilio Division, while Verdun played in the Lebel.
• 1978– Shawinigan Dynamos became Shawinigan Cataractes.
• 1979– Verdun Éperviers (Black Hawks) became Sorel/Verdun Éperviers. Laval National become Laval Voisins.
• 1980– Sorel/Verdun Éperviers became Sorel Éperviers.
• 1981– Divisions cease to exist, Cornwall moved to the OHL, Sorel Éperviers moved to Granby and became the Bisons.
• 1982– Lebel and Dilio Divisions reintroduced. Shawinigan, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and Drummondville played in the Dilio, while Laval, Verdun, Longueuil, Saint-Jean, Hull, and Granby played in the Lebel. Sherbrooke Castors moved to Saint-Jean. Montreal Juniors moved to Verdun. Drummondville Voltigeurs (Infantrymen) granted a franchise, Longueuil Chevaliers (Cavaliers) granted a franchise.
• 1984– Plattsburgh Pioneers granted a franchise, but fold three months into the schedule after playing 17 games. They played in the Lebel Division, Granby is moved to the Dilio. Verdun Juniors become the Verdun Junior Canadiens.
• 1985– Quebec Remparts fold. Laval Voisins became Laval Titan.
• 1987– Longueuil Chevaliers moved to Victoriaville and became the Tigres. They played in the Dilio. Granby was moved to the Lebel Division.
• 1988– Divisions ceased to exist, Longueuil Collège-Français are granted the rights to resurrect the Quebec Remparts franchise.
• 1989– Verdun Junior Canadiens moved to Saint-Hyacinthe and became the Laser. Saint-Jean Castors became St-Jean Lynx.
• 1990– Lebel and Dilio divisions created yet again: Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivières, Drummondville, Shawinigan, Beauport, and Victoriaville play in the Dilio; Longueuil, Hull, Laval, Saint-Hyacinthe, Granby, and Saint-Jean played in the Lebel. Beauport Harfangs was granted a franchise.
• 1991– Longueuil Collège-Français moved to Verdun.
• 1992– Trois-Rivières Draveurs moved to Sherbrooke and became the Faucons.
• 1993– Val-d'Or granted a franchise, named the Foreurs. They played in the Lebel.
• 1994– Verdun Collège-Français folded. Halifax awarded an expansion team, the Mooseheads. Halifax played in the Dilio. Laval Titan became Laval Titan Collège-Français.
• 1995– Saint-Jean Lynx moved to Rimouski and become the Océanic. Moncton Alpines franchise granted. Rimouski and Moncton both played in the Dilio. Drummondville and Sherbrooke moved to the Lebel. Granby Bisons became Granby Prédateurs.
• 1996– Saint-Hyacinthe Laser moved to Rouyn-Noranda and became the Huskies. Moncton Alpines became Moncton Wildcats.
• 1997– Granby Prédateurs move to Cape Breton and became the Screaming Eagles. They played in the Dilio. Shawinigan moved to the Lebel. The Beauport Harfangs moved to Quebec City and became the Quebec Remparts. Baie-Comeau was granted an expansion team called the Drakkar and played in the Dilio.
• 1998– Laval Titan Collège-Français moved to Acadie-Bathurst, and played in the Dilio.
• 1999– Lebel Division became Lebel Conference, and split into the West Division (Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, Montreal, Val-d'Or) and the Central Division (Shawinigan, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville). The Dilio Division became the Dilio Conference and split into the Eastern Division (Rimouski, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi) and the Maritime Division (Moncton, Halifax, Cape Breton, Acadie-Bathurst). Montreal Rocket was granted a franchise.
• 2003– The QMJHL switched to a three-division format: Atlantic (Cape Breton, Moncton, Prince Edward Island, Halifax, Acadie-Bathurst); Eastern (Rimouski, Chicoutimi, Lewiston, Quebec, Baie-Comeau); and Western (Gatineau, Shawinigan, Rouyn-Noranda, Val-d'Or, Drummondville, Victoriaville). Sherbrooke Castors moved to Maine, becoming the Lewiston Maineiacs; Montreal Rocket moved to Charlottetown and took the Prince Edward Island name, Hull Olympiques become Gatineau Olympiques.
• 2004– The QMJHL announced plans to expand from 16 to 18 teams, effective with the 2005–06 season. St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saint John, New Brunswick were awarded franchises, the St. John's Fog Devils and Saint John Sea Dogs respectively.
• 2005– Effective with the 2005–06 season, the league reverted to a two-division format. The East Division consisted of all of the league's non-Québec teams, and the West Division contained all of the Quebec teams.
• 2006– The Western Division was renamed the Telus Division, under a sponsorship agreement with the Telus Corporation.
• 2008– The St. John's Fog Devils relocated to Verdun, Quebec to become the Montreal Junior Hockey Club.
• 2011– The Lewiston Maineiacs were purchased by the league and were dissolved. The remaining roster that's still eligible to play in the QMJHL was claimed by the remaining teams in a dispersal draft.
• 2011– The Montreal Junior Hockey Club was sold to a group led by former NHL Defencemen Joel Bouchard and renamed the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.
• 2012– Sherbrooke permitted to resurrect the former Lewiston franchise as the Phoenix.
• 2013– The PEI Rocket changed their franchise name to the Charlottetown Islanders.
• 2020– League returns to a three-division format.

Cities represented