| Montreal Junior Canadiens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Montreal,Quebec |
| League | JAHA (1933–37 & 1940–49) QJHL (1949–55) Independent (1955–58) EOSHL (1958–59) MMJHL (1959–60) ISHL (1960–61) OHA (1961–72) |
| Operated | 1933 (1933)–1972 |
| Home arena | Montreal Forum |
| Colours | Red, white and blue |
| Parent club(s) | Montreal Canadiens (1933–67) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1933–56 & 1961–72 | Montreal Junior Canadiens |
| 1956–59 | Ottawa-Hull Canadiens |
| 1959–60 | Brockville Canadiens |
| 1960–61 | Hull Canadiens |
| 1972–75 | Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge |
| 1975–82 | Montreal Juniors |
| 1982–84 | Verdun Juniors |
| 1984–89 | Verdun Junior Canadiens |
| 1989–96 | Saint-Hyacinthe Laser |
| 1996-Present | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | 1950, 1958, 1969, & 1970Memorial Cup Champions |
TheMontreal Junior Canadiens were ajunior ice hockey team in theQuebec Junior Hockey League from 1933 to 1961, and theOntario Hockey Association from 1961 to 1972. They played out of theMontreal Forum inMontreal,Quebec,Canada.
The Junior Canadiens were a farm team to theNHLMontreal Canadiens from the early 1930s until the institution of theNHL Entry Draft. The Juniors originally played in the Quebec Junior Hockey League.
In 1961 the franchise switched to theOntario Hockey Association to compete at the major junior level. It was granted entry as an expansion club in 1961. At the time, major hockey in Quebec, and theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League, did not exist.
In the Quebec Junior playoffs, the Junior Canadiens defeated the Quebec Citadels and the Halifax St. Marys. The series versus Halifax was surrendered by St. Marys when Montreal won the first two games on the road by scores of 11–3 and 10–1. After that the Junior Canadiens defeated theGuelph Biltmore Mad Hatters to represent eastern Canada in the Memorial Cup.
The 1950 Memorial Cup featured two farm teams of the Montreal Canadiens competing against each other for the top junior prize. The Junior Canadiens defeated theRegina Pats in a best-of-seven game series by 4 games to 1, winning on home ice at the Forum.
| Game 1 | Montreal | 8 | Regina | 7 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 2 | Montreal | 5 | Regina | 2 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 3 | Montreal | 5 | Regina | 1 | @ Maple Leaf Gardens |
| Game 4 | Regina | 7 | Montreal | 4 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 5 | Montreal | 6 | Regina | 3 | @ Montreal Forum |
In 1955, theQuebec Junior Hockey League disbanded. With the Canadiens as the sole-survivor of the league, they elected to play an independent schedule but still compete in theLaurier Cup seasonal tournament with the teams of the OHA. The Canadiens would win the Laurier Cup that year, outplaying the best of the OHA. The Canadiens entered the Richardson Trophy playdowns as an independent team, but lost in the finals to the OHA'sToronto Marlboros 4-games-to-3 with 1 tie.
In 1956, their parent team moved them to the Capital Region under the nameOttawa-Hull Canadiens. The Jr. Habs would play a series of games against the OHA, theQuebec Hockey League, and theOHA Senior A League to prepare for the playoffs. The Canadiens finished second in the Laurier Cup to theToronto Marlboros. The Canadiens would have a great season, win theGeorge Richardson Memorial Trophy as Eastern Canadian Junior A champions, but lose the1957 Memorial Cup in seven games to theFlin Flon Bombers.
In 1957, the Canadiens would win the Laurier Cup for the second time of its four-year existence and again win the Richardson Trophy again. This time around, the Canadiens would win the1958 Memorial Cup by defeating theRegina Pats in five games.
In 1958, the Canadiens dropped their series with the OHA as the Laurier Cup was abolished. They joined the OHA Senior A League as a full member instead. With a mixed Senior/Junior roster, the Canadiens would finish third in the OHA Senior League's Eastern League and lose the Eastern League's semi-final to theKingston Merchants 4-games-to-3 with 1 tie. The junior portion of the squad moved on to the Richardson Trophy playdowns, where it lost the final toPeterborough Petes.
In 1959, theEastern Professional Hockey League formed theHull-Ottawa Canadiens in the region, another Montreal NHL affiliate. To avoid conflict with the new club, the Jr. Habs were moved to become theBrockville Canadiens and joined theMetropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League. Their players still maintained affiliation with the Pro Canadiens and often played for both teams. The Canadiens dominated their new league with a 25-1-0 record and participated in the Quebec Junior championships instead of the league's playoffs. The Canadiens would be named 1960 Quebec Junior Champions by crushing theAlma Aiglons 11-1 and 10-0 before the Aiglons conceded the third game. The Canadiens would make it all the way to the Richardson Trophy final before finally losing out. In the final, they faced the OHA'sSt. Catharines Teepees. The Teepees would win the first three games of the series, but the Canadiens would battle back to tie the series at 3-games-to-3 with 1 tie. The Teepees would win the decisive Game 8 6-3 to clinch the series.
In 1960, the franchise relocated to become theHull Canadiens. Despite having junior players on their roster, the team joined the more competitiveInterprovincial Senior Hockey League. They would be 1960-61 regular season (losing only twice) and 1961 playoff champions of the ISHL with a sweep of theSmiths Falls Rideaus and defeatingOttawa St. Anthonys 3-games-to-1. The Canadiens represented the Ottawa District in1961 Allan Cup playdowns but were swept by the Quebec championGranby Victorias.
A prominent player in this independent era wasJacques Laperrière. After playing his first junior year with theSt-Laurent Jets of the MMJHL in 1957-58, the next season he signed with the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens in the Eastern League of the OHA Senior Loop and played as both a junior and senior member of the split squad. In 1959-60, he continued with the Brockville Canadiens as they found a home in the MMJHL, but split his time called up with the EPHL Canadiens. The next season as a junior player on the Hull Canadiens in Interprovincial Senior he was again up as a call-up in the EPHL with the Semi-Pro Canadiens. In 1961-62, he moved with the Jr. Canadiens back to Montreal as they joined the OHA but still came up for a single EPHL game. In 1962-63, he turned full pro and signed directly with the EPHL Canadiens. By the end of the season he was in the NHL with the Habs and stayed there until he retired in 1974.
In the Summer of 1961, the parent club was successful on getting the club into the OHA and brought them back to Montreal permanently.
In the 1957 season with the minor pro Quebec Hockey League, Ottawa put together a record of 7 wins, 12 losses, and a tie, with 57 goals for and 74 goals against. The Canadiens, on average, were about 5–8 years younger than their opponents and held up well.
Ottawa won the right to play for the Cup by defeating theGuelph Biltmore Mad Hatters to win theGeorge Richardson Memorial Trophy as Eastern Canadian representatives.
The Junior Canadiens were runners-up to theMemorial Cup in 1957. They were defeated by theFlin Flon Bombers 4 games to 3 in a best-of-seven series.
| Game 1 | Flin Flon | 3 | vs. | Ottawa | 1 |
| Game 2 | Flin Flon | 3 | vs. | Ottawa | 4 |
| Game 3 | Flin Flon | 2 | vs. | Ottawa | 5 |
| Game 4 | Flin Flon | 3 | vs. | Ottawa | 1 |
| Game 5 | Flin Flon | 3 | vs. | Ottawa | 2 |
| Game 6 | Flin Flon | 2 | vs. | Ottawa | 4 |
| Game 7 | Flin Flon | 3 | vs. | Ottawa | 2 |
In 1958 the team was known from that year on as the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens, not to be confused with the senior team of a similar name. The Junior Canadiens defeated the Toronto Marlboros to win their second consecutive Richardson Trophy.
Hull-Ottawa's opponent for the Memorial Cup would be another farm team ofNHLMontreal team, theRegina Pats.
| Game 1 | Ottawa | 3 | vs. | Regina | 4 |
| Game 2 | Ottawa | 4 | vs. | Regina | 2 |
| Game 3 | Ottawa | 6 | vs. | Regina | 2 |
| Game 4 | Ottawa | 3 | vs. | Regina | 4 OT |
| Game 5 | Ottawa | 6 | vs. | Regina | 3 |
| Game 6 | Ottawa | 6 | vs. | Regina | 1 |
In the summer of 1961, theOntario Hockey Association Junior-A League was reduced to five teams, when several teams split away to form theMetro Junior A League. In August,Ontario Hockey Association presidentLloyd Pollock applied to theCanadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) to permit the Canadiens to switch from theQuebec Amateur Hockey Association to play in the OHA as its sixth team. The request was denied by CAHA presidentJack Roxburgh, who stated that CAHA rules do not allow en masse transfers between provincial associations.[1][2] The proposal for the Canadiens to play in the OHA's junior division was later approved in September 1961, when the CAHA branch presidents voted in its favour.[3]
This team is considered by many to be the greatest junior hockey team of all time. The Junior Canadiens beat out theSt. Catharines Black Hawks for the OHA Championship, then bettered theSorel Black Hawks (Éperviers) 3 games to 1 for the Richardson Cup. The Montreal roster that year featured 13 rookies. The Canadiens would pick up netminder Jim Rutherford from theHamilton Red Wings for the national championship.
The Memorial Cup of 1969 would be a rematch of 19 years earlier, with the Regina Pats. The first two games were scheduled for the Montreal Forum, with the remainder of the games to be played in Regina's Exhibition Stadium. The Junior Canadiens swept the Regina Pats in a very physical series.
| Game 1 | Montreal | 5 | Regina | 3 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 2 | Montreal | 7 | Regina | 2 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 3 | Montreal | 5 | Regina | 2 | @ Exhibition Stadium |
| Game 4 | Montreal | 8 | Regina | 6 | @ Exhibition Stadium |
The team included many future NHL stars and all-stars:Gilbert Perreault,Rick Martin,Marc Tardif,Rejean Houle,Ian Turnbull,Andre Dupont,Guy Charron,J.P. Bordeleau,Bobby Lalonde andJocelyn Guevremont.[4]
The 1970 Junior Canadiens finished 1st in the OHA then defeated theOttawa 67's andSt. Catharines Black Hawks to reach the finals versus theToronto Marlboros. The Junior Canadiens triumphed for theJ. Ross Robertson Cup then played the NOHA championSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Montreal won the first game 6–2, but the "Soo" won game two 5–4. It was the first time in history that a team from the NOHA beat an OHA team in the playoffs. Montreal quickly responded winning the next three games 10–1, 9–2 and 20–1.
For the Richardson Cup the Canadiens would play theQuebec Junior Hockey League championsQuebec Remparts. The Remparts featuredGuy Lafleur. The Canadiens prevailed in a 3-game sweep in front of crowds numbering over 14,000 in Quebec City, and over 18,000 in Montreal.
Their opponents for the Memorial Cup of 1970 would be theWeyburn Red Wings of theSaskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Coached byStan Dunn the Red Wings were a very tough forechecking squad. The games became closer as the series progressed, but the Junior Canadiens swept the series, winning on home ice at the Forum.
| Game 1 | Montreal | 9 | Weyburn | 4 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 2 | Montreal | 6 | Weyburn | 2 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 3 | Montreal | 5 | Weyburn | 4 | @ Montreal Forum |
| Game 4 | Montreal | 6 | Weyburn | 5 | @ Montreal Forum |
In 1972 theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League had been in operation for three years, giving the province major junior competition for the first time. The Q obviously wanted a team in the province's largest city, and was threatening a lawsuit to force the Junior Canadiens back 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 theMontreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process. The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise for the 1973–74 season inKingston, Ontario, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team theKingston Canadians. The new Kingston team had little connection with the old Junior Canadiens, but in some OHA histories (such as the annual Media Guide) the Kingston team is still shown as the legitimate successors of the Junior Canadiens' legacy.
Memorial Cup
George Richardson Memorial Trophy
| J. Ross Robertson Cup
Hamilton Spectator Trophy
|
Sam Pollock andBilly Reay coached the 1950 Memorial Cup champions Jr. Canadiens.Elmer Lach coached the 1954–55 squad.Claude Ruel coached the team its first two years in the OHA, he would later win theStanley Cup with theMontreal Canadiens in 1969. Former goaltenderYves Nadon piloted the team to its first OHA finals in 1964.Roger Bedard led the team to successive Memorial Cup wins in 1969 & 1970.
Red Tilson Trophy
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
| Max Kaminsky Trophy
Dave Pinkney Trophy
William Hanley Trophy
|
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals for | Goals against | Standing | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933-34 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 27 | 15 | 1st JAHA | |||
| 1934-35 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 46 | 5th JAHA | |||
| 1935-36 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 35 | 6th JAHA | |||
| 1936-37 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 46 | 40 | 3rd JAHA | |||
| 1937-40 | Did not participate | ||||||||||
| 1940-41 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 42 | 33 | 3rd JAHA | |||
| 1941-42 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 54 | 44 | 2nd JAHA | |||
| 1942-43 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 27 | 102 | 68 | 1st JAHA | |||
| 1943-44 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 79 | 39 | 2nd JAHA | |||
| 1944-45 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 66 | 45 | 2nd JAHA | |||
| 1945-46 | 19 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 23 | 92 | 69 | 1st JAHA | |||
| 1946-47 | 27 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 48 | 164 | 62 | 1st JAHA | |||
| 1947-48 | 32 | 15 | 12 | 5 | 35 | 105 | 86 | 3rd JAHA South | |||
| 1948-49 | 44 | 23 | 20 | 1 | 53 | - | - | 3rd JAHA South | |||
| 1949-50 | 36 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 56 | - | - | 1st QJHL | |||
| 1950-51 | 45 | 27 | 18 | 0 | 54 | 157 | 132 | 3rd QJHL | |||
| 1951-52 | 50 | 35 | 12 | 3 | 73 | 218 | 115 | 1st QJHL | |||
| 1952-53 | 47 | 37 | 10 | 0 | 74 | 230 | 107 | 1st QJHL | |||
| 1953-54 | 55 | 45 | 8 | 2 | 92 | 312 | 116 | 1st QJHL | |||
| 1954-55 | 34 | 16 | 17 | 1 | 33 | 112 | 104 | 3rd QJHL | |||
| 1955-56 | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 39 | 97 | 51 | 1st Laurier Cup | |||
| 1956-57 | 68 | 35 | 26 | 7 | N/A | 253 | 220 | Exh. Schedule | |||
| 1957-58 | 63 | 32 | 29 | 2 | N/A | 319 | 283 | Exh. Schedule | |||
| 1958-59 | 52 | 20 | 25 | 7 | 47 | 161 | 219 | 3rd EOSHL | |||
| 1959-60 | 26 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 50 | - | - | 1st MMJHL | |||
| 1960-61 | 24 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 38 | - | - | 1st ISHL | |||
| 1961–62 | 50 | 34 | 11 | 5 | 73 | 0.730 | 230 | 138 | 1st OHA | ||
| 1962–63 | 50 | 27 | 14 | 9 | 63 | 0.630 | 201 | 146 | 2nd OHA | ||
| 1963–64 | 56 | 35 | 16 | 5 | 75 | 0.670 | 289 | 188 | 2nd OHA | ||
| 1964–65 | 56 | 20 | 28 | 8 | 48 | 0.429 | 215 | 214 | 5th OHA | ||
| 1965–66 | 48 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 57 | 0.594 | 200 | 147 | 2nd OHA | ||
| 1966–67 | 48 | 16 | 23 | 9 | 41 | 0.427 | 176 | 204 | 7th OHA | ||
| 1967–68 | 54 | 39 | 12 | 3 | 81 | 0.750 | 261 | 170 | 2nd OHA | ||
| 1968–69 | 54 | 37 | 11 | 6 | 80 | 0.741 | 303 | 171 | 1st OHA | ||
| 1969–70 | 54 | 37 | 12 | 5 | 79 | 0.731 | 316 | 200 | 1st OHA | ||
| 1970–71 | 62 | 35 | 19 | 8 | 78 | 0.629 | 295 | 235 | 4th OHA | ||
| 1971–72 | 63 | 13 | 40 | 10 | 36 | 0.286 | 237 | 315 | 9th OHA | ||
The Junior Canadiens played at theMontreal Forum, on the same ice as theNHL team.[6] The Montreal Forum also hostedMemorial Cup games in 1950, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973 & 1976, with the Junior Canadiens winning on home ice in 1950 & 1970.
