Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec

Current season, competition or edition: 2025–26 QMJHL season
Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	1969
Founder	Robert Lebel
President	Mario Cecchini[1]
No. of teams	18
Country	Canada
Most recent champion	Moncton Wildcats (3)
Most titles	Gatineau Olympiques (7)
Broadcasters	Sportsnet Sportsnet One Eastlink TV TVA Sports
Official website	theqmjhl.ca

TheQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL;French:Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec,LHJMQ), formerly theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League^[2][3] is one of the three majorjunior ice hockey leagues that constitute theCanadian Hockey League (CHL), alongside theOntario Hockey League and theWestern Hockey League. The league includes teams inQuebec,Newfoundland and Labrador, and theMaritime provinces ofNew Brunswick,Nova Scotia, andPrince Edward Island, and previously had teams inMaine andNew York in theUnited States.

TheGilles-Courteau Trophy is the championship trophy of the league. The QMJHL champion then goes on to compete in theMemorial Cup against theOntario Hockey League (OHL) andWestern Hockey League (WHL) champions, and the CHL host team. The QMJHL had traditionally adopted a rapid and offensive style of hockey. Former QMJHL players hold many of theCanadian Hockey League's career and single season offensive records.

Hockey Hall of Fame alumni of the QMJHL includeMario Lemieux,Guy Lafleur,Ray Bourque,Pat LaFontaine,Mike Bossy,Denis Savard,Michel Goulet,Luc Robitaille, and goaltendersPatrick Roy andMartin Brodeur.

190km 118miles Moncton Halifax Charlottetown Cape Breton Newfoundland Victoriaville Shawinigan Rimouski Saint John Quebec Chicoutimi Baie-Comeau Val-d'Or Sherbrooke Rouyn- Noranda Gatineau Drummondville Blainville- Boisbriand

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was founded in1969, through the merger of the best teams from the existingQuebec Junior Hockey League and theMetropolitan 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 theCornwall Royals, fromCornwall, Ontario, near the Quebec border, who transferred from theCentral Junior A Hockey League. TheRosemont National andLaval Saints transferred from the MMJHL. The eight teams from the QJHL were theDrummondville Rangers,Quebec Remparts,Saint-Jérôme Alouettes,Shawinigan Bruins,Sherbrooke Castors,Sorel Éperviers,Trois-Rivières Ducs and theVerdun Maple Leafs.

Most of the teams were within a few hours' drive ofMontreal. 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 theCataractes.

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 theMontreal Junior Canadiens of theOntario 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 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.

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

Starting in 1994, the QMJHL began to expand farther east, outside of Quebec, filling the void inAtlantic Canada after the exodus ofAmerican Hockey League franchises, when the AHL had a strong presence in the 1980s and 1990s; all of the Maritime Division cities save forBathurst, 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 theAtlantic Canada region along with a surge in players coming out of theNew 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 theMaritime provinces, whose teams had been a part of the QMJHL for almost 30 years.^[2][4]

TheNewfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly amended labour laws in 2024, to consider junior players as student-athletes and not employees subject tominimum wage, similarly to other provinces in the league. The QMJHL returned to Newfoundland for the2025–26 season, with the relocation of theAcadie-Bathurst Titan toSt. John's as theNewfoundland Regiment.^[5]

• Robert Lebel (1969–1975)
• Jean Rougeau (1981–1983)
• Paul Dumont (1983–1984)
• Gilles Courteau (1986–2023)^[8]
• Mario Cecchini (2023–present)^[9]

This is a list of Canadian Hockey League career and single season records accomplished by QMJHL players.^[10]

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)

Current teams are shown in blue. Gold stars denote Gilles-Courteau Trophy (League championship) winners.

This is a complete list of team histories since 1969.^[11]

• 1969– First season, 2 divisions. East:Quebec City Remparts,Shawinigan Bruins,Drummondville Rangers,Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks),Trois-Rivières Ducs (Dukes), andSherbrooke Castors (Beavers). West:Saint-Jérôme Alouettes,Cornwall Royals,Rosemont National,Verdun Maple Leafs, andLaval Saints.
• 1970– Divisions dissolved, Laval folds.
• 1971– Rosemont National move toLaval.
• 1972– The Saint-Jérôme Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs fold. TheMontreal Junior Canadiens franchise of theOHA transfers to QMJHL, becoming theMontreal 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 theHull Festivals granted franchises.Shawinigan Bruins becomeShawinigan Dynamos.
• 1974–Drummondville Rangers fold, Trois-Rivières Ducs become Trois-Rivières Draveurs (Raftmen).
• 1975– Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge became Montreal Juniors.
• 1976– Hull Festivals becameHull Olympiques. Divisions renamed: East becomesDilio, West becomesLebel.
• 1977–Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) move toVerdun. Sherbrooke moved to Dilio Division, while Verdun played in the Lebel.
• 1978– Shawinigan Dynamos becameShawinigan Cataractes.
• 1979–Verdun Éperviers (Black Hawks) becameSorel/Verdun Éperviers. Laval National become Laval Voisins.
• 1980–Sorel/Verdun Éperviers became Sorel Éperviers.
• 1981– Divisions cease to exist,Cornwall moved to theOHL,Sorel Éperviers moved toGranby 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 toSaint-Jean.Montreal Juniors moved toVerdun.Drummondville Voltigeurs (Infantrymen) granted a franchise,Longueuil Chevaliers (Cavaliers) granted a franchise.
• 1984–PlattsburghPioneers granted a franchise, but folded 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 becameLaval Titan.
• 1987–Longueuil Chevaliers moved toVictoriaville and became theTigres. 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 toSaint-Hyacinthe and became the Laser. Saint-Jean Castors becameSt-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 toVerdun.
• 1992–Trois-Rivières Draveurs moved toSherbrooke and became the Faucons.
• 1993–Val-d'Or granted a franchise, named theForeurs. They played in the Lebel.
• 1994–Verdun Collège-Français folded.Halifax awarded an expansion team, theMooseheads. Halifax played in the Dilio. Laval Titan became Laval Titan Collège-Français.
• 1995–Saint-Jean Lynx moved toRimouski 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 toRouyn-Noranda and became theHuskies. Moncton Alpines becameMoncton Wildcats.
• 1997–Granby Prédateurs move toCape Breton and became theScreaming Eagles. They played in the Dilio. Shawinigan moved to the Lebel. TheBeauport Harfangs moved toQuebec City and became theQuebec Remparts.Baie-Comeau was granted an expansion team called theDrakkar 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 toMaine, becoming theLewiston Maineiacs;Montreal Rocket moved toCharlottetown 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 andSaint John, New Brunswick were awarded franchises, theSt. John's Fog Devils andSaint 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 theTelus Communications Corporation.
• 2008– The St. John's Fog Devils relocated toVerdun, Quebec to become theMontreal Junior Hockey Club.
• 2011– TheLewiston 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– TheMontreal Junior Hockey Club was sold to a group led by former NHL Defencemen Joel Bouchard and renamed theBlainville-Boisbriand Armada.
• 2012– Sherbrooke permitted to resurrect the former Lewiston franchise as thePhoenix.
• 2013– ThePEI Rocket changed their franchise name to theCharlottetown Islanders.
• 2020– League returns to a three-division format.
• 2025– TheAcadie-Bathurst Titan relocated toSt. John's, Newfoundland to become theNewfoundland Regiment.

TheMemorial Cup has been captured fifteen times by ten different QMJHL teams since the league's founding in 1969:

• 1971 –Quebec Remparts (1)
• 1972 –Cornwall Royals (1)
• 1980 –Cornwall Royals (2)
• 1981 –Cornwall Royals (3)
• 1996 –Granby Prédateurs (1)
• 1997 –Hull Olympiques (1)
• 2000 –Rimouski Océanic (1)
• 2006 –Quebec Remparts (2)
• 2011 –Saint John Sea Dogs (1)
• 2012 –Shawinigan Cataractes (1)
• 2013 –Halifax Mooseheads (1)
• 2018 –Acadie–Bathurst Titan (1)
• 2019 –Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (1)
• 2022 –Saint John Sea Dogs (2)
• 2023 –Quebec Remparts (3)

Starting in 1971, the QMJHL has held a draft to select the rights to future players.^[12] The league held separate drafts for junior-aged players and for midget-aged players. The initial drafts addressed only players not protected by their territorial programs. In 1972, teams could protect 15 players within their territory, andMike Bossy was never drafted because theLaval National protected him. In 1973, the midget protection was dropped to five players, then increased to six players in 1976. The territorial rights created issues in 1973, when theSorel Éperviers pickedLucien DeBlois with the first pick, and theDrummondville Voltigeurs selected him with the 8th pick because he also was within their region.^[13] The last year of separate drafts for midget and junior players was 1977, when teams were allowed to protect one midget player. Starting in 1978, the league had a single draft.^[14]

This is a list of QMJHL trophies.^[15] The trophy's first season being awarded is shown in brackets.

• Gilles-Courteau Trophy – Playoffs champions (1969–70)
• Jean Rougeau Trophy – Regular season champions (1969–70)
• Luc Robitaille Trophy – Team that scored the most goals (2001–02 to 2013–14), team with the best goals for average (2014–15)
• Robert Lebel Trophy – Team with bestGAA (1977–78)

• Michel Brière Memorial Trophy – Most valuable player (1972–73)
• Jean Béliveau Trophy – Top scorer (1969–70)
• Guy Lafleur Trophy – Playoffs MVP (1977–78)
• Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy – Best GAA (1969–70)
• Patrick Roy Trophy – Goaltender of the year (2023–24)
• Guy Carbonneau Trophy – Best defensive forward (2004–05)
• Emile Bouchard Trophy – Defenceman of the year (1975–76)
• Kevin Lowe Trophy – Best defensive defenceman (2004–05)
• Michael Bossy Trophy – Best professional prospect (1980–81)
• Sidney Crosby Trophy – Rookie of the year (1991–92)
• Michel Bergeron Trophy – Offensive rookie of the year (1969–70)
• Raymond Lagacé Trophy – Defensive rookie of the year (1980–81)
• David Desharnais Trophy^[a] – Most sportsmanlike player (1969–70)
• QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year – Also known as "Wittnauer Plaque" (1992–93)
• Marcel Robert Trophy – Best scholastic player (1980–81)
• Paul Dumont Trophy – Personality of the year (1989–90)

• Ron Lapointe Trophy – Coach of the year (1992–93)
• Maurice Filion Trophy – General manager of the year (2005–06)
• John Horman Trophy – Executive of the year (1989–90)
• Jean Sawyer Trophy – Marketing director of the year (1990–91)

• AutoPro Plaque – Best plus/minus total (1989–90 to 2001–02)
• Philips Plaque – Best faceoff percentage (1997–98 to 2001–02)
• Telus Cup – Offensive – Offensive player of the year (1989–90 to 2005–06)
• Telus Cup – Defensive – Defensive player of the year (1989–90 to 2005–06)

• List of ice hockey leagues
• List of QMJHL seasons
• CHL USA Prospects Challenge

Wikimedia Commons has media related toQuebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

• Official website
• Canadian Hockey League Official website
• Internet Hockey Database Archive of standings and statistics

• Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
• 1969 establishments in Quebec
• Ice hockey leagues in Quebec
• Junior ice hockey leagues in Canada
• Sports leagues established in 1969

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