The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a

Hockey Québec Hockey Québec is the governing body of all ice hockey in Quebec, Canada. Hockey Québec is a branch of Hockey Canada. History Hockey Québec was organized in 1976 to take over from the various organizations governing hockey in Quebec. Hockey ...

Canadian Junior A

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...

league and is a member of

Hockey Canada Hockey Canada (which merged with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1994) is the national governing body of ice hockey and ice sledge hockey in Canada. It is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation and controls the majority ...

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 The Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) is a Canadian Junior "A" ice hockey league operating in eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Canada and is a member of the Canadian Junior Hockey Leagu ...

and the

Maritime Hockey League The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. It consists of five teams from New Brunswick and one team from Prince Edward Island, which make up the Ea ...

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.

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 The Dudley-Hewitt Cup is a championship ice hockey trophy awarded to the Central Canadian Junior A champion. The trophy is currently decided by round robin tournament format, at the conclusion of the playoffs of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, ...

) in its early years: the Longueuil Sieurs in 1990 and the

Chateauguay Elites Les Braves de Valleyfield are a Junior ice hockey team from Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Canada. They were a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League for 25 seasons. Another franchise relocated and took over their market and former m ...

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 The Montreal-Est Rangers are a Junior ice hockey team from Montréal-Est, Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior Hockey League. History 2004-05 season In 2004, the Joliette Action were formed after another team's rights were sol ...

Lennoxville Cougars The Sherbrooke Cougars of Collège Champlain are a junior ice hockey team from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. They were part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League from 2002 to 2015. History The Champlain Cougars were founded in the 1970s, and playe ...

, 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 Champlain College Lennoxville is the Champlain Regional College campus serving the Eastern Townships (Estrie). The campus is located in the borough of Lennoxville, of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Like the other campuses of Champlain Regional Col ...

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 Stéphan Armand Lebeau (born February 28, 1968) is a former professional ice hockey centre who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League from 1988–89 to 1994–95. He won a Stanley Cup in 1993 with the Montreal Canadiens. His brothe ...

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 The Chambly Forts are a Canadian Junior ice hockey team from Chambly, Quebec, Canada. They are part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League The Ligue de Hockey Junior du Québec (LHJQ) or Quebec Junior Hockey League (QJHL) is a Hockey Québ ...

. Shortly after that move, the Gatineau Mustangs of the

Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Junior ice hockey league operating in Eastern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by Hockey Eastern Ontario and Hockey Canada and acts as a second tier to the Central Canada Hockey League. The 1 ...

made the jump to the league as the

Gatineau Flames The Gatineau Flames are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Buckingham, Quebec. The team is a member of the Quebec Junior Hockey League, but was a member of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League for decades, ending in 2015. History Or ...

, becoming the first Hull-based team since the Aylmer Extreme that had lasted one season in 2000–01. Several weeks after announcing the

as a member, the Flames purchased the

Lachine Maroons Les Maroons de Lachine were a Canadians, Canadian Junior ice hockey, Junior ice hockey team from Lachine, Quebec, Lachine, Quebec, Canada. It started as a franchise in the Metropolitaine leagues in 1953 in both the Junior A and Junior B divisions ...

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 Bishop's University (french: Université Bishop's) is a small English-language liberal arts university in Lennoxville, a borough of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. The founder of the institution was the Anglican Bishop of Quebec, George Mountain ...

. 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

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 *

- 2015 relocate to Gatineau Flames *

La Tuque Wolves LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

- renewed Valleyfield Braves franchise * Les Husky de Cowansville - folded after 1999–00 season *

Le National de Joliette 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 co ...

- ceased operations mid-season (January 2000) * Le Junior Canadiens de Montreal - folded after 1999–00 season *

Les Dragons de Saint-Hyacinthe 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 co ...

- folded after 1999–00 season *

Les Chevaliers de St-Jean 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 ...

- 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 The Saint-Hyacinthe Lauréats are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. History The Saint-Hyacinthe Laureats were added to the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League ...

- 2015 withdrew from league *

Saint-Lazare Revolution The West Island Shamrocks (Les Shamrocks du West Island in French) Are an ice hockey team based in Pierrefonds Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. The franchise was founded in 2003 as the Île Perrot Mustang ...

- 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 The West Island Shamrocks (Les Shamrocks du West Island in French) Are an ice hockey team based in Pierrefonds Quebec, Canada. They are a part of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League. The franchise was founded in 2003 as the Île Perrot Mustang ...

- sold and relocated to Saint-Lazare (2017)

Timeline of teams in the QJHL

*1988 - Black Lake Miners play in

1988 Centennial Cup The 1988 Centennial Cup is the 18th Junior "A" 1988 ice hockey National Championship for the Canadian Junior A Hockey League. The Centennial Cup was competed for by the winners of the Abbott Cup, Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Callaghan Cup, and a 'Ho ...

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 -

purchase Lachine Maroons franchise and join league from

*2015 - Sherbrooke Cougars expelled from league *2015 -

withdraw from league *2016 - League returns to the full name of Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League *2017 -

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 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quick ...

pandemic *2021 - Chambly Forts fold

References

External links

LHJQ website
{{Junior Hockey A Canadian Junior Hockey League members A Hockey Quebec