The Quebec Citadelles (French: ''Citadelles de Québec'') were a Minor

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 ...

team in the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the lea ...

. They played in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at the Colisée Pepsi. The name refers to the

Citadelle of Quebec The Citadelle of Quebec (french: Citadelle de Québec), also known as ''La Citadelle'', is an active military installation and the secondary official residence of both the Canadian monarch and the governor general of Canada. It is located atop C ...

, a landmark fortification in that city since the late 17th century. The Citadelles were a minor-league feeder team that developed players for the NHL's

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

organization. This AHL team was established in 1999 to much fanfare, and played with good fan support (and some success) for three seasons, before being relocated and merged into the Hamilton Bulldogs.

History

One of the team's most striking features was its choice of a

mascot A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as ...

and

emblem An emblem is an abstract or representational pictorial image that represents a concept, like a moral truth, or an allegory, or a person, like a king or saint. Emblems vs. symbols Although the words ''emblem'' and '' symbol'' are often use ...

. The team's sweaters were emblazoned with an iconically depicted goat's head, representing the

goat The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...

mascot of the Royal 22^e Régiment (The Van Doos) stationed in the Citadel of Quebec. By tradition, this goat is always named 'Batisse'.

Royal 22nd Regiment , colors = Scarlet with blue facings (full dress and mess dress) , march = Quick: ''Vive la Canadienne''Slow: ''Marche lente du Royal 22e Régiment: La Prière en famille'' , mascot ...

The regiment's goat is a descendant of one presented to the unit by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

in 1955 (which, in turn, was the descendant of a goat given to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previ ...

from the Shah of Iran in 1844). :The franchise was previously known as: Fredericton Canadiens (1990–1999). :The market was previously served by: Quebec Rafales of the IHL (1996–1998). :The market is currently served by:

Quebec Remparts There have been two junior ice hockey franchises known as the Quebec Remparts (french: Remparts de Québec) that played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The first edition played from 1969 to 1985; the current franchise has play ...

of the

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (french: Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec; abbreviated ''QMJHL'' in English, ''LHJMQ'' in French) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The ...

(1997–present). :The franchise was merged with the: Hamilton Bulldogs (co-owned with the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

organization in 2002, and wholly operated by the

from 2003–2015).

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Playoffs

AHL team records

:Goals: 32 Eric Landry (2001–02) :Assists: 55

Craig Darby Craig Allen Darby (born September 26, 1972) is an American former professional ice hockey center who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils. Play ...

(2001–02) :Points: 75 Eric Landry (2001–02) :Penalty minutes: 231 Dave Morissette (1999–00) :GAA: 2.37 Dan Murphy (1999–00) :SV%: .924 Dan Murphy (1999–00) :Career goals: 66 Pierre Sevigny :Career assists: 97 Pierre Sevigny :Career points: 163 Pierre Sevigny :Career penalty minutes: 380 Jonathan Delisle :Career goaltending wins: 53

Mathieu Garon Mathieu Carol Garon (born January 9, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus ...

:Career shutouts: 5 Mathieu Garon :Career games: 218 Pierre Sevigny Affiliates *

(1999-2002)

Notable Citadelles

* Carl Fleury *

Ron Hainsey Ronald Martin Hainsey (born March 24, 1981) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played seventeen years in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, P ...

* Andrei Markov *

Stephane Robidas Stephane may refer to: * Stéphane, a French given name * Stephane (Ancient Greece), a vestment in ancient Greece * Stephane (Paphlagonia) Stephane ( grc, Στεφάνη) was a small port town on the coast of ancient Paphlagonia, according to Arri ...

Other teams with the same name

An early incarnation of the team played in the

Quebec Junior Hockey League 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 ...

during the 1920s through the 1960s, developing such notable players as Jean Beliveau,

Camille Henry Joseph Wilfred Camille "The Eel" Henry (January 31, 1933 – September 11, 1997) was a professional Canadian ice hockey left winger who played for the New York Rangers, the Chicago Black Hawks and the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey Leagu ...

, and Jacques Plante. It was also notable for having the first two Newfoundland trained players to play Major Junior hockey.

References

External links

The Internet Hockey Database - Quebec Citadelles
{{Authority control Montreal Canadiens minor league affiliates Ice hockey teams in Quebec City Ice hockey clubs established in 1999 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2002 1999 establishments in Quebec