The Gatineau Olympiques are a Canadian

junior ice hockey Junior ice hockey is amateur-level ice hockey for 16 to 20 year-old players. National Junior teams compete annually for the IIHF World Junior Championship. The United States men's national junior ice hockey team are the defending champions from ...

team based in

Gatineau Gatineau ( ; ) is a city in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the northern bank of the Ottawa River, directly across from Ottawa, Ontario. Gatineau is the largest city in the Outaouais administrative region of Quebec and is also p ...

, Quebec, that plays in the

Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...

(QMJHL). Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Olympiques play home games at Centre Slush Puppie, having previously played at the Robert Guertin Centre dating back to its beginnings in the Central Junior A Hockey League. The club, then known as the Hull Festivals, was granted membership in the QMJHL in 1973. The Olympiques have appeared in the

Memorial Cup The Memorial Cup () is the national championship of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), a consortium of three Junior ice hockey, major junior ice hockey leagues operating in Canada and parts of the United States. It is a four-team round-robin tou ...

seven times, winning the 1997 Memorial Cup.

History

Before joining the QMJHL, the team was a member of the Central Junior A Hockey League, known originally as the Hull Blackhawks (''Les Éperviers de Hull'') but later as the Hull Beavers (''Les Castors de Hull'') and Hull-Volant Junior A. Originally Hull and the CJHL were eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup, the Major Junior crown, but were relegated to Tier II Junior "A" in 1970. The season before joining the QMJHL in 1973 they became the Hull Festivals, and in 1976, they became the Hull Olympiques; the team name was changed to the Gatineau Olympiques one year after the city of Hull was amalgamated into Gatineau in 2002. The Olympiques share a junior hockey market with the

Ottawa 67's The Ottawa 67's are a major junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that plays in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Established during Canada's centennial year of 1967 and named in honour of this, the 67's currently play thei ...

, across the Ottawa River. Pre-season games between the two teams were a regular occurrence from 1975 to 1986. The teams have played interleague regular-season home and home games in the 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons since. The Olympiques have won the President's Cup seven times, most recently in 2007–08. The team has been to four

finals, losing three (1986,

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

and

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

) and winning the 1997 Memorial Cup, which they also hosted. From 1985 until 1992, the Olympiques were owned by

Wayne Gretzky Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( ; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One ...

; it was under his ownership that the team first adopted black, silver and white as their team colours, similar to those of the

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

, whom Gretzky played for in 1988. On May 31, 2010, it was announced that former Olympiques coach Benoit Groulx, who had left the organization to coach the

Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans (colloquially known as the Amerks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Rochester, New York. They are the American Hockey League affiliate of the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home g ...

would be returning to be the general manager and head coach. For the 2011–12 season, the Olympiques returned to the colours of black, silver and white following an eight-year absence. In 2016, coach Groulx left the Olympiques again to become the head coach of the

Syracuse Crunch The Syracuse Crunch are a professional ice hockey team based in Syracuse, New York. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning. They play in they home games at the Upstate Medical Univer ...

. He was replaced by Mario Duhamel who would only coach 47 games with a 19–24–4 record. Duhamel was replaced by assistant coach

Éric Landry Joseph Éric Lucien Landry (born January 20, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Landry played 68 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens from 1997 to 2002. He also playe ...

Championships

Canadian Hockey League The Canadian Hockey League (CHL; , LCH) is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canada-based major junior ice hockey leagues. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three me ...

champions *

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. ** Spain and Portugal en ...

– Finalist vs.

Guelph Platers The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The team played in the Ontario Hockey League, Ontario Junior Hockey League, and Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League. They were originally known as the CMC's un ...

* 1988 – 3rd place in tournament *

1995 1995 was designated as: * United Nations Year for Tolerance * World Year of Peoples' Commemoration of the Victims of the Second World War This was the first year that the Internet was entirely privatized, with the United States government ...

– 4th place in tournament *

1997 Events January * January 1 – The Emergency Alert System is introduced in the United States. * January 11 – Turkey threatens Cyprus on account of a deal to buy Russian S-300 missiles, prompting the Cypriot Missile Crisis. * January 1 ...

– Champions vs.

Lethbridge Hurricanes The Lethbridge Hurricanes are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Lethbridge, Alberta. The Hurricanes play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League's Eastern Conference, and play their home games at the VisitLethbridge.com Are ...

– Finalist vs.

Kitchener Rangers The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Midwest Division of the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. The Rangers have won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL ...

– Finalist vs.

Kelowna Rockets The Kelowna Rockets are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The team plays in the B.C Division of the Western Hockey League's Western Conference, playing their home games at Prospera Place. The Rockets a ...

2008 2008 was designated as: *International Year of Languages *International Year of Planet Earth *International Year of the Potato *International Year of Sanitation The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...

– 4th place in tournament President's Cup – League playoff champions * 1985–86 – Champions vs.

Drummondville Voltigeurs The Drummondville Voltigeurs are a Canadian junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was originally granted for the 1982–83 season, and is based in Drummondville, Quebec, playing its home game ...

* 1987–88 – Champions vs.

* 1994–95 – Champions vs. Laval Titan Collège Français * 1996–97 – Champions vs.

Chicoutimi Saguenéens The Chicoutimi Saguenéens are a Canadian junior ice hockey team which plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team is based in Chicoutimi, Quebec, and owned by the City of Saguenay. The team plays its home games at th ...

* 1998–99 – Finalist vs. Acadie-Bathurst Titan * 1999–00 – Finalist vs.

Rimouski Océanic The Rimouski Océanic are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season as the Sherbrooke Castors. The Castors played in Sherbrooke from 1969 to 1982 ...

* 2002–03 – Champions vs.

Halifax Mooseheads The Halifax Mooseheads are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The team was founded in 1994 and began play in the Dilio Division of the QMJHL for the 1994–95 ...

* 2003–04 – Champions vs.

Moncton Wildcats The Moncton Wildcats are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) based in Moncton, New Brunswick. The franchise was granted for the 1995–96 QMJHL season, 1995–96 season known as the Moncton A ...

* 2007–08 – Champions vs.

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are a Canadian junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League based in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The team plays its home games at the Aréna Iamgold, Aréna Glencore. The Huskies finished first overal ...

* 2010–11 – Finalist vs. Saint John Sea Dogs Jean Rougeau Trophy – Regular season champions * 1985–86, 1987–88, 1996–97, 2003–04 Division titles – Regular season champions * 1985–86, 1987–88, 1996–97, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2021–22, 2022–23

Coaches

Notable coaches for the Olympiques include, Jean Bégin,

Pat Burns Patrick John Joseph Burns (April 4, 1952 – November 19, 2010) was a National Hockey League head coach. Over 14 seasons between 1988 and 2004, he coached in 1,019 games with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New Je ...

, John Chabot, Benoit Groulx, Claude Julien,

Bob Mongrain Robert Julien Mongrain (born August 31, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the National Hockey League with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings between 1979 and 1986. The rest of his career, which lasted f ...

Marcel Pronovost Joseph René Marcel Pronovost (June 15, 1930April 26, 2015) was a Canadians, Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played in List of NHL players with 1000 games played, 1,206 games over 20 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons ...

, Guy Trottier, and Alain Vigneault.

Season-by-season record

* Hull Hawks (1969–1970) * Hull Festivals (1970–1976) * Hull Olympiques (1976–2003) * Gatineau Olympiques (2003–present)

Regular season

''Complete results before 1969 unavailable.'' :OL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss, Pct = Winning percentage

NHL alumni

Lists of

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

alumni. No player from the "Hull Hawks" went on the play in the NHL. :Hull Castors (1968–1969) * Billy Smith :Hull Festivals (1970–1976) * Ted Bulley * Nelson Burton *

Richard David Richard David (born April 8, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. He played for the Quebec Nordiques in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association between 1978 and 1983. As a youth, he played in the 197 ...

* André Doré * Pierre Giroux * Glen Sharpley * Brent Tremblay :Hull Olympiques (1976–2003) * Jeff Allan * Joel Baillargeon * Yves Beaudoin * Francis Bélanger *

Martin Biron Martin Gaston Biron (; born August 15, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round (16th overall) of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, he spent the first half of his 16-year Nationa ...

* Michel Bolduc *

Sébastien Bordeleau Sébastien Ives Bordeleau (born February 15, 1975) is a Canadian-born French former professional ice hockey forward, who played in the National Hockey League. His father is former NHL player Paulin Bordeleau. Playing career Born in Vancouver, ...

* Martin Brochu *

Paul Brousseau Paul M. Brousseau (born September 18, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers in the NHL. Playing career Brousseau was selected in the second r ...

* Benoît Brunet * Jim Campbell * John Chabot * Stéphane Charbonneau * Sylvain Côté * Jonathan Delisle * Matthieu Descoteaux * André Doré * Christian Dubé * Gordie Dwyer * Karl Dykhuis * Jiri Fischer * Steven Fletcher * Michel Galarneau *

Jean-Marc Gaulin Jean-Marc Gaulin (born March 3, 1962) is a German-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 26 games in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques between 1983 and 1986. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1982 ...

* Jocelyn Gauvreau * Martin Gélinas * Martin Gendron * Rick Hayward *

Aleš Hemský Aleš Hemský (, born 13 August 1983) is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. He was originally a member of the Edmonton Oilers, who selected him in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. In the NHL he played for th ...

* Jean-François Labbé * Marc LaBelle * Mario Larocque * Eric Lavigne * John LeBlanc * Shane MacEachern * Don MacLean * Paul MacLean * Craig Martin *

Stéphane Matteau Stéphane Matteau (born September 2, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played over 800 regular-season games in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 25th overall, by the Calgary Flames i ...

* Andrew McKim * Jan Nemecek * Lee Norwood *

Jason Pominville Jason John Pominville (born November 30, 1982) is a Canadian- American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career Amateur As a youth ...

* Stéphane Quintal * André Racicot * Peter Ratchuk * Alain Raymond * Stéphane Richer * Serge Roberge *

Luc Robitaille Luc Jean-Marie Robitaille (born February 17, 1966) is a Canadian-American professional ice hockey executive and former player who serves as president of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). During his 19-season NHL career, ...

Jeremy Roenick Jeremy Shaffer Roenick ( ; born January 17, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 8th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft by the Chica ...

* Roberto Romano * Pavel Rosa * Jean-Marc Routhier * Cam Russell * Michael Ryder * Philippe Sauvé * Daniel Shank * Martin Simard * Maxime Talbot * José Théodore * Pascal Trepanier * Jean-Guy Trudel *

Sylvain Turgeon Joseph Sylvain Dorilla Turgeon (born January 17, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Se ...

* Alain Vigneault *

Radim Vrbata Radim Vrbata (born 13 June 1981) is a Czech former professional ice hockey right winger. He had a 16-year career in the National Hockey League (NHL). Vrbata was originally drafted in 1999 by the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he has also played, ...

* Colin White * Peter Worrell :Gatineau Olympiques (since 2003) * Vitaly Abramov *

Paul Byron James Paul Byron (born April 27, 1989) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played a total of 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the sixth round, 179th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in t ...

* Alexandre Carrier *

Philippe Dupuis Philippe Dupuis (; born April 24, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Colorado Avalanche and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Playing career Dupuis was drafted 104th overall ...

* Claude Giroux * Mike Hoffman * Tomas Hyka * David Krejci * Tristan Luneau * Zack MacEwen * Tye McGinn * Nicolas Meloche * Doug O'Brien * Jean-Gabriel Pageau * Emile Poirier * Joel Rechlicz * Maxime Talbot * Yakov Trenin * Francis Wathier * Valentin Zykov

Retired numbers

Ten Olympiques players have had their numbers retired by the team. Former coach

has also been honoured. * # 10 Jean Poulin * # 15

* # 16 Sam Lang * # 20 Martin Gelinas * # 24 Colin White * # 25 Maxime Talbot * # 28 Claude Giroux * # 32 Marc Saumier * # 33 José Théodore * # 77 Guy Rouleau

References

External links

Official web site (English version)
{{Gatineau 1969 establishments in Quebec Ice hockey clubs established in 1969 Ice hockey teams in Gatineau Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League teams