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

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...

team in the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...

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

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

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, sports team, university society, society, military unit, or brand, brand name. Mascots are als ...

and

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

. 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 species of Caprinae, goat-antelope that is mostly 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 ...

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

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

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 Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

from the

Shah of Iran The monarchs of Iran ruled for over two and a half millennia, beginning as early as the 7th century BC and enduring until the 20th century AD. The earliest Iranian king is generally considered to have been either Deioces of the Median dynasty () ...

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 The Quebec Remparts () are a Canadian junior ice hockey based in Quebec City, Quebec. The team plays in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and is named after the Ramparts of Quebec City (). There have been two franchises name ...

of the

Quebec Major 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 ...

(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 (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

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

(1999-2002)

Notable Citadelles

* Carl Fleury * Ron Hainsey * Andrei Markov * Stephane Robidas

Other teams with the same name

An early incarnation of the team played in the Quebec Junior Hockey League during the 1920s through the 1960s, developing such notable players as Jean Beliveau, Camille Henry, 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 Citadelles Ice hockey clubs established in 1999 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2002 1999 establishments in Quebec 2002 disestablishments in Quebec