Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

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

Member teams

Atlantic Division

• Acadie-Bathurst (N.B.) Titan
• Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (Sydney, Nova Scotia)
• Halifax (N.S.) Mooseheads
• Moncton (N.B.) Wildcats
• P.E.I. Rocket (Charlottetown)

Eastern Division

• Baie-Comeau Drakkar (Dragons)
• Chicoutimi Saguenéens ("Kingdoms")
• Rimouski Océanic (Oceanics)
• Québec Remparts (Ramparts)
• Lewiston (Maine) MAINEiacs

Western Division

• Drummondville Voltigeurs (Acrobats)
• Gatineau Olympiques (Olympics)
• Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
• Shawinigan Cataractes
• Val-d'Or Foreurs (Miners)
• Victoriaville Tigres (Tigers)

History

• 1969- First season, 2 divisions. East: Quebec Remparts, Shawinigan Bruins, Drummondville Rangers, Sorel Black Hawks, Trois-Rivieres Ducs, and Sherbrooke Castors. West: Saint-Jerome Alouettes, Cornwall Royals, Rosemont National, Verdun Maple Leafs, and Laval Saints.
• 1970- Divisions dissolved, Laval folds.
• 1971- Rosemont National move to Laval.
• 1972- The Saint-Jerome Alouettes and the Verdun Maple Leafs fold. Montreal Rouge Blanc et Bleu are granted a franchise.
• 1973- League split into 2 divisions. East: Sorel, Quebec, Shawinigan, Trois-Rivieres, Chicoutimi; West: Cornwall, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Laval, Drummondville, Hull. Chicoutimi Saguneens, and the Hull Festivale granted franchises. Shawinigan Bruins become Shawinigan Dynamos.
• 1974- Drummondville Rangers folds, Trois-Rivieres Ducs become Trois-Rivieres Draveurs.
• 1975- Montreal Rouge Blanc et Bleu become Montreal Juniors.
• 1976- Hull Nationale become Hull Olympiques. Divisions re-named: East becomes Dilio, West becomes Lebel.
• 1977- Sorel Black Hawks move to Verdun. Sherbrooke moves to Dilio Division, while Verdun plays in the Lebel.
• 1978- Shawinigan Dynamos become Shawinigan Cataractes.
• 1979- Verdun Black Hawks become Sorel/Verdun Blackhawks. Laval National become Laval Voisins.
• 1980- Sorel/Verdun Blackhawks become Sorel Black Hawks.
• 1981- Divisions cease to exist, Cornwall moves to the OHL, Sorel Black Hawks move to Granby.
• 1982- Lebel and Dilio Divisions reintroduced. Shawinigan, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, and Drummondville play in the Dilio, while Laval, Verdun, Longueuil, Saint-Jean, Hull, and Granby play in the Lebel. Sherbrooke Castors move to Saint-Jean. Montreal Juniors move to Verdun. Drummondville Voltigeurs granted a franchise, Longueuil Chevaliers granted a franchise.
• 1984- Plattsburgh Pioneers granted a franchise, but fold after 3 months. They would play in the Lebel Division, Granby is moved to the Dilio. Verdun Juniors become the Verdun Junior Canadiens.
• 1985- Quebec City Remparts fold. Laval Voisins become Laval Titan.
• 1987- Longueuil Chevaliers move to Victoriaville, and play in the Dilio. Granby is moved to the Lebel Division.
• 1988- Divisions cease to exist, Longueuil College-Francais are granted a franchise.
• 1989- Verdun Junior Canadiens move to Saint-Hyacinthe. Saint-Jean Castors become Saint-Jean Lynx.
• 1990- Lebel and Dilio divisions created: Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivieres, Drummondville, Shawinigan, Beauport, and Victoriaville play in the Dilio; Longueuil, Hull, Laval, Saint-Hyacinthe, Granby, and Saint-Jean play in the Lebel. Beauport Harfangs are granted a franchise.
• 1992- Trois-Rivieres Draveurs move to Sherbrooke.
• 1993- Val-d'Or Foreurs granted a franchise, they play in the Lebel.
• 1994- Verdun College-Francais move to Halifax. Halifax plays in the Dilio. Laval Titan become Laval Titan College Francais.
• 1995- Saint-Jean Lynx move to Rimouski. Moncton Alpines franchise granted. Rimouski and Moncton both play in the Dilio. Drummondville and Sherbrook move to the Lebel. Granby Bisons become Granby Predateurs.
• 1996- Saint-Hyacinthe Lasers move to Rouyn-Noranda. Moncton Alpines become Moncton Wildcats.
• 1997- Cape Breton Screaming Eagles granted a franchise, and play in the Dilio. Shawinigan moves to the Lebel.
• 1998- Granby Predateurs move to Baie-Comeau, and play in the Dilio. Laval Titan College Francais move to Acadie-Bathurst, and play in the Dilio.
• 1999-Lebel Division become Lebel Conference, and splits into the West Division (Hull, Rouyn-Noranda, Montreal, Val-d'Or) and the Central Division (Shawinigan, Drummondville, Sherbrooke, Victoriaville). The Dilio Division becomes the Dilio Conference and splits into the Eastern Division (Rimouski, Quebec City, Baie-Comeau, Chicoutimi) and the Maritime Division (Moncton, Halifax, Cape Breton, Acadie-Bathurst). Montreal Rocket are granted a franchise.
• 2003- The QMJHL goes to a 3 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 move to Lewiston, Montreal Rocket move to Prince Edward Island, Hull Olympiques become Gatineau Olympiques.

See also

List of ice hockey leagues