History & Records section - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League

This franchise, which was founded in 1969 in Sherbrooke, is rich in history.

Guilbault and Delage set the table for the Tanguay/Labonté tandem

The leaders of this franchise did not accept half measures in the 70s and 80s... The quality standards have been just as high in the last 30 seasons spent in Rimouski, if not more!

The group of teams that played in Sherbrooke, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Rimouski have accumulated over the years:

7 regular season championships, including 4 under the Sherbrooke Castors colours (1974-75, 1975-76, 1979-80, 1981-82), and 3 others in the Oceanic uniform (1999-00, 2004-05, 2014-15).

In playoffs
- the franchise has reached the final series on 12 occasions, the record in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
- On 6 occasions, the President Cup - now renamed the Gilles-Courteau Trophy - was awarded to them on the ice at the end of the playoffs, including the last 3 times as Rimouskois (2000, 2005, 2015).
- 53 series won by the franchise (including 36 in Rimouski), 1st in the history of the QMJHL, tied with the Hull/Gatineau franchise.

In addition, the franchise has a Memorial Cup conquest to its credit (2000), largely linked to the offensive prowess of Brad Richards.

Vincent Lecavalier (Center, 6'03, 182 pounds) - He was selected 4th overall in the 1996 QMJHL draft. Two years later, he would be selected first overall in the NHL by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Maurice Tanguay - the purchase of the St-Jean Lynx in 1995 to transfer them to Rimouski by his ownership partners and him, has been crowned with success over the seasons. Mr. Tanguay was inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame on March 31st, 2010.

1974 - the Sherbrooke Castors bus slides into the bottom of a ravine

TRAGEDY between Québec and Chicoutimi

Young Gaétan Paradis, a native of Drummondville, lost his life in this unfortunate road accident in the Parc des Laurentides.

Not without difficulties, the Castors players were able to get back up.

They finished the 1974-75 season with the regular season championship and the playoff championship.

The Castors had a flawless 2nd half of the regular season, securing the championship with their 51 victories. In May 1975, the Castors players completed the QMJHL playoffs with the President Cup in their arms, after beating the Laval National in the final.

What a duo for the Sherbrooke Castors in the 1970s! General manager Georges Guilbault and his head coach Ghislain Delage were able to support their players after the tragic bus accident that occurred in November 1974.

Ghislain Delage (Sherbrooke | 1972=>1981) - 344 victories behind the bench as head coach of the Castors in 9 seasons.

On November 24, 1974, Gaétan Paradis lost his life in this accident on a snowy and icy road in the Parc des Laurentides, between the city of Québec and Chicoutimi.

1974-75 - the champion edition of the Sherbrooke Castors

The Sherbrooke Castors team left its mark on the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s. In fact, the Castors participated in six finals from 1974-75 to 1981-82, winning in 1975, 1977 and 1982. Just like the Remparts of the time and the Cornwall Royals, they outrageously dominated the league under the leadership of Georges Guilbault (General Manager) and Ghislain Delage (Head Coach).

In 1982-83, the Castors owners moved the franchise to St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where they played until 1994-95. After 19 consecutive seasons in which the team reached the playoffs, it changed its name; the St-Jean Lynx were born.

1974-75 Champions - Sherbrooke Castors

Stefan Figliuzzi (St. John Lynx | 1984=>1989) - 1st point scorer in franchise history with 479 points. Two other players have amassed at least 400 points: Brad Richards (432) and Jan Alston (408).

MOST POINTS, LIFETIME, in regular season | SHERBROOKE FRANCHISE-1969 (Castors/Lynx/Oceanic)

Pos	Player	Team	Season	Record - PTS
1	Stefan Figliuzzi	St-Jean	1984>>1989	479
2	Brad Richards	Rimouski	1997>>2000	432
3	Jan Alston	St-Jean	1986>>1990	408
4	Louis Bégin	Sherbrooke	1976>>1980	391
5	Jere Gillis	Sherbrooke	1973>>1977	376
6	Ron Carter	Sherbrooke	1975>>1978	371
7	Mark Green	Sherbrooke	1974>>1978	353
8	Sidney Crosby	Rimouski	2003>>2005	303
9	Michel Ouellet	Rimouski	1998>>2002	299
10	Samuel Groleau	St-Jean	1991>>1994	298
11	Alexis Lafrenière	Rimouski	2017>>2020	297
12	Serge Boisvert	Sherbrooke	1977>>1980	296
13	Steve Brûlé	St-Jean	1992>>1995	293
14	Daniel Campeau	Sherbrooke-St-Jean	1980>>1983	281
15	Claude St-Sauveur	Sherbrooke	1969>>1972	272
16	Dany Roussin	Rimouski	2002>>2005	271
17	Marc-Antoine Pouliot	Rimouski	2001>>2005	268
18	Rick Vaive	Sherbrooke	1976>>1978	265
19	Daniel Chicoine	Sherbrooke	1973>>1977	258
20	Éric Normandin	St-Jean-Rimouski	1994>>1997	252

SOURCE: QMJHL RECORDS Section - see the full table

2000 - Memorial Cup year for the Oceanic

Brad Richards leads the charge

In 1995-96, the franchise moved to Rimouski and became the Oceanic, "the team of an entire region" as the team's popular slogan goes. Maurice Tanguay headed the team's buying group, which would achieve quality standards recognized throughout the league.

In 1998, the Oceanic participated in its first final, losing in four games to the Val-d'Or Foreurs. Shortly after, Vincent Lecavalier would become the Tampa Bay Lightning's first choice.

In 1999-2000, while the club was led by Doris Labonté, the Oceanic won the triple crown: the Jean-Rougeau Trophy, the President Cup and the Memorial Cup. Brad Richards was the club's headliner during this dream season.

Brad Richards (Rimouski | 1999-2000) - He finished a superb season of 233 points (all games combined) by winning the Memorial Cup with the Oceanic. On the individual level, he was awarded the STAFFORD SMYTHE Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the Memorial Cup tournament.

Senior management enjoys the festivities! President Henri Martin and Managing Director and Owner Maurice Tanguay, along with QMJHL President Gilles Courteau.

In 2000, the franchise born in 1969, won its only Memorial Cup, despite 7 appearances at the tournament. Joe Rullier shows off the precious trophy here on the ice rink of the Metro Center in Halifax.

In the lineage of Lafleur, Lemieux, Daigle...

The QMJHL is experiencing the Sidney Crosby era!

He drew crowds to every arena for two seasons. It was a sold-out crowd in every amphitheater when #87 of the Oceanic came to town.

No less than 2 QMJHL scoring champion titles for Sidney Crosby, during his only two seasons in the "Courteau league".

JEAN-BÉLIVEAU TROPHY

2003-04 - 135 points
2004-05 - 168 points

September 27th 2019 - Ceremonies for the retirement of Sidney Crosby's #87 jersey by the Oceanic, and at the same time the same day by the QMJHL via its commissioner Gilles Courteau.

In 2004, Sidney Crosby poses in front of his trophies at the Golden Puck Gala, accompanied by Yannick Dumais, his faithful off-ice protector, and great manager of all the media aspects surrounding "Sid the Kid"...

See Sidney Crosby in action with the Oceanic

He will succeed with his famous "MICHIGAN", click below...!

An unparalleled sequence in the second half of the 2004-05 season

NEW RECORD - Rimouski Oceanic no longer loses, and goes 35 games in a row without a defeat

In fact, they would set a new League record, by not suffering a single loss in their last 28 regular season games, and they would win their first 7 of the playoffs.

Unsurprisingly, the squad led by Doris Labonté would represent the QMJHL at the Memorial Cup tournament, but would lose 4-0 in the deciding game against the powerful London Knights (OHL).

A big first trio, 30 points in 5 games at the 2005 Memorial Cup tournament - Sidney Crosby (11), Marc-Antoine Pouliot (10) and Danny Roussin (9).

The Oceanic celebrates a 2nd QMJHL playoff championship, after sweeping the Halifax Mooseheads in 4 straight games. Rimouski will win the President Cup again later in 2015.

Sidney Crosby - he will add an individual honour to his collection. At the end of the 2005 playoffs, he was awarded the Guy-Lafleur Trophy as the playoffs' most valuable player. The determination of a Sidney Crosby has no equal.

Oceanic needs 7 games to beat the Remparts in 2015 final

SUMMARY OF THE 7TH AND DECISIVE GAME:

Quebec 1 @ Rimouski 2 (2nd overtime)

May 18, 2015 - The Oceanic celebrates at the Colisée Financière Sun Life! Michaël Joly (4th from right) has just scored the winning goal in the 2nd overtime period in Game 7 of the QMJHL final series. Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers (30), Frédérik Gauthier (23) and Samuel Laberge (79) show all their pride to the great delight of the 5,062 spectators.

The winner of the Michel-Brière Memorial Trophy (2 times | 2018-2019 and 2019-2020) - Most valuable player in the QMJHL...

Alexis Lafrenière, on the way to the National Hockey League

In 2020, the New York Rangers selected him with the first overall pick in the NHL Draft.

Before his time with the pros, the Rimouski Oceanic left winger also won the QMJHL scoring championship and the Jean-Béliveau Trophy in 2019-20 with a harvest of 112 points.

In 3 seasons in the QMJHL: 297 points in 173 games.

Not to mention that his Plus-Minus differential of +128 places him 3rd in history, just behind Jonathan Huberdeau (+139) and Sean Couturier (+141), but ahead of a certain Sidney Crosby (+127)...

Colten Ellis (2017=>2020 | Rimouski), in the Oceanic uniform, his goals-against average was the best in team history at 2.41. He is actually ahead of Jean-Christophe Blanchard (2.66) and Philippe Desrosiers (2.74).

Colten Ellis at the top

Best goals-against average by a goaltender, lifetime in the QMJHL

More than 3000 minutes in regular season

Pos	Goalie	Team	Season	Record
1	Colten Ellis	CAP, Rimouski, CHA	2016>>2021	2.31
2	William Rousseau	QUE, ROU	2020>>2024	2.35
3	Ondrej Pavelec	CAP	2005>>2007	2.52
4	Samuel Harvey	ROU	2014>>2019	2.53
5	Samuel Montembeault	BLB	2013>>2017	2.54
6	Samuel St-Hilaire	SHE, Rimouski	2022>>2024	2.56
7	Samuel Hlavaj	SHE	2019>>2021	2.56
8	Nicola Riopel	MON	2005>>2010	2.58
9	Patrick Couture	BEA, QUE, VDO, ROU	1995>>1998	2.60
10	Etienne Marcoux	MTL, BLB	2009>>2014	2.62
11	Quentin Miller	QUE, Rimouski	2021>>2024	2.64

SOURCE: QMJHL RECORDS Section - see the full table

The 2024-25 season was a very emotional one. The Océanic had to prepare to host the Memorial Cup tournament in Rimouski. Despite numerous injuries to key players throughout the season, general manager Danny Dupont acquired Jonathan Fauchon, who would finish first in the QMJHL in scoring with 103 points. He would also be named the League's Most Valuable Player, earning the Michel-Brière Trophy.

In the 2025 QMJHL Playoffs, the team coached by Joël Perrault, reached the QMJHL final but were unable to defeat the powerful Moncton Wildcats, losing the series, by 4 games to 2.

Then, at the Memorial Cup tournament, the Océanic gave it their best, creating scoring chances, but the players lacked opportunity at key moments. The fans can't blame their team for a lack of effort, even though they didn't win a single game against Medicine Hat, London, and Moncton. London won the final against Medicine Hat by a score of 4-1, in what was the Cowan and McKenna tournament, two young sensations...

. . .

The greatest names in the history of this franchise: Georges Guilbault, Nick Sanza, Rick Vaive, Ghislain Delage, Paul Boutilier, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Doris Labonté, Maurice Tanguay, Sidney Crosby, Alexis Lafrenière, Serge Beausoleil...

Head coach Serge Beausoleil was able to count on the valuable advice of Donald Dufresne during his 12 seasons with the Oceanic, from 2011 to 2023. In 2015, he was behind the bench to see his players win the President Cup. As head coach of the Rimouski team, his records for wins (426) and games (765) behind the bench are not about to be broken.

2024-25 | For the club's 30th season, the Oceanic will be the host team of the Memorial Cup tournament in May 2025.

My personalized choice for Cookies

History