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History & Records section - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
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In collaboration with
William Blackburn
Foreurs Val-d`Or
Franchise
VAL-D'OR - 1993

History

General Manager Michel Georges on a mission!

Successes on the ice rink are coming soon

The Foreurs' recruiting team is working hard to ensure that a quality club is put in the hands of future coaches, Pierre Aubry, Richard Martel and Gaston Therrien.

After several long years of waiting. A concession was granted to Val-d'Or in 1993.

In a very short time, the Foreurs will experience success. One of the main reasons is the excellent work of general manager Michel Georges and his group of scouts. Steve Bégin, Jean-Pierre Dumont, Francis Lessard and Roberto Luongo, to name a few, will be top-notch acquisitions who will quickly make their mark on the ice rink of the Palais des Sports in Val-d'Or.

Indeed, as early as the 1995-96 season, the team enjoys a first victorious season.

In 1997-98, and this just after being selected 4th overall in the NHL draft by the New York Islanders, goaltender Roberto Luongo stands out. He recorded 7 shutouts, to equal the QMJHL record held by Nick Sanza (1974-75 | Sherbrooke).

1993 - During the very first Foreurs selection session, they benefited from their first overall pick, to acquire forward Stéphane Roy. Yvon Morin (2nd from left) was one of the main people responsible for the arrival of the Foreurs in Val-d'Or.
1993 - During the very first Foreurs selection session, they benefited from their first overall pick, to acquire forward Stéphane Roy. Yvon Morin (2nd from left) was one of the main people responsible for the arrival of the Foreurs in Val-d'Or.
1996-97 - A record for a season at the box office: no less than 2,424 spectators average per game.
1996-97 - A record for a season at the box office: no less than 2,424 spectators average per game.
After only 5 seasons of existence, already the CUP!

The first of 3 championships for the Foreurs in the spring of 1998

Val-d'Or would go on to win the President Cup three times (1998 | 2001 | 2014).

It was head coach Gaston Therrien who led this talented group of players to the promised land.

Jean-Pierre Dumont (Val-d'Or | #96) - with 31 goals in the 1998 playoffs, he eclipsed Mario Lemieux's mark (29 | 1984). Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo made a lot of saves to lead the Foreurs to their first-ever playoff championship. | Note that Jean-Pierre Dumont maintained a record Plus-Minus Differential with the Foreurs, of +104 from 1994 to 1998.
Jean-Pierre Dumont (Val-d'Or | #96) - with 31 goals in the 1998 playoffs, he eclipsed Mario Lemieux's mark (29 | 1984). Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo made a lot of saves to lead the Foreurs to their first-ever playoff championship. | Note that Jean-Pierre Dumont maintained a record Plus-Minus Differential with the Foreurs, of +104 from 1994 to 1998.
The Foreurs swept (4-0) the honors of the final series against Rimouski.
The Foreurs swept (4-0) the honors of the final series against Rimouski.
Steve Bégin (captain) - here he receives the President Cup from the hands of the president of the QMJHL, Gilles Courteau.
Steve Bégin (captain) - here he receives the President Cup from the hands of the president of the QMJHL, Gilles Courteau.
One goal away from a Memorial Cup in 2001

Foreurs lose Memorial Cup final

In 2001, it was Simon Gamache's turn to shine. During the playoffs, Gamache collected 57 points, breaking the record (52) set by the famous #66, Mario Lemieux, during the 1984 playoffs. Gamache also won the regular season scoring title with a haul of 184 points.

That same year, 2001, the Foreurs came within a period of winning the Memorial Cup, letting a 5-4 lead slip away after two periods. The Red Deer Rebels finally won the game in overtime by a score of 6-5. Simon Gamache once again won the scoring championship in addition to the Memorial Cup tournament scoring championship after getting on the scoresheet seven times.

Simon Gamache was invited to the 2000 QMJHL All-Star Game, played at the Molson Centre. He is seen here with Mike Ribeiro right behind him after a goal.
Simon Gamache was invited to the 2000 QMJHL All-Star Game, played at the Molson Centre. He is seen here with Mike Ribeiro right behind him after a goal.
Simon Gamache (Val-d'Or Foreurs | 2000-01) - he passes Mario Lemieux, with a new record of 57 points in the playoffs in a single year!
Simon Gamache (Val-d'Or Foreurs | 2000-01) - he passes Mario Lemieux, with a new record of 57 points in the playoffs in a single year!
May 27, 2001 - The Foreurs lost in overtime in the 2001 Memorial Cup final… Red Deer 6 vs. Val-d'Or 5
May 27, 2001 - The Foreurs lost in overtime in the 2001 Memorial Cup final… Red Deer 6 vs. Val-d'Or 5

In 2007, the Foreurs participated in the QMJHL final for the 3rd time in their history (after 1998 and 2001). They could not lift the President Cup for a third time, since the Lewiston MAINEiacs would take the top honours in the 2007 playoffs.

On February 3rd 2010, in a 5-3 win against Rimouski, the Foreurs recorded their 500th victory in history.

A memorable parade for both fans and players!

2001 - The QMJHL Champions Parade drew several hundred fans to the streets of Val-d'Or. Goalies Simon Lajeunesse and Maxime Daigneault shared the net all season and in the playoffs, and they shared the same vehicle for the parade.
2001 - The QMJHL Champions Parade drew several hundred fans to the streets of Val-d'Or. Goalies Simon Lajeunesse and Maxime Daigneault shared the net all season and in the playoffs, and they shared the same vehicle for the parade.
. . . . . Antoine Bibeau (goalkeeper) and Anthony Mantha
. . . . . Antoine Bibeau (goalkeeper) and Anthony Mantha

81 GOALS in 81 GAMES!

Anthony Mantha made the red lights twinkle throughout the 2013-14 season and playoffs.

The Val-d'Or Foreurs defeated the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in 7 games in the League final. They won the President Cup for the 3rd time in 21 seasons. Head coach Mario Durocher personally won the Cup for the 2nd time.

Mantha scored 24 goals in post-season games, and allowed himself the winning goal in the decisive game of the playoffs. In total, his performance was 6 goals and 7 assists in the grand final against the Drakkar!

Don't forget, however, that goalie Antoine Bibeau was also sensational with the Foreurs, and he was named the most valuable player of the 2014 playoffs.

A defeat in the final against the Tigres

The 2020-21 season: a 4th Cup was in the target, but...

During the 2019-20 season, Justin Robidas became the first 16-year-old rookie in Foreurs history to reach the 20-goal mark: 21 goals in 57 games.

During the 2020-21 season, with all the constraints related to the pandemic, the Foreurs wanted to be a force in the QMJHL, with Jakob Pelletier, Samuel Poulin, Jordan Spence and company. But during the final played in its entirety at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, with a maximum of 2,000 spectators per game, the Foreurs lost in 6 games to the very opportunistic Victoriaville Tigres.

Jakob Pelletier (2020-21) - The Foreurs captain gave it his all. No fewer than 43 points during the regular season shortened to 28 games, due to constraints related to Covid-19.
Jakob Pelletier (2020-21) - The Foreurs captain gave it his all. No fewer than 43 points during the regular season shortened to 28 games, due to constraints related to Covid-19.
Jordan Spence - the defenseman acquired from Moncton put on a show in the 2021 playoffs with his 20 points in 15 games.
Jordan Spence - the defenseman acquired from Moncton put on a show in the 2021 playoffs with his 20 points in 15 games.
Jonathan Lemieux - in the 2021 playoffs, his goals against average was impressive at 1.95. In the regular season, he had kept an almost identical average at 1.96.
Jonathan Lemieux - in the 2021 playoffs, his goals against average was impressive at 1.95. In the regular season, he had kept an almost identical average at 1.96.

The greatest names in the history of this franchise: Jean-Pierre Dumont, Steve Bégin, Gaston Therrien, Roberto Luongo, Simon Gamache, Kristopher Letang, Anthony Mantha, les frères Cédrick, Samuel, et David Henley, Justin Robidas...