History & Records section - Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League
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Saguenéens Chicoutimi
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CHICOUTIMI - 1973

History

To the great delight of their proud supporters!

Scoring champions and top-class goalkeepers

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens entered the QMJHL as an expansion team at the start of the 1973-74 season.

Several of their players have won the QMJHL scoring championship over the years: Sylvain Locas, Marc Fortier, Stéphane Morin, Ramzi Abid and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. In fact, Fortier still holds the team record of 201 points in a season, set in 1986-87.

The Saguenéens enjoyed a lot of success during the 1990s, and their goaltenders would have a major say in these team successes.

Indeed, the 1990-91 campaign brought them their first President Cup conquest under head coach Jos Canale; goaltender Félix Potvin would be the team's big star for this unforgettable season. Three years later, they would repeat the feat, once again becoming the monarchs of the QMJHL at the end of the 1994 playoffs.

In total, they participated in the QMJHL grand final five times, in 1985, 1987, 1991, 1994 and 1997.

Sylvain Locas (Chicoutimi | 1974=>1977) - 388 of his 545 points were recorded in the Saguenéens jersey, before being traded to Sherbrooke in the fall of 1977. In 2002, Sylvain Locas was admitted to the QMJHL Hall of Fame, the same day as his brother Jacques Jr Locas.
Sylvain Locas (Chicoutimi | 1974=>1977) - 388 of his 545 points were recorded in the Saguenéens jersey, before being traded to Sherbrooke in the fall of 1977. In 2002, Sylvain Locas was admitted to the QMJHL Hall of Fame, the same day as his brother Jacques Jr Locas.
Sam St-Laurent (Chicoutimi | 1975=>1979) - for 12 seasons, he will hold the record for the number of games played in net for the "Sags", namely 168. It is Félix Potvin who will be the first to overtake him with 181 appearances in front of the Saguenéens net.
Sam St-Laurent (Chicoutimi | 1975=>1979) - for 12 seasons, he will hold the record for the number of games played in net for the "Sags", namely 168. It is Félix Potvin who will be the first to overtake him with 181 appearances in front of the Saguenéens net.
Gilbert Delorme - Saguenéens record holder, as a defenseman, 111 points in 1979-80. He was a 1st round pick of the Montreal Canadiens: 541 games in the NHL.
Gilbert Delorme - Saguenéens record holder, as a defenseman, 111 points in 1979-80. He was a 1st round pick of the Montreal Canadiens: 541 games in the NHL.
Guy Carbonneau - in 1979-80, he would set a team record with 182 points. This mark would stand for 7 years until Marc Fortier scored 201 during the 1986-87 campaign.
Guy Carbonneau - in 1979-80, he would set a team record with 182 points. This mark would stand for 7 years until Marc Fortier scored 201 during the 1986-87 campaign.

Marc Fortier, best scorer, best passer

Marc Fortier had some great seasons, but 1986-87 held a special cachet for him and the Saguenéens.

It would be the first time the team reached the QMJHL grand final, but they would admit defeat (4-1) against the Longueuil Chevaliers. In the playoffs, Chicoutimi would average 5.3 goals per game. Marc Fortier would participate in more than half of his team's 101 goals. His 51 points in a playoff year still stands as a franchise record, which was once equaled by defenseman Frédéric Bouchard in 1997.

Jean-Marc Richard (301) and Gilbert Delorme (277) - these are the only two defensemen among the all-time leading scorers for the Saguenéens.
Jean-Marc Richard (301) and Gilbert Delorme (277) - these are the only two defensemen among the all-time leading scorers for the Saguenéens.
David Desharnais (Chicoutimi | 2003=>2007) - he is the last Saguenéens player to have amassed 300 lifetime points in the team's blue and white uniform.
David Desharnais (Chicoutimi | 2003=>2007) - he is the last Saguenéens player to have amassed 300 lifetime points in the team's blue and white uniform.
Marc Fortier (Chicoutimi | 1983=>1987) - he was one of the 3 players to have maintained an average of 2 assists per game in a season in the entire history of the QMJHL, with 135 assists in 1986-87. He therefore finds himself with the greatest passers: Pierre Larouche (157 | Sorel | 1973-74) and Mario Lemieux (149 | Laval | 1983-84).
Marc Fortier (Chicoutimi | 1983=>1987) - he was one of the 3 players to have maintained an average of 2 assists per game in a season in the entire history of the QMJHL, with 135 assists in 1986-87. He therefore finds himself with the greatest passers: Pierre Larouche (157 | Sorel | 1973-74) and Mario Lemieux (149 | Laval | 1983-84).

The elite of QMJHL goaltenders among the Saguenéens

Daniel Berthiaume was the first Saguenéens goalie to receive the Jacques-Plante Trophy, at the end of the 1984-85 season.

They will have their say in the future Saguenéens championships

Talented goalies follow one another in front of the "BLUE TEAM" net!

Furthermore, the organization is recognized as a hotbed of talent in front of the nets. Indeed, Sam St-Laurent, Daniel Berthiaume, Jimmy Waite, Félix Potvin, Eric Fichaud, Marc Denis have all graduated to the National Hockey League at one time or another.

In 1990-91, the agile and excellent goaltender of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, Félix Potvin had the best season in history for a QMJHL goaltender, with a goals-against average of 2.70. Obviously, this mark was improved over the years, but for his time, Potvin was probably the best goaltender in the League.

Félix Potvin (Chicoutimi | 1990-91) - in the playoffs, he will be breathtaking (2.78 | .901) and will earn the Guy-Lafleur Trophy as most valuable player, while his teammates will walk around with the President Cup.
Félix Potvin (Chicoutimi | 1990-91) - in the playoffs, he will be breathtaking (2.78 | .901) and will earn the Guy-Lafleur Trophy as most valuable player, while his teammates will walk around with the President Cup.
Marc Denis - almost two years before leading the Saguenéens to the QMJHL final against Hull in 1997, he had been selected in the first round of the 1995 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
Marc Denis - almost two years before leading the Saguenéens to the QMJHL final against Hull in 1997, he had been selected in the first round of the 1995 NHL draft by the Colorado Avalanche.
Eric Fichaud - the goalie was one of the pillars of the Saguenéens during the 1994 playoffs. In the final, the "SAGS" defeated the powerful Laval Titan, after limiting them to 22 goals, and the Sags scored only one less (21); a very rare fact in the annals of the QMJHL, since it has only happened twice that the champions score fewer goals than their opponents.
Eric Fichaud - the goalie was one of the pillars of the Saguenéens during the 1994 playoffs. In the final, the "SAGS" defeated the powerful Laval Titan, after limiting them to 22 goals, and the Sags scored only one less (21); a very rare fact in the annals of the QMJHL, since it has only happened twice that the champions score fewer goals than their opponents.

For a 2nd time, they are the champions!

1994 Playoffs - The Saguenéens are champions, with a record of 16 wins and 11 losses. In the semi-finals, the series was pushed to the limit of 7 games against the Hull Olympiques. The final was hardly easier for Gaston Drapeau's team against the Laval Titan, as 6 games were needed to make a master.
1994 Playoffs - The Saguenéens are champions, with a record of 16 wins and 11 losses. In the semi-finals, the series was pushed to the limit of 7 games against the Hull Olympiques. The final was hardly easier for Gaston Drapeau's team against the Laval Titan, as 6 games were needed to make a master.

In 50 years, 5 QMJHL scoring championships for the Saguenéens' forwards!

"MR. SAGUENEENS": Yanick Jean

More than 15 seasons in various roles with the "SAGS"

In 2024, head coach Yanick Jean set two important milestones in QMJHL history. First, he made history by recording his 590th victory on February 24th 2024, to overtake Richard Martel, who had coached from 1993 to 2011 for the Saint-Hyacinthe, Val-d’Or, Baie-Comeau teams and also the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

Then, on November 1st, 2024, he broke the record for most games as a coach in the QMJHL (1,172), once again to supplant Martel (1,171).

Yanick Jean - for him, it all started as a defenseman with the Saguenéens. From 1992 to 1996, in 305 games, including the playoffs: 181 points including 44 goals.
Yanick Jean - for him, it all started as a defenseman with the Saguenéens. From 1992 to 1996, in 305 games, including the playoffs: 181 points including 44 goals.
Yanick Jean (Chicoutimi | 2014=>2025) - with the Saguenéens, he is the only head coach to have exceeded 600 games and 300 victories, in more than 50 years of history with the Saguenéens.
Yanick Jean (Chicoutimi | 2014=>2025) - with the Saguenéens, he is the only head coach to have exceeded 600 games and 300 victories, in more than 50 years of history with the Saguenéens.

. . .

The greatest names in the history of this franchise: Alain Côté, Normand Léveillé, Sylvain Locas, Guy Carbonneau, Gilbert Delorme, Marc Fortier, Jean-Marc Richard, Patrice Tremblay, Gaston Drapeau, Félix Potvin, Marc Denis, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, David Desharnais, Richard Martel, Charles Hudon, Renald Nepton, Yanick Jean, Dawson Mercer…