Montreal Junior Canadiens
Montreal Junior Canadiens | |
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File:MontrealCanadiens.png | |
City | Montreal, Quebec |
League | QJHL (1933–61) OHA (1961–72) |
Operated | 1933 | –1972
Home arena | Montreal Forum |
Colours | Red, white and blue |
Parent club(s) | Montreal Canadiens (1933–67) |
Franchise history | |
1933–72 | Montreal Junior Canadiens |
1972–75 | Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge |
1975–82 | Montreal Juniors |
1982–84 | Verdun Juniors |
1984–89 | Verdun Junior Canadiens |
1989–96 | Saint-Hyacinthe Laser |
1996-Present | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies |
Montreal Junior Canadiens
Montreal Junior Canadiens
The Montreal Junior Canadiens were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Junior Hockey League from 1933 to 1961, and the Ontario Hockey Association from 1961 to 1972. They played out of the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
History
The Junior Canadiens were a farm team to the NHL Montreal Canadiens from the early 1930s until the institution of the NHL Entry Draft. The Juniors originally played in the Quebec Junior Hockey League.
In 1961 the franchise switched to the Ontario Hockey Association to compete at the major junior level. It was granted entry as an expansion club in 1961. At the time, major hockey in Quebec, and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, did not exist.
1950
In the Quebec Junior playoffs, the Junior Canadiens defeated the Quebec Citadels and the Halifax St. Marys. The series versus Halifax was surrendered by St. Marys when Montreal won the first two games on the road by scores of 11–3 and 10–1. After that the Junior Canadiens defeated the Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters to represent eastern Canada in the Memorial Cup.
The Memorial Cup of 1950 saw two farm teams of the Montreal Canadiens playing each other for the top junior prize. The Junior Canadiens defeated the Regina Pats in a best-of-seven game series by 4 games to 1, winning on home ice at the Forum.
1950 Memorial Cup scores Game 1 Montreal 8 Regina 7 @ Montreal Forum Game 2 Montreal 5 Regina 2 @ Montreal Forum Game 3 Montreal 5 Regina 1 @ Maple Leaf Gardens Game 4 Regina 7 Montreal 4 @ Montreal Forum Game 5 Montreal 6 Regina 3 @ Montreal Forum
1969
This team is considered by many to be the greatest junior hockey team of all time. The Junior Canadiens beat out the St. Catharines Black Hawks for the OHA Championship, then bettered the Sorel Black Hawks (Éperviers) 3 games to 1 for the Richardson Cup. The Montreal roster that year featured 13 rookies. The Canadiens would pick up netminder Jim Rutherford from the Hamilton Red Wings for the national championship.
The Memorial Cup of 1969 would be a rematch of 19 years earlier, with the Regina Pats. The first two games were scheduled for the Montreal Forum, with the remainder of the games to be played in Regina's Exhibition Stadium. The Junior Canadiens swept the Regina Pats in a very physical series.
1969 Memorial Cup scores Game 1 Montreal 5 Regina 3 @ Montreal Forum Game 2 Montreal 7 Regina 2 @ Montreal Forum Game 3 Montreal 5 Regina 2 @ Exhibition Stadium Game 4 Montreal 8 Regina 6 @ Exhibition Stadium
1970
The 1970 Junior Canadiens finished 1st in the OHA then defeated the Ottawa 67's and St. Catharines Black Hawks to reach the finals versus the Toronto Marlboros. The Junior Canadiens triumphed for the J. Ross Robertson Cup then played the NOHA champion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Montreal won the first game 6–2, but the "Soo" won game two 5–4. It was the first time in history that a team from the NOHA beat an OHA team in the playoffs. Montreal quickly responded winning the next three games 10–1, 9–2 and 20–1.
For the Richardson Cup the Canadiens would play the Quebec Junior Hockey League champions Quebec Remparts. The Remparts featured Guy Lafleur. The Canadiens prevailed in a 3 game sweep in front of crowds numbering over 14,000 in Quebec City, and over 18,000 in Montreal.
Their opponents for the Memorial Cup of 1970 would be the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. Coached by Stan Dunn the Red Wings were a very tough forechecking squad. The games became closer as the series progressed, but the Junior Canadiens swept the series, winning on home ice at the Forum.
1970 Memorial Cup scores Game 1 Montreal 9 Weyburn 4 @ Montreal Forum Game 2 Montreal 6 Weyburn 2 @ Montreal Forum Game 3 Montreal 5 Weyburn 4 @ Montreal Forum Game 4 Montreal 6 Weyburn 5 @ Montreal Forum
Move to QMJHL
In 1972 the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League had been in operation for three years, giving the province major junior competition for the first time. The Q obviously wanted a team in the province's largest city, and was threatening a lawsuit to force the Junior Canadiens back into the Quebec-based league. Over the summer of 1972 the OHA granted the Junior Habs a "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, renaming themselves the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge in the process. The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise for the 1973–74 season in Kingston, Ontario, under new ownership and with new players, calling the team the Kingston Canadians. The new Kingston team had little connection with the old Junior Canadiens, but in some OHA histories (such as the annual Media Guide) the Kingston team is still shown as the legitimate successors of the Junior Canadiens' legacy.
Championships
Memorial Cup
George Richardson Memorial Trophy
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J. Ross Robertson Cup
Hamilton Spectator Trophy
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Coaches
Sam Pollock and Billy Reay coached the 1950 Memorial Cup champions Jr. Canadiens. Claude Ruel coached the team its first two years in the OHA, he would later win the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1969. Former goaltender Yves Nadon piloted the team to its first OHA finals in 1964. Roger Bédard led the team to successive Memorial Cup wins in 1969 & 1970.
Players
O.H.A. awards
Red Tilson Trophy
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
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Max Kaminsky Trophy
Dave Pinkney Trophy
William Hanley Trophy
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Hall of Fame alumni
- QJHL (1933–1961)
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- OHA (1961–1972)
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NHL alumni
- QJHL (1933–1961)
- OHA (1961–1972)
Yearly results
Results listed while playing in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1961–1972.
Previous standings unavailable.
Regular season
Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
1961–62 | 50 | 34 | 11 | 5 | 73 | 0.730 | 230 | 138 | 1st OHA |
1962–63 | 50 | 27 | 14 | 9 | 63 | 0.630 | 201 | 146 | 2nd OHA |
1963–64 | 56 | 35 | 16 | 5 | 75 | 0.670 | 289 | 188 | 2nd OHA |
1964–65 | 56 | 20 | 28 | 8 | 48 | 0.429 | 215 | 214 | 5th OHA |
1965–66 | 48 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 57 | 0.594 | 200 | 147 | 2nd OHA |
1966–67 | 48 | 16 | 23 | 9 | 41 | 0.427 | 176 | 204 | 7th OHA |
1967–68 | 54 | 39 | 12 | 3 | 81 | 0.750 | 261 | 170 | 2nd OHA |
1968–69 | 54 | 37 | 11 | 6 | 80 | 0.741 | 303 | 171 | 1st OHA |
1969–70 | 54 | 37 | 12 | 5 | 79 | 0.731 | 316 | 200 | 1st OHA |
1970–71 | 62 | 35 | 19 | 8 | 78 | 0.629 | 295 | 235 | 4th OHA |
1971–72 | 63 | 13 | 40 | 10 | 36 | 0.286 | 237 | 315 | 9th OHA |
Playoffs
- 1961–62 Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 4 in OHA semi-finals.
- 1962–63 Defeated Peterborough Petes 9 points to 3 in OHA semi-finals.
Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 0 in OHA finals. - 1963–64 Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Defeated St. Catharines Black Hawks 9 points to 5 in semi-finals.
Lost to Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 1 in finals. - 1964–65 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 7 in quarter-finals.
- 1965–66 Defeated Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Oshawa Generals 8 points to 2 in semi-finals. - 1966–67 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 4 in quarter-finals.
- 1967–68 Defeated St. Catharines Black Hawks 9 points to 1 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 4 in semi-finals. - 1968–69 Defeated Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 0 in semi-finals.
Defeated St. Catharines Black Hawks 9 points to 1 in finals. OHA CHAMPIONS
Defeated Sudbury Wolves of Northern Ontario Hockey Association.
Defeated Sorel Éperviers 3 games to 1 in Eastern Canada final Richardson Trophy winners
Defeated Regina Pats in Memorial Cup finals. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS - 1969–70 Defeated Ottawa 67's 8 points to 2 in quarter-finals.
Defeated St. Catharines Black Hawks 8 points to 0 in semi-finals.
Defeated Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 6 in finals. OHA CHAMPIONS
Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of Northern Ontario Hockey Association 4 games to 1.
Defeated Québec Remparts 3 games to 0 in Eastern Canada final Richardson Trophy winners
Defeated Weyburn Red Wings in Memorial Cup finals. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS - 1970–71 Defeated London Knights 8 points to 0 in quarter-finals.
Lost to St. Catharines Black Hawks 9 points to 5 in semi-finals. - 1971–72 Out of playoffs.
Arena
The Junior Canadiens played at the Montreal Forum, on the same ice as the NHL team. The Montreal Forum also hosted Memorial Cup games in 1950, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973 & 1976, with the Junior Canadiens winning on home ice in 1950 & 1970.
- Montreal Forum The OHL Arena & Travel Guide