QMJHL changes name to better represent its six Maritime teams

POINTE-CLAIRE, Que. — The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is changing its name to better represent its sizable contingent of Maritime-based teams.

The league announced Thursday it will be known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (la Ligue de hockey junior Maritimes Québec in French).

An English version of the league's logo was also released.

The name change was passed unanimously at the league's assembly of members.

League commissioner Mario Cecchini said including the Maritimes in the league name has been a priority of his since taking over the position in May.

The QMJHL currently has three teams based in New Brunswick, two in Nova Scotia and one in Prince Edward Island.

The QMJHL has had a presence in the Maritimes for almost 30 years. The Halifax Mooseheads joined as an expansion team in 1994.

By 1999 the league also had teams in Moncton, N.B. (Alpines, later Wildcats), Sydney, N.S. (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, later Eagles), and Bathurst, N.B. (Titan).

The Montreal Rocket moved to Charlottetown in 2003 (now the Islanders) and the league expanded to Saint John, N.B., in 2004 with the addition of the Sea Dogs.

Since expanding to Halifax, Maritime teams have won the President's Cup (now Gilles-Courteau Trophy) as league champion eight times, including four in a row from 2009-10 to 2012-13.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2023.