Sorel Éperviers

Hockey team | CAN_eng = 1

city = Sorel-Tracy, Quebec &
Verdun, Quebec
league = Q.M.J.H.L.
operated = 1969 to 1981
arena = Colisée Cardin &
Verdun Auditorium
name1 = Sorel Éperviers
dates1 = 1969-77
name2 = Verdun Éperviers
dates2 = 1977-79
name3 = Verdun/Sorel Éperviers
dates3 = 1979-80
name4 = Sorel Éperviers
dates4 = 1980-81
name5 = Granby Bisons
dates5 = 1981-95
name6 = Granby Prédateurs
dates6 = 1995-97
name7 = Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
dates7 = 1997-PresentThe Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981. The team was one of the founding members of the QMJHL. They mostly played at the Colisée Cardin in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, but also spent a few seasons at the Verdun Auditorium in the Montreal suburb of Verdun, Quebec. The most famous Épervier alumnus would undoubtedly be Ray Bourque, who is also the only former Épervier in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The Éperviers originated in the Quebec Junior Hockey League, and were the league's champion in 1969. Sorel were finalists in the eastern Canadian championship for the George Richardson Memorial Trophy, losing 3 games to 1 to the Montreal Junior Canadiens.

The 1973-74 QMJHL season sparked an offensive explosion, unmatched in Canadian Hockey League history. Sorel set a CHL record of 620 goals scored as a team. Three Sorel players, Pierre Larouche, Michel Deziel and Jacques Cossette, had more than 90 goals and 200 points each. Sorel goalkeeper Claude Legris also posted the highest goals against average of 4.50 goals per game for a Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy winner.

In 1981 the franchise moved to Granby, Quebec where they became the Granby Bisons. They won the Memorial Cup there in 1996. The franchise is today the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

NHL alumni

*Norm Aubin *Marco Baron *Michel Belhumeur *Michel Bergeron *Serge Bernier *Gilles Bilodeau *Raymond Bourque *Jacques Cossette

*Richard David *Lucien DeBlois *Michel Deziel *Jean-Marc Gaulin *Pierre Giroux *Benoit Gosselin *Brian Johnson *Steve Kasper

*Alain Langlais *Jean-Marc Lanthier *Pierre Larouche *Claude Legris *Pierre Mondou *Bob Ritchie *Ron Smith *Chris Valentine

eason-by-season record

* Sorel Éperviers (1969–1977) [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=1385 Sorel Éperviers season-by-season record on www.hockeydb.com] ]
* Verdun Éperviers (1977–1979) [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=1422 Verdun Éperviers season-by-season record on www.hockeydb.com] ]
* Verdun/Sorel Éperviers (1979–1980) [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=1420 Verdun/Sorel Éperviers season-by-season record on www.hockeydb.com] ]
* Sorel Éperviers (1980–1981) [ [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/teamseasons.php?tid=1385 Sorel Éperviers season-by-season record on www.hockeydb.com] ]

"Note" :Pct = Winning percentage

References