Montreal Junior Canadiens

Montreal Junior Canadiens
City	Montreal, Quebec
League	QJHL (1933–61) OHA (1961–72)
Operated	1933 (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

1970 Memorial Cup Champions
Montreal Junior Canadiens

1950 Memorial Cup Champions
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 National championship. 1950 Champions vs. Regina Pats 1969 Champions vs. Regina Pats 1970 Champions vs. Weyburn Red Wings George Richardson Memorial Trophy Eastern Canadian championship. 1943 Lost to Oshawa Generals 1946 Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 1947 Lost to Toronto St. Michael's Majors 1950 Champions vs. Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters 1952 Lost to Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters 1956 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 1969 Champions vs. Sorel Éperviers (Black Hawks) 1970 Champions vs. Quebec Remparts

J. Ross Robertson Cup Ontario Hockey Association championship. 1964 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 1969 Champions vs. St. Catharines Black Hawks 1970 Champions vs. Toronto Marlboros Hamilton Spectator Trophy First overall in the OHA regular season standings. 1961–1962 73 points (34 wins, 5 ties) 1968–1969 80 points (37 wins, 6 ties) 1969–1970 79 points (37 wins, 5 ties)

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 OHL Most valuable player. 1963–1964 Yvan Cournoyer 1968–1969 Rejean Houle 1969–1970 Gilbert Perreault Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHL Top Point Scorer. 1961–1962 Andre Boudrias 1963–1964 Andre Boudrias 1968–1969 Rejean Houle

Max Kaminsky Trophy Most Outstanding Defenceman. 1970–1971 Jocelyn Guevremont Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against average. 1961–1962 George Holmes 1965–1966 Ted Ouimet 1968–1969 Wayne Wood and Ted Tucker William Hanley Trophy Most sportsmanlike player. 1968–1969 Rejean Houle

Hall of Fame alumni

QJHL (1933–1961)

Scotty Bowman (Builder category) Emile "Butch" Bouchard Dickie Moore

Jacques Plante Henri Richard

OHA (1961–1972)

Yvan Cournoyer Jacques Laperrière Guy Lapointe Jacques Lemaire

Craig Patrick (Builder category) Gilbert Perreault Serge Savard

NHL alumni

QJHL (1933–1961)

Ron Attwell Ralph Backstrom Marc Boileau Emile "Butch" Bouchard Claude Bourque Tom Brennan Connie Broden Bucky Buchanan Kelly Burnett

Tod Campeau Billy Carter Gilles Dubé Reggie Fleming Phil Goyette Charlie Hodge Gord Hollingworth Eddie Johnston Forbes Kennedy

Claude LaForge Dave Logan Don Marshall George McAvoy Bob McCord Al Millar Dickie Moore Johnny Peirson Jimmy Peters

Gerry Plamondon Andre Pronovost Claude Pronovost Claude Provost Henri Richard Ernie Roche Dollard St. Laurent Jerry Wilson

OHA (1961–1972)

Christian Bordeleau J. P. Bordeleau Paulin Bordeleau Pierre Bouchard Andre Boudrias Robin Burns Bob Champoux Bob Charlebois Guy Charron Terry Clancy Jacques Cossette Yvan Cournoyer Norm Dennis Michel Dion

Rene Drolet Jude Drouin Andre Dupont Rocky Farr Norm Ferguson Germain Gagnon Scott Garland John Garrett Norm Gratton Lucien Grenier Jocelyn Guevremont Bobby Guindon Rejean Houle Billy Inglis

François Lacombe Andre Lacroix Jean-Guy Lagace Serge Lajeunesse Bobby Lalonde Jacques Laperriere Guy Lapointe Jacques Lemaire Bob Lemieux Rich Lemieux Blair MacKasey Rick Martin Hartland Monahan Ted Ouimet

Craig Patrick Gilbert Perreault Larry Pleau Fern Rivard Jim Rutherford Serge Savard Andre St. Laurent Ralph Stewart Marc Tardif Leo Thiffault Ted Tucker Ian Turnbull Rogatien Vachon Carol Vadnais

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