Minor professional hockey leagues are the backbone of the NHL. These leagues over the years have served as training grounds for the NHL teams. Entertaining hockey in their own right and offering non NHL players a chance to earn a living.
Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959)
The Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) was formed out of the Quebec Senior Hockey League.
Many of the Quebec Hockey League teams went on to play in the Eastern Professional Hockey League established in 1959.
Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Franchises
Chicoutimi Sagueneens (1953-1959)
Montreal Royals (1953-1959)
Ottawa Senators (1953-1955)
Quebec Aces (1953-1959)
Shawinigan Cataracts 1953-1954, 1955-1958)
Sherbrooke Saints (1953-1954)
Springfield Indians (1953-1954)
Trois Rivieres Lions (1957-1959)
Valleyfield Braves (1953-1955)
Ottawa Jr. Canadiens (Associate Member) (1958-1959)
Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Champions
The Quebec Hockey League competed each tear for the Thomas O'Connell Memorial Trophy representative of the champions. In addition between 1953 and 1956 the Edinburgh Trophy was presented o the winner of a Challenge Series between the Western Hockey League and the Quebec Hockey League.
Year |
Season Champions |
Regular Season Champions |
1954 |
Quebec Aces |
Chicoutimi Sagueneens |
1955 |
Shawinigan Cataracts |
Shawinigan Cataracts |
1956 |
Montreal Royals |
Shawinigan Cataracts |
1957 |
Quebec Aces |
Quebec Aces |
1958 |
Shawinigan Cataracts |
Chicoutimi Sagueneens |
1959 |
Montreal Royals |
Montreal Royals |
Year
|
Edinburgh
Trophy
|
1954
|
Calgary
Stampeders WHL defeated Quebec Aces
|
1955
|
Shawinigan
Cataracts QHL defeated Edmonton Flyers
|
1956
|
Winnipeg
Warriors WHL defeated Montreal Royals
|
1957
|
Quebec
Aces QHL defeated Brandon Regals
|
Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Season
| 1953 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Chicoutimi Sagueneens | 60 |
33 |
15 |
12 |
213 |
149 |
78 |
| Montreal Royals | 60 |
32 |
22 |
6 |
201 |
162 |
70 |
| Valleyfield Braves | 60 |
27 |
25 |
8 |
175 |
178 |
62 |
| Ottawa Senators | 60 |
27 |
26 |
7 |
171 |
191 |
61 |
| Sherbrooke Saints | 60 |
25 |
28 |
7 |
184 |
175 |
57 |
| Quebec Aces | 60 |
22 |
26 |
12 |
178 |
197 |
56 |
| Shawinigan Cataracts | 60 |
15 |
39 |
6 |
171 |
241 |
36 |
| 1954 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Chicoutimi Sagueneens | 72 |
40 |
25 |
7 |
261 |
197 |
87 |
| Montreal Royals | 72 |
40 |
25 |
7 |
257 |
203 |
87 |
| Ottawa Senators | 72 |
34 |
32 |
6 |
223 |
212 |
74 |
| Quebec Aces | 72 |
30 |
34 |
8 |
216 |
212 |
68 |
| Sherbrooke Saints | 72 |
30 |
36 |
6 |
223 |
244 |
66 |
| Valleyfield Braves | 72 |
31 |
38 |
3 |
207 |
252 |
65 |
| Springfield Indians | 72 |
25 |
40 |
7 |
222 |
289 |
57 |
| 1955 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Shawinigan Cataracts | 62 |
39 |
20 |
3 |
228 |
145 |
81 |
| Quebec Aces | 60 |
31 |
27 |
2 |
206 |
208 |
64 |
| Montreal Royals | 62 |
30 |
28 |
4 |
232 |
207 |
64 |
| Chicoutimi Sagueneens | 61 |
29 |
29 |
3 |
216 |
212 |
61 |
| Valleyfield Braves | 62 |
21 |
39 |
2 |
178 |
261 |
44 |
| Ottawa Senators | 27 |
10 |
17 |
0 |
63 |
90 |
20 |
| Ottawa Senators fold on Dec.21/1954 | |||||||
| 1956 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Shawinigan Cataracts | 64 |
43 |
18 |
3 |
243 |
166 |
89 |
| Montreal Royals | 64 |
34 |
23 |
7 |
192 |
162 |
75 |
| Chicoutimi Saqueneens | 64 |
32 |
28 |
4 |
212 |
188 |
68 |
| Quebec Aces | 64 |
23 |
37 |
4 |
190 |
230 |
50 |
| Trois-Rivieres Lions | 64 |
18 |
44 |
2 |
159 |
250 |
38 |
| 1957 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Quebec Aces | 68 |
40 |
21 |
7 |
226 |
175 |
87 |
| Chicoutimi Sagueneens | 68 |
34 |
28 |
6 |
225 |
199 |
75 |
| Trois-Rivieres Lions | 68 |
29 |
32 |
7 |
168 |
197 |
65 |
| Montreal Royals | 68 |
28 |
34 |
6 |
191 |
211 |
62 |
| Shawinigan Cataracts | 68 |
24 |
35 |
9 |
202 |
213 |
57 |
| Ottawa-Hull Jr Canadiens | 20 |
7 |
12 |
1 |
57 |
74 |
15 |
| Ottawa-Hull played a 20 game. | |||||||
| 1958 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Chicoutimi Sagueneens | 64 |
35 |
24 |
5 |
241 |
209 |
75 |
| Shawinigan Cataracts | 64 |
31 |
28 |
5 |
243 |
235 |
67 |
| Montreal Royals | 64 |
29 |
30 |
5 |
227 |
219 |
63 |
| Quebec Aces | 64 |
29 |
31 |
4 |
224 |
233 |
62 |
| Trois-Rivieres Lions | 64 |
24 |
35 |
5 |
176 |
215 |
53 |
| 1959 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Montreal Royals | 62 |
34 |
22 |
6 |
206 |
162 |
74 |
| Trois-Rivieres Lions | 62 |
30 |
29 |
3 |
194 |
184 |
63 |
| Chicoutimi Sagueneens | 62 |
30 |
31 |
1 |
238 |
236 |
61 |
| Quebec Aces | 62 |
21 |
33 |
8 |
176 |
232 |
50 |
Quebec Hockey League (1953-1959) Awards
Most Valuable Player
Year
|
Most Valuable Player |
1954
|
Dusty Blair Ottawa |
1955
|
Kelly Burnett Montreal |
1956
|
Andre Corriveau Montreal |
1957
|
Dick Wray Shawinigan |
1958 |
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi |
1959 |
Gerry Desaulniers Trois Rivieres |
Scoring Champion by Year
Year
|
Scoring Champion |
1954
|
Howie Riopelle Ottawa |
1955
|
Kelly Burnett Montreal |
1956
|
Gilles Dube Shawinigan |
1957
|
Orval Tessier Quebec |
1958
|
Jean Paul Denis Shawinigan |
1959
|
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi |
Leading Goaltender
Year
|
Leading Goaltender |
1954
|
Phil Hughes Chicoutimi |
1955
|
Bobby Perreault Shawinigan |
1956
|
Gerry McNeil Montreal |
1957
|
Al Millar Quebec |
1958
|
Gilles Boisvert Chicoutimi |
1959
|
Claude Pronovost Montreal |
Rookie of the Yea
Year
|
Rookie
of the Year
|
1954
|
Michel Labadie
Quebec
|
1955
|
Connie Broden
Shawinigan
|
1956
|
Marcel Paille
Chicoutimi
|
1957
|
Jacques Marcotte
Trois Rivieres
|
1958
|
Max Mekilok
Shawinigan
|
1959
|
Ed Hoekstra
Trois Rivieres
|
Career Games Played
Player |
Games Played |
Georges Roy |
499 |
Lulu Denis |
491 |
Gerry Desaulniers |
477 |
Jacques Deslauriers |
476 |
Jacques Locas |
463 |
Joe Crozier |
447 |
Gerry Glaude |
444 |
Fern Perreault |
440 |
Ted Hodgson |
434 |
Dick Wray |
420 |
Career Scoring Leaders
Player
|
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
Points |
| Jacques Locas | 422 |
244 |
138 |
382 |
| Andre Corriveau | 310 |
160 |
209 |
369 |
| Fern Perreault | 412 |
134 |
221 |
355 |
| Stan Smrke | 316 |
153 |
196 |
349 |
| Lulu Denis | 432 |
131 |
212 |
343 |
| Georges Roy | 442 |
80 |
248 |
328 |
| Dick Wray | 362 |
136 |
180 |
316 |
| Kelly Burnett | 290 |
125 |
185 |
310 |
| Lou Smrke | 337 |
113 |
195 |
308 |
| Gerry Desaulniers | 420 |
120 |
178 |
298 |
| Gilles Dube | 310 |
105 |
193 |
298 |
Career Goal Scoring Leaders
Player
|
Games |
Goals |
| Jacques Locas | 422 |
244 |
| Andre Corriveau | 310 |
160 |
| Stan Smrke | 316 |
153 |
| Dick Wray | 362 |
136 |
| Fern Perreault | 412 |
134 |
| Orval Tessier | 278 |
132 |
| Lulu Denis | 432 |
131 |
| Kelly Burnett | 290 |
125 |
| Jean Paul Denis | 281 |
123 |
| Gerry Desaulniers | 420 |
120 |
Career Assist Leaders
Player
|
Games |
Assists |
| Georges Roy | 442 |
248 |
| Fern Perreault | 412 |
221 |
| Lulu Denis | 432 |
212 |
| Andre Corriveau | 310 |
209 |
| Stan Smrke | 316 |
196 |
| Lou Smrke | 337 |
195 |
| Gilles Dube | 310 |
193 |
| Greig Hicks | 285 |
190 |
| Kelly Burnett | 290 |
185 |
| Dick Wray | 362 |
180 |
Career Leading Goaltenders (Goals Against Average)
Goaltender
|
Games |
Goals |
Average/Game |
| Marcel Pelletier | 59 |
149 |
2.53 |
| Bob Perreault | 243 |
651 |
2.67 |
| Gerry McNeil | 113 |
303 |
2.68 |
| Jack Gelineau | 88 |
253 |
2.88 |
| Jacques Marcotte | 112 |
328 |
2.93 |
| Marcel Paille | 69 |
176 |
2.93 |
Goaltender Career Games Played Leaders
Goaltender
|
Games
Played |
| Bobby Perreault | 243 |
| Ray Frederick | 211 |
| Al Millar | 159 |
| Claude Evans | 154 |
| Phil Hughes | 132 |
Shutout Leaders Career
Goaltender
|
Games
Played |
Shutouts |
| Ray Frederick | 211 |
19 |
| Bobby Perreault | 243 |
19 |
| Charlie Hodge | 122 |
9 |
| Phil Hughes | 132 |
9 |
| Claude Evans | 154 |
9 |
All Star Team Selections
| 1953 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Marcel Pelletier Chicoutimi |
Goal |
Ray Frederick Ottawa |
J.P. Lamirande Chicoutimi |
Defense |
Guy Labrie Sherbrooke |
Roger Leger Montreal |
Defense |
Pete Wright Sherbrooke |
Stan Smrke Chicoutimi |
Left Wing |
Ludger Tremblay Quebec Howie Riopelle Ottawa |
Jean Beliveau Quebec |
Center |
Sherman White Chicoutimi |
Ralph Buchanan Chicoutimi |
Right Wing |
Andre Corriveau Valleyfield |
| 1954 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Phil Hughes
Chicoutimi |
Goal |
Ray Frederick Ottawa |
Roger Leger
Montreal |
Defense |
Georges Roy Chicoutimi |
Gerry Glaude
Chicoutimi |
Defense |
Joe Crozier Quebec |
Howie Riopelle
Ottawa |
Left Wing |
Ed Litzenberger Montreal |
Fred Burchell
Montreal |
Center |
Jimmy Moore Chicoutimi |
Leo Gravelle
Ottawa |
Right Wing |
Andre Corriveau Valleyfield |
Rollie Hebert
Chicoutimi |
Coach |
Pete Morin Montreal |
| 1955 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Bob Perreault
Shawinigan |
Goal |
Charlie Hodge Montreal |
Jean Guy Talbot
Shawinigan |
Defense |
Gerry Glaude Chicoutimi |
J.P. Lamirande
Shawinigan |
Defense |
Al Arbour Quebec |
Lulu Denis Montreal |
Left Wing |
Rollie Leclerc Valleyfield |
Kelly Burnett
Montreal |
Center |
Ray Powell Quebec |
Orval Tessier
Montreal |
Right Wing |
Andre Corriveau Valleyfield |
Roger Leger
Shawinigan |
Coach |
Jacques Toupin Quebec |
| 1956 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Gerry McNeil
Montreal |
Goal |
Bob Perreault Shawinigan |
Gerry Glaude
Chicoutimi |
Defense |
J.P. Lamirande Shawinigan |
Jacques Deslauriers
Montreal |
Defense |
Al Langlois Shawinigan |
Erwin Grosse
Shawinigan |
Left Wing |
Stan Smrke Chicoutimi |
Gilles Dube
Shawinigan |
Center |
Jimmy Moore Chicoutimi |
Andre Corriveau
Montreal |
Right Wing |
Ed Kachur Shawinigan |
Roger Leger
Shawinigan |
Coach |
Gerry Plamondon Chicoutimi |
| 1957 | ||
| First Team | Position | Second Team |
Al Millar Quebec |
Goal |
Jacques Marcotte Trois Rivieres |
Joe Crozier
Quebec |
Defense |
Georges Roy Chicoutimi |
Jacques Deslauriers
Montreal |
Defense |
J.P. Lamirande Quebec |
Marcel Bonin
Quebec |
Left Wing |
Dick Wray Shawinigan |
Kelly Burnett
Montreal |
Center |
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi |
Orval Tessier
Quebec |
Right Wing |
Andre Corriveau Montreal |
Connie Parent
Quebec |
Coach |
Jacques Toupin Trois Rivieres |
| 1958 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Charlie Hodge
Montreal |
Goal |
Gilles Boisvert Chicoutimi |
Jack Bownass
Montreal |
Defense |
Jacques Deslauriers Chicoutimi |
Georges Roy
Chicoutimi |
Defense |
John Hanna Trois Rivieres |
Jacques Locas
Chicoutimi |
Left Wing |
Claude Laforge Shawinigan |
Guy Rousseau
Chicoutimi |
Center |
Greig Hicks Chicoutimi |
Jean Paul Denis
Shawinigan |
Right Wing |
Jacques Gagnon Quebec |
Phil Renaud
Chicoutimi |
Coach |
Fred Shero Shawinigan |
| 1959 | ||
First Team |
Position |
Second Team |
Claude Pronovost
Montreal |
Goal |
Claude Evans Trois Rivieres |
Georges Roy
Chicoutimi |
Defense |
Bob McCord Trois Rivieres |
Jacques Deslauriers
Montreal |
Defense |
Moe Mantha Sr. Montreal |
Jacques Locas
Chicoutimi |
Left Wing |
Stan Smrke Chicoutimi |
Greig Hicks
Chicoutimi |
Center |
Ken Mosdell Montreal |
Jacques Gagnon
Chicoutimi |
Right Wing |
Orval Tessier Trois Rivieres |
Floyd Curry
Montreal |
Coach |
Gerry Desaulniers Trois Rivieres |