Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Hockey team |CAN_eng=1
team = Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

city = Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec
league = Q.M.J.H.L.
division = Telus
founded = 1996–97
arena = Arena Dave Keon
colours = red, black & white
coach = André Tourigny
GM = André Tourigny
farmclub = Temiscaming Royals
name1 = Montreal Junior Canadiens
dates1 = 1933–72
name2 = Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge
dates2 = 1972–75
name3 = Montreal Juniors
dates3 = 1975–82
name4 = Verdun Juniors
dates4 = 1982–84
name5 = Verdun Junior Canadiens
dates5 = 1984–89
name6 = Saint-Hyacinthe Laser
dates6 = 1989–96
name7 = Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
dates7 = 1996–PresentThe Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are a junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The team is based out of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. The team plays its home games at the Dave Keon Arena. The Huskies finished first overall in the QMJHL, during the 2007-08 QMJHL season, winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy.

History

The Rouyn-Noranda franchise started out as the Montreal Junior Canadiens. While in Montreal the team won three Memorial Cups in 1950, 1969 and 1970. The team has since played in Verdun and Saint-Hyacinthe.

On April 25, 1996, Sylvain Danis and Dave Morin, then owners of the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser, decided to transfer the team to Rouyn-Noranda. Aware that the "National Capital of Copper" is a city which breathes hockey, they were confident that it was the best decision for the franchise. Former NHL Hall of Famers from the area include Dave Keon and Jacques Laperriere.

The Huskies name was chosen to represent the tough and determined nature of the local citizens and mining community. The team is currently owned entirely by local interests and all the decisions of the sixteen shareholders are made in the interest of the team and the city which it represents.

Since 1996, the Huskies have won two regular season division titles, in 1998 and 2005. Rouyn-Norand finished first overall in the QMJHL in 2007–08, winning its first Jean Rougeau Trophy, posting 97 points in the regular season. The team is still in search of its first President's Cup since relocating to Rouyn-Noranda.

Players

Remi Royer was the first former Rouyn-Noranda Huskies player to make the NHL. He was also a QMJHL First Team All-Star in 1998. Since then 6 more players have played in the NHL.

Awards

Jean Béliveau Trophy (Top Scorer) *"1998-99" Mike Ribeiro RDS Cup (Rookie of the year) *"1997-98" Mike Ribeiro Michel Bergeron Trophy (Offensive Rookie of the Year) *"1997-98" Mike Ribeiro Paul Dumont Trophy (Personality of the year) *"1997-98" Mike Ribeiro

Telus Cup – Offensive (Offensive player of the year) *"1997-98" Pierre Dagenais *"1998-99" James Desmarais Telus Cup – Defensive (Defensive player of the year) *"2000-01" Maxime Ouellet Marcel Robert Trophy (Scholastic player of the year) *"2002-03" Eric L'Italien

NHL alumni

*Sébastien Centomo *Pierre Dagenais *Pascal Dupuis

*Guillaume Lefebvre *Maxime Ouellet

*Mike Ribeiro *Remi Royer

Yearly results

Regular season

Playoffs

*1996-1997 Out of playoffs.
*1997-1998 Lost to Hull Olympiques 4 games to 2 in division quarter-finals.
*1998-1999 Earned bye through division quarter-finals.
Defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 3 in division semi-finals.
Lost to Hull Olympiques 4 games to 0 in division finals.
*1999-2000 Defeated Sherbrooke Castors 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Lost to Hull Olympiques 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
*2000-2001 Defeated Hull Olympiques 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Lost to Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to o in conference semi-finals.
*2001-2002 Lost to Victoriaville Tigres 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
*2002-2003 Lost to Hull Olympiques 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
*2003-2004 Defeated Lewiston MAINEiacs 4 games to 3 in 1/8 finals.
Lost to Gatineau Olympiques 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
*2004-2005 Earned bye through 1/8 finals.
Defeated Moncton Wildcats 4 games to 2 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Halifax Mooseheads 4 games to 0 semi-finals.
*2005-2006 Lost to Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 1 in 1/8 finals.
*2006-2007 Defeated Gatineau Olympiques 4 games to 1 in 1/8 finals.
Defeated Drummondville Voltigeurs 4 games to 3 in quarter-finals.
Lost to Lewiston MAINEiacs 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
*2007-2008 Defeated Val D'or Foreurs 4 games to 0 in preliminary round.
Defeated Rimouski Oceanic 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
Defeated Saint John Sea Dogs 4 games to 0 in semi-finals.
Lost to Gatineau Olympiques 4 games to 1 in QMJHL Finals.

External links

[http://www.huskies.qc.ca/accueil.asp Huskies official web site] (en français)