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Verdun Juniors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Verdun Juniors
CityMontreal, Quebec
LeagueQMJHL
Operated1982 (1982) to 1984
Home arenaVerdun Auditorium
ColoursRed, white and blue
Franchise history
1933-72Montreal Junior Canadiens
1972-75Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge
1975-82Montreal Juniors
1982-84Verdun Juniors
1984-89Verdun Junior Canadiens
1989-96Saint-Hyacinthe Laser
1996-presentRouyn-Noranda Huskies

The Verdun Juniors were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1982 to 1984. They played at the Verdun Auditorium.

History

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The Verdun Juniors were assembled by general manager Eric Taylor, and coached by Pierre Creamer. Verdun won the Presidents Trophy in the 1982-83 season as playoff champions, defeating the Trois-Rivières Draveurs, Shawinigan Cataractes and the Longueuil Chevaliers.

The Juniors would compete in the Memorial Cup that year versus the Lethbridge Broncos, Portland Winter Hawks and the Oshawa Generals. Verdun would lose 7-6 to Portland, defeat Lethbridge 4-3, lose 5-1 to Oshawa, and lose 6-5 to Oshawa in the semi-final game, ending their hopes of a Memorial Cup championship.

After two very successful seasons, the team revived its old name to become the Verdun Jr. Canadiens.

Players

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Pat LaFontaine scored 104 goals and 130 assists for 234 points in the 1982-83 season, his only season in major junior hockey, winning the Jean Béliveau Trophy as the top scorer, out-dueling future NHL icon Mario Lemieux. Two of the more prominent records he broke were Guy Lafleur's 40-game point-scoring streak and Mike Bossy's 70 goals by a rookie.

He was awarded the Michel Brière Commemorative Trophy as the MVP of the regular season, the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs, the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the Offensive Rookie of the Year, the Mike Bossy Trophy as the best professional prospect, and the Frank J. Selke Commemorative Trophy as the Most sportsmanlike player. Also in 1982-1983 Pat LaFontaine was chosen Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year. Pat would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003.

Also of note, is alumnus Claude Lemieux, who would play almost 1200 NHL games. He scored 379 goals, and won 4 Stanley Cups in 1986 (Montreal), 1995 (New Jersey), 1996 (Colorado) & 2000 (New Jersey).

Billy Campbell was awarded the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the Defenceman of the year in the 1983-84 season. Jérôme Carrier was awarded the Frank J. Selke Commemorative Trophy as the Most sportsmanlike player in 1983-1984.

NHL alumni

Yearly Results

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Regular season

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Season Games Won Lost Tied Points Pct % Goals
For
Goals
Against
Standing
1982-83 70 50 19 1 101 0.721 486 303 2nd Lebel
1983-84 70 40 27 3 83 0.593 359 309 2nd Lebel

References

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Playoffs

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  • 1982-83 Defeated Trois-Rivières Draveurs 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Defeated Shawinigan Cataractes 4 games to 2 in semi-finals.
    Defeated Longueuil Chevaliers 4 games to 1 in finals. QMJHL CHAMPIONS
    Lost to Oshawa Generals 6-5 in the semi-final game of the Memorial Cup.
  • 1983-84 Defeated St.-Jean Castors 4 games to 0 in quarter-finals.
    Lost to Longueuil Chevaliers 4 games to 2 in semi-finals.