The Montreal Junior Canadiens were a Canadian junior ice hockey team from 1933 to 1972, operating as a farm team to the Montreal Canadiens. The junior team played in the Junior Amateur Hockey Association (1933–1949), the Quebec Junior Hockey League (1949–1955), then were an independent team without a league from 1955 to 1958. The team later played in the Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League (1958–59), the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (1959–60), the Senior Interprovincial Hockey League (1960–61), then finally in the Ontario Hockey Association from 1961 to 1972. They were mostly based in Montreal and played home games at the Montreal Forum, except for a five-year span in Ottawa, Hull, Quebec, and Brockville, Ontario. The Junior Canadiens were national champions four times, winning the Memorial Cup in 1950, 1958, 1969, and 1970.
History The Junior Canadiens played home games at the Montreal Forum, and were a farm team to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.
1950 Memorial Cup The Junior Canadiens defeated the Quebec Citadels in the playoffs, then won a series versus Halifax St. Mary's when they surrendered following losses of 11–3 and 10–1 at Montreal. After that the Junior Canadiens defeated the Guelph Biltmores to represent eastern Canada in the Memorial Cup.
The 1950 Memorial Cup featured two farm teams of the Montreal Canadiens. 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.Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 89–91
+ 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
Moving to Ottawa, Hull, and Brockville When the Quebec Junior Hockey League disbanded in 1955, the Canadiens played exhibition gamese and competed in the Laurier Cup with the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). The Canadiens won the Laurier Cup in 1956, and entered the Memorial Cup playoffs as an independent team, but lost in the Eastern Canada finals to the OHA's Toronto Marlboros 4-games-to-3 with 1 tie.
1957 Memorial Cup Becoming the Ottawa-Hull Canadiens in 1956, they played exhibition games against the OHA, the Quebec Hockey League, and the OHA Senior A League. In the 1957 season with the minor professional Quebec Hockey League, Ottawa had a record of 7 wins, 12 losses, and a tie, with 57 goals for and 74 goals against.
The Canadiens finished second in the Laurier Cup to the Toronto Marlboros, won the George Richardson Memorial Trophy as Eastern Canadian Junior A champions, but lost the 1957 Memorial Cup in seven games to the Flin Flon Bombers.Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 106–109
Game 1 Flin Flon 3 vs. Ottawa 1 Game 2 Flin Flon 3 vs. Ottawa 4 Game 3 Flin Flon 2 vs. Ottawa 5 Game 4 Flin Flon 3 vs. Ottawa 1 Game 5 Flin Flon 3 vs. Ottawa 2 Game 6 Flin Flon 2 vs. Ottawa 4 Game 7 Flin Flon 3 vs. Ottawa 2
1958 Memorial Cup In 1958, the team was known as the Hull-Ottawa Junior Canadiens, and defeated the Guelph Biltmores to win the George Richardson Memorial Trophy as Eastern Canadian representatives. The Canadiens won the 1958 Memorial Cup by defeating the Regina Pats in five games, who were also a farm team of the Montreal Canadiens.Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 109–112
Game 1 Ottawa 3 vs. Regina 4 Game 2 Ottawa 4 vs. Regina 2 Game 3 Ottawa 6 vs. Regina 2 Game 4 Ottawa 3 vs. Regina 4 OT Game 5 Ottawa 6 vs. Regina 3 Game 6 Ottawa 6 vs. Regina 1
1959 to 1961 Playing in the Eastern Ontario Senior Hockey League for the 1958–59 season, the Canadiens had a mixed roster of junior and senior ice hockey players. The Canadiens finished third in the league, and lost the playoffs semifinal to the Kingston Merchants 4-games-to-3 with 1 tie. The junior portion of the roster moved onto the 1959 Memorial Cup playiffs, losing in the Eastern Canada final to Peterborough Petes.
In 1959, the Eastern Professional Hockey League formed the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens, another Montreal farm team. The Junior Canadiens moved, becoming the Brockville Canadiens in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League. The Canadiens dominated their new league with a 25-1-0 record. The Canadiens became 1960 Quebec Junior Champions by defeating the Alma Aiglons 11-1 and 10-0, when Alma conceded the third game. In the Richardson Trophy final, they faced the OHA's St. Catharines Teepees. The Teepees won the first three games of the series, but the Canadiens tied the series at 3-games-to-3 with 1 tie. The Teepees won the eighth game 6-3 to clinch the series.
In 1960, the franchise became the Hull Canadiens. Despite having junior players on their roster, the team joined the more competitive Interprovincial Senior Hockey League. They were 1960-61 regular season (losing only twice) and 1961 playoff champions of the ISHL with a sweep of the Smiths Falls Rideaus and defeating Ottawa St. Anthonys 3-games-to-1. The Canadiens represented the Ottawa District in 1961 Allan Cup playdowns but were swept by the Quebec champion Granby Victorias.
Ontario Hockey Association In 1961, the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) junior A division was reduced to five teams, when several teams departed to form the Metro Junior A League. OHA president Lloyd Pollock applied to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) to permit the Canadiens to switch from the Quebec Amateur Hockey Association to play in the OHA as its sixth team. The request was denied by CAHA president Jack Roxburgh, who stated that CAHA rules do not allow en masse transfers between provincial associations. The proposal was later approved in September 1961, when the CAHA branch presidents voted in favour of the Junior Canadiens playing in the 1961–62 OHA season.
1969 Memorial Cup The Junior Canadiens defeated 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 picked up netminder Jim Rutherford from the Hamilton Red Wings for the national championship.
The Memorial Cup of 1969 was 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.Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 148–151
+ 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
The team included many future NHL stars and all-stars: Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, Marc Tardif, Rejean Houle, Ian Turnbull, Andre Dupont, Guy Charron, J.P. Bordeleau, Bobby Lalonde and Jocelyn Guevremont.
1970 Memorial Cup 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 played 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 were 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.Lapp and Macaulay (1997), pp. 153–156
+ 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 the QMJHL In 1972, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) had been in operation for three years, giving the province major junior competition for the first time. The league wanted a team in the province's largest city, and threatened a lawsuit to force the Junior Canadiens back into Quebec. The OHA granted the Junior Canadiensa "one-year suspension" of operations, while team ownership transferred the team and players into the QMJHL, and became the Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge. The OHA then reactivated the suspended franchise for the 1973–74 season under new ownership as the Kingston Canadians.
Coaches Sam Pollock and Billy Reay coached the 1950 Memorial Cup champions Jr. Canadiens. Elmer Lach coached the 1954–55 squad. Claude Ruel coached the team its first two years in the OHA, he later won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1969. Former goaltender Yves Nadon piloted the team to its first OHA finals in 1964. Roger Bedard led the team to successive Memorial Cup wins in 1969 & 1970.
Players
OHA award recipients SeasonPlayerAward(s)RecognitionSource1961–62 André Boudrias Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer George Holmes Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against average 1963–64 André Boudrias Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer Yvan Cournoyer Red Tilson Trophy Most valuable player 1965–66 Ted Ouimet Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against average 1968–69 Réjean Houle Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top point scorer Red Tilson Trophy Most valuable player Max Kaminsky Trophy Most sportsmanlike player Wayne Wood and Ted Tucker Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against average 1969–70 Gilbert Perreault Red Tilson Trophy Most valuable player 1970–71 Jocelyn Guevremont Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman
Hall of Fame alumni List of Junior Canadiens' alumni inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame:
Scotty Bowman Émile Bouchard Yvan Cournoyer Jacques Laperrière Guy Lapointe Jacques Lemaire Dickie Moore Craig Patrick Gilbert Perreault Jacques Plante Henri Richard Serge Savard
Notable alumni Notable Junior Canadiens who played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association:
Junior Amateur Hockey Association (1933–1949) and Quebec Junior Hockey League (1949–1955)
Ron Attwell Ralph Backstrom Marc Boileau Émile 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 Sr. Gerry Plamondon André Pronovost Claude Pronovost Claude Provost Henri Richard Ernie Roche Dollard St. Laurent Jerry Wilson
Independent (1955–1959), Metropolitan Junior Hockey League (1959–60) and Senior Interprovincial Hockey League (1960–61)
Ralph Backstrom Murray Balfour Gilles Boisvert André Boudrias Billy Carter Claude Cyr Norm Dennis Germain Gagnon Bruce Gamble Terry Gray Don Johns Jacques Laperrière Keith McCreary Herb Rheaume Bobby Rousseau Brian Smith Irv Spencer Gilles Tremblay J. C. Tremblay Jerry Wilson
Ontario Hockey Association (1961–1972)
Kerry Bond Christian Bordeleau J. P. Bordeleau Paulin Bordeleau Pierre Bouchard André Boudrias Robin Burns Bob Champoux Bob Charlebois Guy Charron Terry Clancy Gary Connelly Jacques Cossette Yvan Cournoyer Norm Dennis Norm Descôteaux Michel Dion René Drolet Jude Drouin Guy Dufour André Dupont Rocky Farr Norm Ferguson Germain Gagnon Scott Garland André Gaudette John Garrett Allan Globensky Jean-Guy Gratton Norm Gratton John Gravel Lucien Grenier Jocelyn Guevremont Bob Guindon Réjean Houle