Rimouski Océanic
Encyclopedia
The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey
team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
(QMJHL). The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season. They operated as the Sherbrooke Castors
from 1969 to 1982, then the Saint-Jean Castors from 1982 to 1989, then the Saint-Jean Lynx
from 1989 to 1995 before moving to Rimouski.
Their logo is an ocean liner with a set of teeth on the bow, jutting out of waves. The team colours are royal blue, navy blue, and white. Their home arena is the Colisée de Rimouski
. The team's sweater has proven popular in the USA, as Reebok
has issued it with NHL superstar Sidney Crosby
's number 87 on it.
The team won the QMJHL championship in the 1999–00 season and went on to win the Memorial Cup
that year, with a team featuring future NHL star Brad Richards
.
The team is currently one of the more well-known teams in the Canadian Hockey League
, particularly because of the addition of Sidney Crosby
in the 2003–04 season. Crosby's 135 points for the club set a new record for a 16-year-old in the QMJHL and was second only to Wayne Gretzky
in that particular age-group for all Canadian Hockey. Other notable NHL alumni include Ryane Clowe
, Michael Frolik
, Vincent Lecavalier
and Brad Richards
.
In 2005, the Océanic set a QMJHL record, going 28 consecutive games without a loss. The team then went on to win seven games in a row in the playoffs, improving the unbeaten streak to an unofficial 35 straight. They won their second QMJHL championship in five years, and represented the QMJHL in the 2005 Memorial Cup
. After losing the opener against the hometown London Knights
, the Oceanic beat both the defending Memorial Cup champions Kelowna Rockets
, who were in their third straight Memorial Cup, and the Ottawa 67's
. Rimouski then beat the 67's again in the semi-finals to set up a rematch of their opening game against the Knights. The Oceanic were shut out in the final game 4–0.
The QMJHL announced on April 3, 2008 that the Océanic were chosen to host the 2009 Memorial Cup
.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
(QMJHL). The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season. They operated as the Sherbrooke Castors
Sherbrooke Castors
The Sherbrooke Castors or Sherbrooke Beavers was the name of two different junior ice hockey teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Both franchises played at the Palais des Sports in Sherbrooke, Quebec.-Original Castors:...
from 1969 to 1982, then the Saint-Jean Castors from 1982 to 1989, then the Saint-Jean Lynx
Saint-Jean Lynx
Saint-Jean Lynx were a junior ice hockey team which played from 1989 to 1995 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. They played at the Colisée Isabelle-Brasseur. In 1982 they moved from Sherbrooke and were formerly the Sherbrooke Castors. They were known as the Saint-Jean Castors from 1982 until...
from 1989 to 1995 before moving to Rimouski.
Their logo is an ocean liner with a set of teeth on the bow, jutting out of waves. The team colours are royal blue, navy blue, and white. Their home arena is the Colisée de Rimouski
Colisée de Rimouski
The Colisée de Rimouski is a 4,285-seat multi-purpose arena in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada, built in 1966. It is home to the Rimouski Océanic ice hockey team, and the arena hosted the 2009 Memorial Cup....
. The team's sweater has proven popular in the USA, as Reebok
Reebok
Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas since 2005, is a producer of Athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle...
has issued it with NHL superstar Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
's number 87 on it.
The team won the QMJHL championship in the 1999–00 season and went on to win the Memorial Cup
2000 Memorial Cup
The 2000 Memorial Cup occurred May 20–28 at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It featured the host team, the Halifax Mooseheads as well as the winners of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Hockey League which were the Barrie Colts, Rimouski...
that year, with a team featuring future NHL star Brad Richards
Brad Richards
Bradley Glenn Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League .-Early career:Born and raised in Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island...
.
The team is currently one of the more well-known teams in the Canadian Hockey League
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
, particularly because of the addition of Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
in the 2003–04 season. Crosby's 135 points for the club set a new record for a 16-year-old in the QMJHL and was second only to Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
in that particular age-group for all Canadian Hockey. Other notable NHL alumni include Ryane Clowe
Ryane Clowe
Ryane Clowe is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League . He serves as an alternate captain for the Sharks during away games.-Playing career:...
, Michael Frolik
Michael Frolik
Michael Frolík is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Vincent Lecavalier
Vincent Lecavalier
Vincent Lecavalier is a Canadian professional hockey center and captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League .-Rimouski Océanic:...
and Brad Richards
Brad Richards
Bradley Glenn Richards is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League .-Early career:Born and raised in Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island...
.
In 2005, the Océanic set a QMJHL record, going 28 consecutive games without a loss. The team then went on to win seven games in a row in the playoffs, improving the unbeaten streak to an unofficial 35 straight. They won their second QMJHL championship in five years, and represented the QMJHL in the 2005 Memorial Cup
2005 Memorial Cup
The 2005 Memorial Cup was held May 21–29, 2005 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. The Cup tournament featured the champions from the Western Hockey League, the Kelowna Rockets, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the Rimouski Océanic, the Ottawa 67's representing the Ontario Hockey...
. After losing the opener against the hometown London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
, the Oceanic beat both the defending Memorial Cup champions Kelowna Rockets
Kelowna Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets are a major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Rockets play in the Western Hockey League , out of the Canadian Hockey League . They play their home games at Prospera Place....
, who were in their third straight Memorial Cup, and the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
. Rimouski then beat the 67's again in the semi-finals to set up a rematch of their opening game against the Knights. The Oceanic were shut out in the final game 4–0.
The QMJHL announced on April 3, 2008 that the Océanic were chosen to host the 2009 Memorial Cup
2009 Memorial Cup
The 2009 Memorial Cup was a four-team round-robin format ice hockey tournament played during May 2009 in Rimouski, Quebec to determine the junior ice hockey championship of the Canadian Hockey League. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League announced on April 3, 2008, that the Rimouski Océanic were...
.
NHL alumni
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