Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey
 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country | Canada |
| Most recent champion(s) | Sorel-Tracy Éperviers (2) |
| Most titles | Jonquière Marquis (3) |
| Official website | www |
The Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (North American Hockey League)[1][2] (LNAH) is a low-level professional league based in the Canadian province of Quebec. It was founded as the Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League (QSPHL; French: Ligue de hockey semi-professionnelle du Québec or LHSPQ) in 1996, and became fully professional and assumed its current name in 2004. It has no connection with the similarly named North American Hockey League, an American junior league for players under twenty. Teams in the LNAH compete for the Vertdure Cup, which has been awarded annually since 1997.
Unlike higher-level minor professional leagues, such as the American Hockey League or the ECHL, the LNAH is not known for its skill level. Its teams employ many enforcers and has a rather infamous reputation for on-ice antics, primarily fisticuffs. The LNAH has the unofficial reputation as the world's toughest hockey league; a New York Times article stated that the league averaged 3.2 fights a game during the 2010–11 season, compared with 0.6 fights in the National Hockey League.[3]
Despite this reputation, many of the players are ex-NHL or ex-AHL players such as Patrick Côté, Michel Picard, Stéphane Richer, Bobby Dollas, Guillaume Lefebvre, Garrett Burnett, Daniel Shank, François Leroux, Jeremy Stevenson, Éric Fichaud, Mario Roberge, David Gosselin, Michel Ouellet, Jesse Bélanger, Donald Brashear, Yves Racine, Anthony Stewart and Juraj Kolník. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, some NHL players played the entire season in the league, such as Sylvain Blouin, Donald Brashear, Sébastien Caron, Mathieu Biron, Marc-André Bergeron and Sébastien Charpentier. The league has had a rule that stipulates that all players must either have come from Quebec, or played junior hockey in Quebec,[3] though it has not been strictly used for LNAH teams outside Quebec.
Another unique aspect, compared to other minor pro leagues of North America, is the absence of a veteran limit rule, which allows teams to stock up on experienced players. The league is slowly trying to clean itself up (for 2005–06, the roster limit went from 20 to 19 players, which for most teams meant one less enforcer), but the league has typically been popular with the fans for its reputation of being the toughest league in the world.[citation needed]
The LNAH Draft is held during the summer, including 15 rounds. Players too old for junior ice hockey may be drafted even if they were already drafted by an NHL team. Drafted players come from many leagues, including the Canadian Hockey League, American Hockey League, lower-level professional leagues, and U Sports.
Teams
Current
| Team | City | Arena | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonquière Marquis | Saguenay, Quebec | Palais des Sports | 1996* |
| Les Pétroliers du Nord | Laval, Quebec | Colisée de Laval | 2018* |
| Rivière-du-Loup 3L | Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec | Centre Premier Tech | 2008 |
| Saint-Georges Cool FM 103.5 | Saint-Georges, Quebec | Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil | 1996* |
| Sorel-Tracy Éperviers | Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | Colisée Cardin | 1996* |
| Thetford Assurancia | Thetford Mines, Quebec | Centre Mario Gosselin | 1996 |
- Notes
- An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.
Timeline
Defunct
- Acton Vale Beaulieu (2000–01; became Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin)
- Acton Vale Nova (1996–2000; renamed Acton Vale Beaulieu)
- Asbestos Aztèques (1997–2001; renamed Asbestos Dubé)
- Asbestos Aztèques (2002–03; folded)
- Asbestos Dubé (2001–02; renamed Asbestos Aztèques)
- Berlin BlackJacks (2018; team taken over by league after 10 games and became Les Pétroliers du Nord)
- Cornwall River Kings (2012–16; folded)
- Côte-de-Beaupré As (2000–01; became Québec As and played at Charlesbourg in 2001–2002 and at Beauport in 2002–2003)
- Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay (1999–2000; became Côte-de-Beaupré As)
- Granby Blitz (1997–2002; renamed Granby Prédateurs)
- Granby Prédateurs (2002–04; folded)
- Haut-Richelieu Dragons (1996–97; renamed Iberville Dragons)
- Iberville Dragons (1997–98; became Saint-Laurent Dragons)
- Joliette Blizzard (1998–2000; renamed Joliette Mission)
- Joliette Mission (2000–02; became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission)
- Jonquière Condors (1997–2002; renamed Saguenay Paramédic)
- Lachute Rapides (1996–99; became LaSalle Rapides)
- LaSalle Rapides (1999–2003; folded)
- Laurentides Gladiateurs (1996–97; became Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs)
- Laval Chiefs (1998–2005; renamed Laval Summum-Chiefs)
- Laval Summum-Chiefs (2005–06; became Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs)
- Laval Braves (2013–14; renamed Laval Predateurs)
- Laval Predators (2014–17; folded)
- Louiseville Jets (1996–97; folded)
- Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay (2001–04; became Trois-Rivières Caron et Guay)
- Pont-Rouge Grand Portneuf (1996–2001; renamed Pont-Rouge Caron et Guay)
- Québec As (1997–98; dormant in 1998–99 and became Côte-de-Beaupré Caron et Guay)
- Québec As (2001–03; renamed Québec Radio X, then Pont-Rouge Lois Jeans)
- Rive-Sud Chacals (1996–98; became Saint-Georges Garaga)
- Rivière-du-Loup Promutuel (2001–04; folded)
- Rivière-du-Loup CIMT (2008–10; renamed Rivière-du-Loup 3L
- Saguenay 98,3 (2008–09; renamed Saguenay Marquis)
- Saguenay Fjord (2004–05; folded after 24 games)
- Saguenay Paramédic (2002–04; renamed Saguenay Fjord)
- Ste-Marie Poutrelles Delta (2008; folded during the season)
- Sainte-Thérèse Chiefs (1997–98; became Laval Chiefs)
- Saint-Gabriel Blizzard (1996–98; became Joliette Blizzard)
- Saint-Georges Garaga (1998–2005; renamed Saint-Georges CRS Express)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs (2008–09; folded)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Cousin (2001–05; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Cristal (2005–06; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design)
- Saint-Hyacinthe Top Design (2006–08; renamed Saint-Hyacinthe Chiefs)
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Mission (2002–04; became Sorel-Tracy Mission)
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Summum-Chiefs (2006–08; became Saguenay 98.3)
- Saint-Laurent Dragons (1998–2001; became Verdun Dragons)
- Sherbrooke Saint-François (2003–11; became Windsor Wild)
- Sorel Dinosaures (1996–99; renamed Sorel Royaux)
- Sorel Mission (2004–08)
- Sorel Royaux (1999–2004; folded)
- Sorel-Tracy GCI (2010–11)
- Thetford Mines Coyotes (1996–2000; renamed Thetford Mines Prolab)
- Thetford Mines Isothermic (2007–15; renamed Thetford Assurancia)
- Thetford Mines Prolab (2000–07; renamed Thetford Mines Isothermic)
- Trois-Rivières Blizzard (2014–17; renamed Trois-Rivières Draveurs)
- Trois-Rivières Draveurs (2017–18; membership revoked)
- Trois-Rivières Viking (2003–04; folded)
- Valleyfield Braves (2013; became Laval Braves partway through 2013–14 season)
- Vanier Voyageurs (1996–97; became Québec As and played at Val-Bélair)
- Verdun Dragons (2001–05; renamed Verdun-Montréal Dragons)
- Verdun-Montréal Dragons (2005–06; folded)
- Waterloo 94 (1996–97; became Granby Blitz)
- Windsor Lacroix (2001–03; became Sherbrooke Saint-François)
- Windsor Papetiers (1996–2001; renamed Windsor Lacroix)
- Windsor Wild (2011–12; became Cornwall River Kings)
Champions
LNAH Finals appearances by city
Note: Cities listed in yellow are currently home to an LNAH franchise.
| City | Finals | Won | Lost | Years won | Years lost | Team(s) in Finals | Years in LNAH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thetford Mines | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2012, 2015 | 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2017 | Prolab, Isothermic, Assurancia | 1996–present |
| Sorel-Tracy | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2018, 2019 | 2013, 2015, 2016 | HC Carvena, Éperviers | 1996–2008, 2010–present |
| Saint-Georges | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2010 | 1999, 2001, 2004, 2011 | Garaga, CRS Express, Cool FM 103.5 | 1998–present |
| Sherbrooke | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2006, 2011 | 2007, 2010 | Saint-Francois | 2003–2011 |
| Jonquière | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2013, 2014, 2017 | 2019 | Marquis | 1997–2004, 2008–present |
| Laval | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2002, 2003 | Chiefs | 1998–2006, 2013–17, 2019–present | |
| Joliette | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1999, 2001 | Blizzard, Mission | 1998–2002 | |
| Rivière-du-Loup | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2016 | 2018 | 3L | 2008–present |
| Pont-Rouge | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2009 | 2000 | Grand Portneuf, Lois Jeans | 1996–2004, 2008–2010 |
| Acton Vale | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1997, 1998 | Nova | 1996–2001 | |
| Trois-Rivières | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2008 | Caron & Guay | 2003–2018 | |
| Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2007 | Summum Chiefs | 2002–2004, 2006–2008 | |
| Québec | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2005 | Radio X | 1997–1998, 2001–2008 | |
| Verdun | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2004 | Dragons | 2001–2006 | |
| LaSalle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2000 | Rapides | 1999–2003 | |
| Lachute | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1998 | Rapides | 1996–1999 | |
| Saint-Gabriel | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1997 | Blizzard | 1996–1998 | |
| Windsor | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2012 | Wild | 2011–2012 |
References
- ^ RDS (LNAH's broadcaster) article.
- ^ Le procès de Éric Haley aura lieu en décembre, La Tribune.
- ^ a b Jeff Z. Klein (2011-03-01). "A Place for Pro Hockey Players Fighting to Stay in the Game". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-03-01.